Re: Wow!! The Hills Are Alive......

On Jul 14, 12:02 pm, Neil X <nei...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Jul 14, 10:43 am, Ken Fortenberry <kennethfortenbe...@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

Neil X wrote:
<snip>
Next step, and HDTV and NFL Sunday Ticket.

Same here, well not NFL Sunday Ticket but an HDTV will be
the next piece of electronics I buy. I'm waiting for AT&T
to get Uverse here so I can drop the cable company and the
DSL. I really haven't started doing my homework yet figuring
the products change so damn fast any research done now will
be obsolete by the time I'm ready to buy.

What are you looking at in an HDTV, Neil ?

I am not nearly any kind of expert on video, but I can share the small
amount I have learned.  I know that it is worth the extra money to get
a 1080p HDTV.


The only programming currently available in 1080p is BluRay DVD, and
very select directv and/or Dish Network VOD (video on demand - PPV)
movies. I am pretty sure (check for yourself) that the NFL Sunday
ticket is not being broadcast this year in 1080p, if you find any info
to the contrary I would appreciate knowing that.



The 720i/p TVs are soon going to be obsolete.


There are no 720i specific TVs. And the 720p TVs are more than
sufficient to display most of the signal currently available in HD
through digi cable or directv or dish. In fact, networks like ESPN,
ABC, TBS, TNT and others, don;t broadcast in 1080i, they only
broadcast in 720p. It is debateable which picture is "better", that
rendered from a 720p signal (non interlaced with less lines) or a
1080i signal (interlaced, more lines) which is why there is no
standard yet among networks, although the majority of networks seem to
be more comfortable with 1080i. As far as soon to be obselete, the
digi cable companies arent even yet talking about broadcasting in
1080p, and as mentioned previously, directv and dish content in 1080p
is still very limited. No question about it, a 1080p will have a
longer life safer from obsolessence, however, I think you may be
exagerrating the time curve here insofar as when the 720ps will be
"old." At this point, there are some great deals on 720p TVs, so
unless money is completely not a factor, I believe its still a
consideration. Of course on the larger screen size flat panels, there
are great deals on 1080i TVs as this newest generation of 1080p TVs
hit the market.



 For the
difference of $50-100, getting 1080p is well worth it, despite the
fact that right now only DirecTV is actually supplying a 1080p
signal.


On VOD demand only, and even then on select programming only. This may
have changed recently, but I don't think so, if you're a Directv
customer it is easily checked, and don't just take the word of the
first customer servcie rep that answers the 800#, really look into it.


 In the near future, you'll feel like you bought a dinosaur if
you go with 720.


Perhaps not as near as you think, although I wouldn;t even consider a
720p on a larger screen, but I would still consider a 1080i depending
on the price difference, and mostly depending on whether or not BluRay
is a standard component of my system.

 BTW, 1080 versus 720 refers to the number of lines;
1080 is a higher density image.  The i versus p is "interlaced" versus
"progressive."  The "interlaced" TVs are less good,

This is a misnomer. The 1080i picture is every bot as good as the 720p
picture, imho.

as the lines are
displayed sequentially--first the odd lines, then the even lines,
whereas "progressive" TVs have the capacity to display all 1080 lines
simultaneously.  Some folks can actually see the flicker in
"interlaced" TVs.

I can see no flicker, or tell the difference between 720p and 1080i
programming.

 I don't know that I can, but I haven't really done
a side-by-side comparison.

My friends who are way into video tell me that you really need to read
the reviews of the individual TV you want in order to make an informed
decision.  

Or better yet, go to the store where the TVs are and grab teh remotes
and look atthem, with yoru settings.

Statistics like "refresh speed" (6 ms and under is best)

Only applies to LCDs and without the newer higher refresh rates, in my
opinion, LCD isnot an option for my main TV.


and "contrast ratio" (should be at least 20,000:1) are helpful, but
less important than actually looking at the screen and reading reviews
of people who actually own the TV in question.


10,000:1 15,000:1 20,000:1 . . . obviously 20k - 1 is "better, but
again I believe we;re getting into an area where the difference is so
negligible so as to not be able to "see" a difference.


In general, it seems that Sony, Samsung and LG get the best reviews,
in that order.  Insignia, Panasonic, Toshiba and other brands fare
less well.  Sony is significantly more expensive than the others.
Some individual sony Brevia TVs supposedly have a "clouding" issue--
the picture is cloudy, it's a manufacturing defect.  If you're
unlucky, you'll have to schlep your Brevia back to the store for a
replacement.  I'm probably going with a 37 inch 1080p Samsung.  The
retail for around $600 at this point.  A 37 inch HDTV screen has
nearly the same height (17.5 inches) as a 25/27 inch standard def TV
(16.5 inches), so if you are happy with your 26 inch standard def TV,
you'll probably be happy with a 37 inch HDTV.  A lot of folks tend to
go for 40 or 42 inch screens.  That would dominate the room too much
for me, I think 37 inch is as big as I want.


Here's somethig else to consider, which noboy has mentioned, yet very
important. Even with all the HD programming, you will still find
yourself watching programs in standard definition. Many of the finest
HDTVs on the market render a really crappy picture on SD channels.
Also, with regards to the SD signal, the bigger the screen size, or
the closer you are sitting to the screen, the more "crap" your eyes
will pick up.

FWIW my 2 flat panels are plasma, one is about three years old,
Panasonic 37" in the bedroom, and the other about about six years old,
42" Panasonic in the LR.

Also not mentioned, is that plasmas, unlike LCDs have a degrading
effect on the picture quality after a certain number of hours. They
don't last forever. My older 42" is supposed to be "as new" for
10,000 hours. By comparison, the newer 37" I have in the BR, tells me
to expect 50,000 hours before degradation of almost 50% of the
brightness and overall quality of the picture. This does not exist
with LCDs. Also, plasmas are considerably heavier than LCDs, making
them just a bit more difficult to deal with as far as hanging on a
wall.

When I bought both Panasonics, Panasonic was rated as one of the best
for plasma, and my eyes confirm that. But that was then. Also, I am
extremely satisfied with the picture on the SD channels, best I've
ever seen on a flat panel.

If money is no object, you buy a 1080p plasma. Do not assume biggest
is best, a lot of that has to do with the size of your room. If the
screen is too large for the room, and you're sitting too close to it,
I do not believe you will be happy with anything BUT HD broadcasts,
and even in 2009, SD channels are still all over the dial. For
example, I have the MLB package and only select games are broadcast in
HD, so sometimes I have to watch the Mets in SD, and I'm very happy
I'm watching them that way on my Panasonic plasma and not my brother
in laws Sony LCD.



That's pretty much all I know about TVs.

Peace,
Neil X.

.

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