Why are HDTV's so freakin' expensive?

[GFLPraxis]

Seriously, why? There are 20", $150 CRT monitors out there that support resolutions ABOVE 1080p. My literally 8-year-old monitor in front of me is running at 1600x1200 (that's taller than 1080p but not as wide, and both wider and taller than 720p). It would probably sell for $50 if I sold it.

Yet, I go to Best Buy and there are $600 HDTV's that run at 1080i, don't support 720p, look somewhat fuzzy, have no tuner (so its just a monitor, really), and are much fatter than my CRT behind the screen.

Why is this so? Does it make more sense for me to go out and buy a big CRT monitor and an adapter and use that for my next gen consoles?

And does anyone know where I can find 480p TV's? I figure, 720p HDTV's are quite a bit more expensive than 1080i HDTV's, and some people have said that 480p can sometimes look better than 1080i because interlacing looks so bad, and the Revolution and my current GameCube max out at 480p anyway (though I plan to buy a PS3 eventually), so if I could get a 30" EDTV at 480p, I'd be happy. Preferably through Best Buy, as my sister gets employee discounts.

[Artful Dodger]

Well I just got my new HDTV, a 30" Panasonic WS and it can do all three settings (480, 720, 1080). Yes it is somewhat big (22" dep x 22" h x 36" long) and about 120lbs. But man does it look good playing games and watching movies, finally my Xbox looks like I've wanted it to. Picture plus Inputs are why I bought this and not any other brand not to mention it has nice sound until I get a theater system.
Do you want it for games only or are you building a system around it? You can pick up a nice crt HDTV say a 26" for around $300+ but I could justify the price I paid since it will be plenty for me for years to come but others may differ and that's fine. I guess price is really what you think is high but I must say a 30" will let you be very happy...if you want it to ;)
What models were you looking at?

[risc]

I recently paid AUD$2700 for a 26" Sony KLV series LCD HDTV and that didn't include the AUD$700 for a HD digital set top box, you guys don't know how good you have it. ;)

[MacRumorUser]

Seriously, why? There are 20", $150 CRT monitors out there that support resolutions ABOVE 1080p.

Are they really p - progressive. I thought all CRT screens were interlaced

[risc]

Are they really p - progressive...

Progressive scan just means it draws the whole picture in at once, interlaced means the picture is drawn in odd lines first, then even lines. Because of the way progressive and interlaced scan it also means you get 60 FPS on progressive and 30 on interlaced.

[alex_ant]

Just get a $100 set-top HDTV tuner box on ebay that has an RGB HD15 output and you can hook it up to any computer monitor.

[DISCOMUNICATION]

Well I just got my new HDTV, a 30" Panasonic WS and it can do all three settings (480, 720, 1080).

Do you mean it can just handle the 1080 signal or is it a 1080p display with a 1980x1080 res. All HDTVs can handle all 3 (technically 5) formats. They are just converting the formats to the tv's native res. which is usually 1366x768 1280x768or720. The only flat panels that can actually display 1080 natively at the moment are made by Samsung and Sharp. 1080p is the native format and 1080i is upsampled along with everything else.
On an interesting note my Japanese PSTwo and it's game manuals all refer to the progressive output format as 525p?!?!:eek:

[DISCOMUNICATION]

Oh, almost forgot what the thread was about. HDTVs have video processors to handle all of those formats I previously talked about. Your monitor does not. Vidoe processing keeps the picture from looking like crap. In the case of a HDTV OTA(over the air) tuner with vga output or a dvd player this vga output the player or tuner is doing the processing. Typically this isn't as good as an actual HDTV.
I do agree with you that HDTVs are overpriced especially since the majority of them still don't come with ASTC tuners. The FCC is going to have to keep pushing back their all broadcasts in digital mandate until the industry wises up.

[GFLPraxis]

Do you mean it can just handle the 1080 signal or is it a 1080p display with a 1980x1080 res. All HDTVs can handle all 3 (technically 5) formats. They are just converting the formats to the tv's native res. which is usually 1366x768 1280x768or720. The only flat panels that can actually display 1080 natively at the moment are made by Samsung and Sharp. 1080p is the native format and 1080i is upsampled along with everything else.
On an interesting note my Japanese PSTwo and it's game manuals all refer to the progressive output format as 525p?!?!:eek:

Actually, no. Most of the under-500 HDTV's at Best Buy, strangely, could handle 480p and 1080i but no 720p.


As for 525p:

When they broadcast video information, they need to give CRT-type TVs time to reset the electronic beam to the top of the screen so it can get ready to paint the next sequence of lines. So they build in an interframe gap that equals about 45 lines. There is no picture information in this 45 line gap—it is there just to allow the TV time to get ready to receive the next frame. So the total number of lines in each frame is 480 + 45 = 525. You've probably heard that a TV set has 525 lines. Not so. The signal has 525 lines, but only 480 of them contain active video information that ends up on your screen.

Sometimes you will see this standard analog TV format designated as 525i, which means 525-interlaced.

...

This 480-line progressive scan technique is commonly referred to as 480p. However, there is still the interframe gap, and there are still 525 total lines. So some people call it 525p instead of 480p. But it's the same thing.





Are they really p - progressive. I thought all CRT screens were interlaced

Well, my monitor is running at 60 Hz, so I'd say yeah, it's progressive.

[GFLPraxis]

Do you want it for games only or are you building a system around it? You can pick up a nice crt HDTV say a 26" for around $300+ but I could justify the price I paid since it will be plenty for me for years to come but others may differ and that's fine. I guess price is really what you think is high but I must say a 30" will let you be very happy...if you want it to ;)
What models were you looking at?

Well, because HD service is so expensive, I'm not planning to get it. I would like to use it for games and perhaps the free channels. Eventually when everything goes digital I'll have it for HD.

Thing is, my current system (GameCube) only goes to 480p, and unless Nintendo changes their minds before release, the Revolution only goes to 480p as well. PS3 will go higher, but since it'll be the most expensive next gen console I probably won't buy it at launch; meaning it could be over a year before I can actually go above 480p.

Is the difference watching, say, a DVD, or playing a game, normally and in progressive scan big enough to warrant the money?

Should I just buy a second 20" CRT monitor for cheap and put it in my room for my games? (My current TV is IIRC around 26" or so)

Here's a monitor:

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=P220F-BEI&cat=MON

22", $170 refurb, Grade A (meaning perfect condition, no scratches, etc), 2048 x 1536 maximum resolution.

I could get that and a tuner and be set...


Any recommendations and suggestions appreciated.


The HDTV I was looking at was this one:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7279198&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat31800050030&id=1118839462408

It's $650 in stores (the site says there's a special discount and lists it at $399, however thats only online and it's not available online at the moment :rolleyes: ). However, my sister's Best Buy discount can get it for me for $350. 720p, 1080i, the whole deal. On the other hand, is it worth it? Can you actually see a big difference, or must I buy one of the more expensive, ultra-sharp HDTV's to really see it?

The cheapest tuners Google revealed were $150, most were $200 and up. Someone said that they go for $100 on eBay. Is there a difference in quality between tuners or will they all have the same results?

[GFLPraxis]

Alright, so the way I see it, I have three options.

1) Stick with what I have now.

2) Get a 22" fullscreen monitor that can do 1080p, 720p and 480p, but being that its not wide will either stretch or add black bars to the top and bottom. Price: $180 + $100 for tuner + $3 for HD antennae (gotta love employee discounts) + whatever HD cables cost with discount (probably low). Total: about $300 + tax.

3) Get a 30" widescreen HDTV with 1080i, 720p, and 480p. Price: $350 + $100 for tuner + $3 for HD antennae + whatever HD cables cost with discount. Total: about $500.

Both will let me receive and watch free-to-air channels in full HD (I'd pick 720p over 1080i I think), and watch DVD's and play GameCube in Progressive Scan (480p) with the wider resolution.

In a year or so I can play PS3 in full HD, unless Sony doesn't come out with any decent games in which case I might have to wait another year.

I will also be ready when HD video takes off at a decent price, and can hook up a computer such as a Mac Mini when I get a Mac desktop to it without having to buy another monitor.

Is it worth it to me at this point (the jump from 480i to 480p on everything I own + a few HD free to air channels), or should I wait a year?

[Eric5h5]

Are they really p - progressive. I thought all CRT screens were interlaced

That would be totally wrong. Fortunately! Even regular TVs can do progressive scanning at 60fps (or 50fps for PAL), as long as you limit the vertical resolution to 200-ish. All the old consoles used low-res modes like that.

--Eric

[Artful Dodger]

DISCOMUNICATION
Quote:
Originally Posted by Artful Dodger
Well I just got my new HDTV, a 30" Panasonic WS and it can do all three settings (480, 720, 1080).

Do you mean it can just handle the 1080 signal or is it a 1080p display with a 1980x1080 res. All HDTVs can handle all 3 (technically 5) formats. They are just converting the formats to the tv's native res. which is usually 1366x768 1280x768or720. The only flat panels that can actually display 1080 natively at the moment are made by Samsung and Sharp. 1080p is the native format and 1080i is upsampled along with everything else.

Well it's 1080i as far as any info Panasonic emailed me and I found online or at stores around town, however I forgot to inquire about the 480 on it.
It has (like most at this size and price) the HDMI port in back.
What gets me is my DirectTV box has S-video or Composite :cool: No Component but I'm looking for a HD box. CompUsa had one on sale today but it sold out by the time I got there.
GFLPraxis

Well, because HD service is so expensive, I'm not planning to get it. I would like to use it for games and perhaps the free channels. Eventually when everything goes digital I'll have it for HD.

Yeah the service for me is $10 for 10 channels plus 4 local (I think it might be 12 channels) or I found one with 35 channels costing $30 a month. Neither say if you need to buy the receiver or not unless you "call up" so thats on my to-do list. I say that since some will wave the cost if you sign that one year contract of service.

[savar]

Progressive scan just means it draws the whole picture in at once, interlaced means the picture is drawn in odd lines first, then even lines. Because of the way progressive and interlaced scan it also means you get 60 FPS on progressive and 30 on interlaced.

You mean 60 FPS on interlaced and 30 FPS on progressive, right? Where FPS = fields per second, not frames per second.

[freeorangeshoes]

sitting in front of my 62" toshiba dlp hdtv...worth every penny.

[GFLPraxis]

Well it's 1080i as far as any info Panasonic emailed me and I found online or at stores around town, however I forgot to inquire about the 480 on it.
It has (like most at this size and price) the HDMI port in back.
What gets me is my DirectTV box has S-video or Composite :cool: No Component but I'm looking for a HD box. CompUsa had one on sale today but it sold out by the time I got there.


Yeah the service for me is $10 for 10 channels plus 4 local (I think it might be 12 channels) or I found one with 35 channels costing $30 a month. Neither say if you need to buy the receiver or not unless you "call up" so thats on my to-do list. I say that since some will wave the cost if you sign that one year contract of service.

You also have to pay quite a bit up-front for the receiver itself, THEN those prices for the service you list :s
I'm using Dish Network.


If the HDTV can do 1080i, it can do 480p, because 480p is less than half of 1080i and like Eric5h5 said, you can cut the res in half and get progressive.

However, it may or may not be able to do 720p if it can do 1080i.

[takao]

over here they don't even over CRT-TVs with HDTV.. only flat screens with starting prices around 1200-1300€ (sure there are 1-2 no-name brands with 999€ tvs who are even more blurry than regular tv)

personallyi'll hold out asl ong as possible with my current tv (4:3), since it's no sure what tuner you will need over here anyways
i'll wait untill they hit the below 500 € and whenthere will beactually something broadcasted in HD-TV regulary

[MacRumorUser]

over here they don't even OFFER CRT-TVs with HDTV.. only flat screens with starting prices around 1200-1300€

Yeah I've never seen a CRT TV with HD in Ireland or the UK either, hence my question about CRT's being interlaced. Maybe they are just an 'american' thing
:)

[raggedjimmi]

because its new technology, nothing more than that. which means they can charge the premium. There are ways around it. my mate paid £500 for a 20" LCD HDTV. he's got his PC hooked up to it too. I'm paying, or rather my folks, £350 for a Dell 2005FPW which has a higher resolution albeit without a built in TV tuner and speakers. I'll get a freeview box and hook it up and bam! TV in my room, eagerly awaiting the BBC to switch to HD. which will be in 2008-2010.

smashing! or not.

[GFLPraxis]

I'm not talking about CRT TV's, I mean actual CRT *monitors*. For a computer. Get a 22" one and it has a greater resolution than a HDTV.

Raggedjimmi; I can get around the Premium via Best Buy discount, fortunately :) But it's still quite expensive when you count the tuner in as well.

[DISCOMUNICATION]

Well it's 1080i as far as any info Panasonic emailed me and I found online or at stores around town, however I forgot to inquire about the 480 on it.

Oh, sorry I didn't see the dimensions 22" deep. Yup that a CRT. I thought you had a flat panel of some kind because 120lbs. sound a little lite for a BIG tube tv. Unless it's a DLP, but then it would be alot deeper or is that thiner? Samsung makes that famously trim DLP on the light up stand.:confused:

[DISCOMUNICATION]

Actually, no. Most of the under-500 HDTV's at Best Buy, strangely, could handle 480p and 1080i but no 720p..

Sorry, I was only refering to the limited resolution of most flat panel technology on the market today. I should have said all flat panel HDTVs intead.

At the moment you can count the number of 1080p sets on the market with your fingers on one hand... wait maybe 2. I believe both Samsung and Sharp have updated their models and I assume Sony would have a 1080p set on the market before the PS3 comes out. I know jack about DLP. It's pregressive right? Maybe some of them are 1080p? Oh, wait. Yes, there are a few 1080p DLPs on the market.
I don't like the HDTV market at the moment. They keep replacing the models too rapidly. And the new tech isn't even much better. The price of BIG screens are understandable, but the below 30" range is a little rediculous for the limited tech you get. Why are they still not putting ATSC tuners in every set yet?:mad:

[Artful Dodger]

DISCOMUNICATION
Quote:
Originally Posted by Artful Dodger
Well it's 1080i as far as any info Panasonic emailed me and I found online or at stores around town, however I forgot to inquire about the 480 on it.

Oh, sorry I didn't see the dimensions 22" deep. Yup that a CRT. I thought you had a flat panel of some kind because 120lbs. sound a little lite for a BIG tube tv. Unless it's a DLP, but then it would be alot deeper or is that thiner? Samsung makes that famously trim DLP on the light up stand.

No DLP on mine as I didn't like the Samsung model that is 2/3 thinner (picture was weird looking on the 30" but still crt). I may have misunderstood the OP on this matter as I thought he was looking at CRT HDTVs.

[James Philp]

I just bought one of these (http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?SAM-LE26R4).
Very chuffed with it. I justified the price thusly:
1. It has a lot of inputs
2. It can also be a monitor (thus taking the price off the PM i will eventually buy - a large saving) - i currently extend the desktop on my iMac with it.
3. It will last me ages (fingers crossed) as it is future-proof.
4. It will be the perfect companion to the next gen. of consoles.
5. It has a built in tuner. - so It's a TV already (And does picture-in-picture).
6. It has OK sound - so will do until I get a proper surround receiver/speakers. (although I do sometimes hook it up to some creature speakers for added bass/trebble via the stereo-out it has)
7. 1080p is likely to be uncommon, and anyway scaled back to the native resolution of the screen (1360x768) will look sweet anyhow. (Broadcasting 1080p is almost an impossibility, and I'm not even sure if HD-DVD will be in 1080p)

It has:
2x scart, 1xHDMI/DVI, 1xComponent, 1xPC (D-Sub), 1xComposite, 1xS-video and audio for all those inputs (stereo only). That's a whopping 7 devices (albeit some using very old-fashoned connectors) I can connect. Add in the Tuner and lovely picture quality (from proper sources like my xbox or dvd player), especially when compared to CRT screens (no flicker or discoloration and stuff and great color) and it's a winner for me!

I think LCD is the way to go, and expect to see the 32" dropping to the current price of the 26" in a year or so. These things seem to be getting cheaper all the time.

P.S. It has a 170 degree viewing angle - it really does look the same color/brightness from the side/above/below as it does the front.
P.P.S. o can also get the same model with a digital tuner.

[cepler]

They're that expensive becuase enough people are willing to pay that much for them. Simple.

[Blackheart]

They're that expensive becuase enough people are willing to pay that much for them. Simple.

A fellow economist on the board. :p ;)

[Eidorian]

They're that expensive becuase enough people are willing to pay that much for them. Simple.It's the pixels...

Then again I'd rahter have an HD computer monitor than a TV. My next TV is probably going to be a Standard Def. Digital 20-27" TV with a built-in digital tuner.

[maya]

Well because HDTV seems to be under the spotlight at present thus a little expensive so the companies can acquire its R&D costs.

Besides you will fine a 1080i capable HDTV far less than a 1080p HDTV set. Prices are bound to head south once UHDTV makes the consumer news. ;) :eek: :)

[WehoMacUser]

I have a 42" Sony LCD Projection HD TV which I bought in March of this year. I really enjoy having it. I paid about $2200 for it. Was a store display model but the company who I bought it from delivered to me a new one. They didn't want to change out the one in the store they told me.

I am in Los Angeles, and have to use a cable company to receive HD because of living in an apartment buidling and not being able to use a satellite dish.

The HD TVS will be coming down in the next couple of years especially in the U.S. because of the government demanding the networks give up the reg. TV spectrum for other uses.

I pay extra for the HD channels, all 7 of them not including HBO or Showtime. The "box/receiver" runs about $10. I generally watch the standard def channels because I don't watch the local networks, or PBS station.

I considered all of the different types of HD, i.e. with tuner, without tuner, DLP, LCD, Plasma, etc. and thought this had the best picture. In my opinion, the tuner did not matter because down the road to receive all the HD channels, you most likely will need to sign up for a service and use their box. This is how they control their programming and the amount you pay them for this service each month.

I have no reservations about purchasing a HD set because I know that it will always be 'behind" the times so to speak. It is like a computer.

Keep in mind, in the U.S. at least, the HD standard hasn't totally been decided, and to really get the true HD picture everyone would need to be re-piped to get the "higher" bandwidth of the HD. HD sends a large bit of information so since we do not have that large of "pipe" currently in our homes the signal is compressed which will to a certain extent can alter the signal/look, etc.

I work at a facility that does HD for the studios, networks, etc. and we do all of the different HD formats for different reasons.

Not sure if this made sense but to me with all of the information I researched and garnered over the 9 months of looking before purchasing one I decided that there was never a "correct" time or "price" because there will always be something better down the road.

Just buy one and enjoy, and totally understand that eventually you will need to purchase something new a few years later.
:)

[MacRumorUser]

DELL 26" W2600 HDTV LCD which has

DVI, VGA, 2 Component, 2 Svideo, 2 composite phono, 2 Scart, RF connections is now on sale for

£378 Dell.co.uk
565 Euro Dell.ie

That's very good value.

[cartoonfox]

hey thanks for the link.

GFLPraxis, im in the same boat as you. i have a gamecube, and getting a revolution. so if you find a nice display around 20" that supports 480p (i dont really need anything bigger) let me know : ]


good luck

[GFLPraxis]

hey thanks for the link.

GFLPraxis, im in the same boat as you. i have a gamecube, and getting a revolution. so if you find a nice display around 20" that supports 480p (i dont really need anything bigger) let me know : ]


good luck


If you don't mind a 20" screen, then here's one:
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=G810-BEI-B&cat=MON

It should be able to do 1080p because the listed resolution is higher than 1080p. It's not widescreen so 480p, 720p, 1080i, or 1080p will get the black bars on top, and you'd need a component to VGA adapter.


I can't find any 480p TV's other than expensive large LCD ones. They're either HD or not, usually.

[LethalWolfe]

Keep in mind, in the U.S. at least, the HD standard hasn't totally been decided, and to really get the true HD picture everyone would need to be re-piped to get the "higher" bandwidth of the HD. HD sends a large bit of information so since we do not have that large of "pipe" currently in our homes the signal is compressed which will to a certain extent can alter the signal/look, etc.

The HD standard is set, it's just that there are various resolutions and frame rates that fall under that standard. And the bandwidth the HD channels are going to get is around 19Mbs IIRC. The signal the consumer gets will always be very compressed compared to what is used in a progressional post/production environment. It's just not cost effective to send an 880Mbs signal into everyone's living room. ;)


Lethal

[kinsella93]

Alright ladies and gents, i don't mean to be the complete noob of the thread, but I'm currently in the market for a new monitor/tv as well,1) what does a TV tuner accually do? 2) what classifies a tv a tv and a moniter a moniter?

sorry for making this threat 267 times dumber. :o

[Bubbasteve]

I'm completely confused with the whole HD and 720 1080 lingo... I'm looking for a screen that will show off my soon to come Xbox 360 games greater than my current 20 inch Toshiba flat screen...I want it as cheap but not a piece of crap. Do I necessarily need an HD TV for my games to have a greater quality or ca I have an LCD screen that support the 720 or whatever... if someone out there can help me I will be greatly appreciative

[clayj]

I'm completely confused with the whole HD and 720 1080 lingo... I'm looking for a screen that will show off my soon to come Xbox 360 games greater than my current 20 inch Toshiba flat screen...I want it as cheap but not a piece of crap. Do I necessarily need an HD TV for my games to have a greater quality or ca I have an LCD screen that support the 720 or whatever... if someone out there can help me I will be greatly appreciativeThe quick-and-dirty version:

720 = 720 lines of resolution
1080 = 1080 lines of resolution (if your TV doesn't HAVE 1080 lines of resolution, the signal will be scaled down to fit the TV)
i = interlaced = how all TVs used to work, where half of each frame (lines 1, 3, 5, 7...) was drawn and then the other half (lines 2, 4, 6, 8...) was drawn... this means interlaced is a little "flickery"
p = progressive = the entire frame is drawn in a single pass, so progressive is smoother than interlaced

By definition, high-definition requires 720p or higher. HDTVs can also support 1080i (common) and 1080p (this is rare). Depending on whether the TV has 1080 lines of resolution, 720p can actually look BETTER than 1080i.

[risc]

1) what does a TV tuner accually do? 2) what classifies a tv a tv and a moniter a moniter?

1) It allows you to watch free to air TV.
2) The correct term for a plasma/lcd without a TV tuner but still designed for TV via a set top box is a display. So the difference is the inclusion of a TV tuner. Displays are usually HD resolution 720p/1080p while a computer monitor will have any resolution it wants and is designed for displaying the output from a computer.

[Bubbasteve]

The quick-and-dirty version:

720 = 720 lines of resolution
1080 = 1080 lines of resolution (if your TV doesn't HAVE 1080 lines of resolution, the signal will be scaled down to fit the TV)
i = interlaced = how all TVs used to work, where half of each frame (lines 1, 3, 5, 7...) was drawn and then the other half (lines 2, 4, 6, 8...) was drawn... this means interlaced is a little "flickery"
p = progressive = the entire frame is drawn in a single pass, so progressive is smoother than interlaced

By definition, high-definition requires 720p or higher. HDTVs can also support 1080i (common) and 1080p (this is rare). Depending on whether the TV has 1080 lines of resolution, 720p can actually look BETTER than 1080i.

I came across this HD TV from Circuit City... now is this really an HDTV that will show off my games? http://www.circuitcity.com/rpsm/oid/123799/rpem/ccd/productDetailSpecification.do#tabs

Or do you know of any good TV that isn't too large (by too large I mean above 26 inches.... lowest is 17 inches)

[clayj]

I came across this HD TV from Circuit City... now is this really an HDTV that will show off my games? http://www.circuitcity.com/rpsm/oid/123799/rpem/ccd/productDetailSpecification.do#tabs

Or do you know of any good TV that isn't too large (by too large I mean above 26 inches.... lowest is 17 inches)The TV you listed has one big problem:

# HD component video inputs
Info unavailable

Stay away from this one. A proper HDTV needs to have component inputs. A tube (CRT) HDTV is going to be less expensive than a comparably-sized LCD or plasma TV, although it'll be more bulky. I can vouch for the Sony WEGA tube TVs being excellent, with high-quality and lots of inputs.

[Tommyg117]

I have a sweet LG 36 inch. It does all three 480, 780 and 1080i. It is gonna look great when i finally get an xbox! Until then, its awesome for movies and hdtv!

[Bubbasteve]

The TV you listed has one big problem:

# HD component video inputs
Info unavailable

Stay away from this one. A proper HDTV needs to have component inputs. A tube (CRT) HDTV is going to be less expensive than a comparably-sized LCD or plasma TV, although it'll be more bulky. I can vouch for the Sony WEGA tube TVs being excellent, with high-quality and lots of inputs.

daaaah, I thought I found a great deal

[Rob587]

so let me get this straight...?

1) HDTV's that dont come with tuners cannot view High Deff tv?

2) Also, if you do get a HDTV with a tuner, does that mean that when ever Im watching espn on the tv it will come in high deff without me changing or upgrading my cable package?

3) Are the lcd's better quality than the tube or are they they exact same just different sizes?

4) What 26" HDTV w/ tuner would you reccomend? I would like it to be pretty much top of the line for the best price.

[risc]

so let me get this straight...?

1) HDTV's that dont come with tuners cannot view High Deff tv?

2) Also, if you do get a HDTV with a tuner, does that mean that when ever Im watching espn on the tv it will come in high deff without me changing or upgrading my cable package?

3) Are the lcd's better quality than the tube or are they they exact same just different sizes?

4) What 26" HDTV w/ tuner would you reccomend? I would like it to be pretty much top of the line for the best price.

1) a HDTV display can view HDTV using a set top box, or HD cable box.

2) Most HDTVs with built in tuners are analog and standard definition, check the specs of the TV.

3) CRT have darker blacks, but this is getting better with LCD all the time. On my Sony KLV series LCD TV black is black, and if it isn't I can't tell. I prefer TFT myself, but it's a personal choice some people prefer CRT, Plasma, DLP.

4) See my 2nd response about TVs with built in tuners. My LCD TV is a TV but the built in tuner is standard definiton and analog, I use digital HDTV via a Sony set top box. I really like my KLV and can't recommend it highly enough, bloody expensive though. It costs AUD$3999 retail for 26". Not that people pay retail I found mine for just under AUD$2700.

[Rob587]

wow now im even more confused...

I guess I want you to reccomend a awsome 26" lcd hdtv that can view high deff things broadcasted over my standard cable that I have now. Is this more or less cost effective than buying a seperate hdtv box?

[risc]

wow now im even more confused...

I guess I want you to reccomend a awsome 26" lcd hdtv that can view high deff things broadcasted over my standard cable that I have now. Is this more or less cost effective than buying a seperate hdtv box?

If you cable provider is providing HD content and the cable box you have handles HD all it should take is plugging it in to any HDTV ready dislpay. You probably don't want to hear this but I have NFI about how things work for you in Australia free to air TV is broadcast in analog, digial, and high definition digital, then cable is analog or digital, my TV could handle any of these sources. Analog TV is handled by the inbuilt TV tuner, and the other sources require set top boxes. If you want recommendations for a good TV check out Sonys or Panasonics LCDs.

[Rob587]

i just have standard cable for my apartment but i see hd come up on espn games... does that mean i not only need a hdtv but hdtv serivce aswell or does hdtv come in if u have a hdtv with the tuner built in?

[clayj]

i just have standard cable for my apartment but i see hd come up on espn games... does that mean i not only need a hdtv but hdtv serivce aswell or does hdtv come in if u have a hdtv with the tuner built in?Here's how it works here in Charlotte (TimeWarner Cable):

- You have to have a HD/HD DVR cable box.
- You have to have an HD-capable TV (component, DVI, or HDMI inputs).
- You have to subscribe to an "HD tier" ($6.95/month) to get some HD channels (like ESPN HD, INHD, Discovery HD, etc.). Network HD (NBC, Fox, CBS, ABC, PBS) is free as long as you have the TV and the cable box. HBO HD comes with HBO subscription, SHO HD with Showtime subscription, etc.

It's probably a similar arrangement where you are.

[Xtremehkr]

Early adopters usually pay more for the technology, from what I have read. It also makes sense because after time, the more units that are made the less the cost is.

I have a 55" that I use for watching DVDs and the occasional TV program. It is HDTV capable, but I haven't seen the need yet.

I like the new DLP sets, they are much cheaper than the Plasma sets and the picture quality looks better to me. I know that Plasma are the must have sets, but when I compare the two, it looks like DLP provides the superior picture.

Besides that, I can get a 72" DLP that is among the best for about the same price as the best 42" Plasma.

HDTV aside, what the consensus on DLP vs. Plasma?

I think HDTV is a given, but I won't be an early adopter because of the price. Eventually it will be the norm. The technology I choose to play it on may make a difference though. I am leaning towards DLP, it's not that much bigger than Plasma, and you can get a lot more for the same price.

[clayj]

I think HDTV is a given, but I won't be an early adopter because of the price. Eventually it will be the norm. The technology I choose to play it on may make a difference though. I am leaning towards DLP, it's not that much bigger than Plasma, and you can get a lot more for the same price."Early adopter"? I've had my plasma TV for almost 5 years now... I am an early adopter. Anyone who buys an HDTV now, be it LCD, plasma, DLP, or CRT, is merely buying up-to-date technology.

[maya]

Since HDTV is the "new thing" it is a given that its going to be expensive for a few years till the companies can recover they R&D costs. Plus as they require more funding for new technology that is also where this plays in. Anyone could figure this out, and its nothing new since its been happening for years. Where have you been frozen in ice or stuck on Avalon? :rolleyes:

[Rob587]

Here's how it works here in Charlotte (TimeWarner Cable):

- You have to have a HD/HD DVR cable box.
- You have to have an HD-capable TV (component, DVI, or HDMI inputs).
- You have to subscribe to an "HD tier" ($6.95/month) to get some HD channels (like ESPN HD, INHD, Discovery HD, etc.). Network HD (NBC, Fox, CBS, ABC, PBS) is free as long as you have the TV and the cable box. HBO HD comes with HBO subscription, SHO HD with Showtime subscription, etc.

It's probably a similar arrangement where you are.

So basically the tv's that come with the tuner can get the local channels that offer hd and hbo and showtime if you have them subscribed through your cable already. And if you want extra hd channels you have to order them.

Basically you need a tuner to see HDTV tv if you dont already have a cable box for it. right?

[Bubbasteve]

The TV you listed has one big problem:

# HD component video inputs
Info unavailable

Stay away from this one. A proper HDTV needs to have component inputs. A tube (CRT) HDTV is going to be less expensive than a comparably-sized LCD or plasma TV, although it'll be more bulky. I can vouch for the Sony WEGA tube TVs being excellent, with high-quality and lots of inputs.

ClayJ I know you are getting bombarded with questions but I checked on amazon and I found that the TV I mentioned has one HDMI In... now is that a component for HD?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009WH85Y/qid=1133494841/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-2124618-6123055?n=507846&s=electronics&v=glance

[clayj]

So basically the tv's that come with the tuner can get the local channels that offer hd and hbo and showtime if you have them subscribed through your cable already. And if you want extra hd channels you have to order them.

Basically you need a tuner to see HDTV tv if you dont already have a cable box for it. right?Actually, no. Most HD channels are up in the digital range (channel 200 or higher here), so your TV cannot get those channels without the correct cable box.

TVs that have built-in HDTV tuners can get network HD channels over-the-air, through an antenna. Beyond that, you pretty much need an HD cable box.

ClayJ I know you are getting bombarded with questions but I checked on amazon and I found that the TV I mentioned has one HDMI In... now is that a component for HD?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009WH85Y/qid=1133494841/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-2124618-6123055?n=507846&s=electronics&v=glanceHDMI can carry an HD signal... but of course your cable box will need to have an HDMI out, or it will need to be converted to HDMI.

[Bubbasteve]

HDMI can carry an HD signal... but of course your cable box will need to have an HDMI out, or it will need to be converted to HDMI.

I'm currently at college so recieving HD is out of the question... but does the Xbox 360 support HDMI because while at college that is what I'll be using the HD for is my 360

[clayj]

I'm currently at college so recieving HD is out of the question... but does the Xbox 360 support HDMINope, not yet. Right now the supported outputs (using adapters, of course) are VGA, component + composite, and S-video. I suppose someone might release a 360-HDMI adapter... there's certainly no technical reason it can't be done.

[Bubbasteve]

Nope, not yet. Right now the supported outputs (using adapters, of course) are VGA, component + composite, and S-video. I suppose someone might release a 360-HDMI adapter... there's certainly no technical reason it can't be done.

So what you are saying is is that the TV I am suggesting is really HD but as of right now HDMI isn't supported on the 360 yet... is there some type of adapter or plug that you know of on the top of your head that will make my dream come true

[Xtremehkr]

"Early adopter"? I've had my plasma TV for almost 5 years now... I am an early adopter. Anyone who buys an HDTV now, be it LCD, plasma, DLP, or CRT, is merely buying up-to-date technology.

Relatively speaking. Plasma was not exactly released yesterday, but at the same time it is not the norm.

I remember when Plasma was first released, the cost was incredible. It has come down significantly since then. But when you consider how many people actually own one, they are a fairly small number of people when considering the market overall.

Plasma is great, the decision between DLP and Plasma has been a hard one to make, DLP has a slight advantage because of what is can offer in picture size. Neither are really common though.

For some people maybe, and I am sure that you have enjoyed yours.

[clayj]

So what you are saying is is that the TV I am suggesting is really HD but as of right now HDMI isn't supported on the 360 yet... is there some type of adapter or plug that you know of on the top of your head that will make my dream come trueMaybe you can find a component to HDMI converter... but I don't know of one.

[cvalda]

Well, my monitor is running at 60 Hz, so I'd say yeah, it's progressive.

No no no no no. 60 hz is not the FPS. TVs run in 50 (PAL, I believe) and 60 (NTSC) hz (some TVs are beginning to run at 72 hz), because that is signal strength, or something of that sort.

Carry on.

[GFLPraxis]

No no no no no. 60 hz is not the FPS. TVs run in 50 (PAL, I believe) and 60 (NTSC) hz (some TVs are beginning to run at 72 hz), because that is signal strength, or something of that sort.

Carry on.

To the contrary:
http://searchwebservices.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid26_gci214565,00.html

It's the refresh rate.
NTSC also runs at 60, however it only displays one field every time it refreshes (half frame) instead of a full frame. PAL runs at 50 but also shows a field per second.