I thought I'd make up a quick little guide about HDTV's, for those of you planning to buy one in the near future.
I don't really know why there are huge blank gaps above the tables, I will sort it out soon. Sorry.
Contents
1. Should I get an HDTV, or not?
2. Considerations
a. Types of TVs
b. Gear you will need
3. Notes
1. Should I get HDTV, or not?
So you are sitting downstairs watching TV, maybe with a newspaper by your side, and you notice an ad for a brand new HDTV. You've always wanted one, but you thought of too many reasons of why you shouldn't. You think they are too costly, too many cables to fumble with, and ultimately, too much of a hassle. Well push those thoughts aside and forget about all that.
First, you should ask yourself the following:
"Does the TV I currently have still satisfy me?"
"Am I willing to spend hundreds of dollars just to get a better picture?"
"If so, do I really need a better, sharper, brighter picture?"
If you are answering no to those questions, you probably don't need an HDTV yet. Although in February of next year, all analog broadcasts will be switched to digital, meaning you will need a new digital receiver, and/or new TV.
If you answered yes, you should probably think about purchasing a new TV in the near future. Here are a few things of what you should consider.
2. Considerations
a) The price of HDTV's and the types. Here is a little table I found on CNET awhile ago:
Now, you will need to drop a considerable amount of money for a good quality, good sized TV. Be prepared to do so.b) What you will need to get HDTVNow just getting the actual television is not enough. If you do not have the following pieces of equipment, you will not be able to view high definition TV.HDTV SourceYou'll need a special satellite box that can deliver HDTV channels and programs to your new TV. High-def receivers will cost a bit more than regular digital ones, and you will need a good set of component cables at the least to get some quality viewing, but I'll go into cables later. In addition to satellite, there's another way to get HDTV programming, and that is by connecting an antenna to your TV. This method is called free over-the-air HDTV. It broadcasts in many major network providers.HDTV ProgrammingHigh-def channels are just like regular channels, but they can broadcast shows in a resolution of 1080i. The standard dimension of an HDTV is 1920 by 1080 pixels. Every cable and satellite provider that offers high-def channels usually offers the regular channel, too, which will be in a resolution of 480i. I will go further into resolutions in part three of this guide. There are many more regular, a.k.a. standard-definition, channels than high-definition ones at the moment, but more and more networks are offering high-def versions. Some related channels, such as ESPN and ESPNHD, have the same shows and schedules, while others, such as Discovery and DiscoveryHD, are different.WiringThe proper wiring can affect the quality of your TV. There are 8 different types of wiring, but the main 3 you should choose is either HDMI, DVI, or component. Here’s a run down of all the different wiring/cable types:
Notes
Here are a few things to realize when you are purchasing your new TV.
1. All HDTV's look exceptional. When you are in the store, gawking at the TV's, you will think they look pretty damn good. You'll set your eye on the brightest, sharpest one and say, "That's the one!" Hold up buddy. The store has all their TV's hooked up to high-def as a demo. They use that to show the full potential of the TV. Also, the picture settings may be different between each TV. You could make one TV look better than the one beside it just by tweaking the picture settings. Sure, you'll notice a few flaws occasionally, but in general, even an inexpensive HDTV showing high-def looks much better than a standard TV showing the highest-quality material it can.
2. Regular TV isn't very great. Many people will get home, plug in their TV, and flip to their first channel, only to be dissapointed. This is because it is not in HD yet. The picture may appeared stretched, or have black bars beside it. Not to worry, HD to the rescue! Standard TV shows will either have black bars or will become stretched while you watch them. Trust me, it's not that bad, you'll get used to it. Go out and get yourself some nice component, HDMI, or DVI cables, in addition to the HD receiver, and you'll be good to go.
3. Remember to tweak your TV’s settings once you get it. The factory defaults may not look very good, and adjusting the sharpness, brightness, and color will improve your viewing experience drastically.
4. Almost all HDTV are widescreen. Many commercials and DVD movies will have black bars on the top and bottom of the screen. HD programming and HD movies will fill up the entire screen, with the exception of ultra widescreen movies, which will still have the black bars. Widescreen isn’t necessarily a bad thing though. Instead of the standard 4:3 aspect ratio, you are receiving 16:9, which will enable you to see more of the scene.
I really hoped you enjoyed this guide, and I am considering making a glossary of sorts with a bunch of HDTV jargon and lingo in the future. I am also thinking about going into resolutions in a bit more detail.
I don't really know why there are huge blank gaps above the tables, I will sort it out soon. Sorry.
Contents
1. Should I get an HDTV, or not?
2. Considerations
a. Types of TVs
b. Gear you will need
3. Notes
1. Should I get HDTV, or not?
So you are sitting downstairs watching TV, maybe with a newspaper by your side, and you notice an ad for a brand new HDTV. You've always wanted one, but you thought of too many reasons of why you shouldn't. You think they are too costly, too many cables to fumble with, and ultimately, too much of a hassle. Well push those thoughts aside and forget about all that.
First, you should ask yourself the following:
"Does the TV I currently have still satisfy me?"
"Am I willing to spend hundreds of dollars just to get a better picture?"
"If so, do I really need a better, sharper, brighter picture?"
If you are answering no to those questions, you probably don't need an HDTV yet. Although in February of next year, all analog broadcasts will be switched to digital, meaning you will need a new digital receiver, and/or new TV.
If you answered yes, you should probably think about purchasing a new TV in the near future. Here are a few things of what you should consider.
2. Considerations
a) The price of HDTV's and the types. Here is a little table I found on CNET awhile ago:
| TV Type | Typical Size | Typical Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| CRT (Typical TV that every household has) | 27-30 inches | $450 to $600 |
| Flat-Panel Plasma | 37-71 inches | $800 to $15000 |
| Flat-Panel LCD | 13-65 inches | $200 to $8000 |
| Rear Projection | 37-73 inches | $1000 to $5200 |
| Name | Use | Level of Quality |
|---|---|---|
| RF | Antennae, VCRs, cable and satellite boxes | Lowest, Highest (digital) for HDTV tuners |
| Composite (red, yellow, white) | Cable and satellite boxes, VCRs, DVD players, game consoles | Low |
| S-Video | Cable and satellite boxes, S-VHS VCRs, DVD players, game consoles | Medium |
| Component (red, blue, green) | HD cable and satellite boxes, DVD players, HDTV tuners, Blu-ray and HD DVD players, game consoles, other HD sources | High |
| RGB | Computers, video processors | High |
| Firewire | some HDTV tuners, D-VHS VCRs | Highest for Digital |
| DVI-D with HDCP | Computers; older HD cable and satellite boxes, HDTV tuners and DVD players | Highest for Digital |
| HDMI (Provides sound and video in one cable) | HD cable and satellite boxes, DVD players, HDTV tuners, Blu-ray and HD DVD players, game consoles, computers, other HD sources | Highest for Digital |
Notes
Here are a few things to realize when you are purchasing your new TV.
1. All HDTV's look exceptional. When you are in the store, gawking at the TV's, you will think they look pretty damn good. You'll set your eye on the brightest, sharpest one and say, "That's the one!" Hold up buddy. The store has all their TV's hooked up to high-def as a demo. They use that to show the full potential of the TV. Also, the picture settings may be different between each TV. You could make one TV look better than the one beside it just by tweaking the picture settings. Sure, you'll notice a few flaws occasionally, but in general, even an inexpensive HDTV showing high-def looks much better than a standard TV showing the highest-quality material it can.
2. Regular TV isn't very great. Many people will get home, plug in their TV, and flip to their first channel, only to be dissapointed. This is because it is not in HD yet. The picture may appeared stretched, or have black bars beside it. Not to worry, HD to the rescue! Standard TV shows will either have black bars or will become stretched while you watch them. Trust me, it's not that bad, you'll get used to it. Go out and get yourself some nice component, HDMI, or DVI cables, in addition to the HD receiver, and you'll be good to go.
3. Remember to tweak your TV’s settings once you get it. The factory defaults may not look very good, and adjusting the sharpness, brightness, and color will improve your viewing experience drastically.
4. Almost all HDTV are widescreen. Many commercials and DVD movies will have black bars on the top and bottom of the screen. HD programming and HD movies will fill up the entire screen, with the exception of ultra widescreen movies, which will still have the black bars. Widescreen isn’t necessarily a bad thing though. Instead of the standard 4:3 aspect ratio, you are receiving 16:9, which will enable you to see more of the scene.
I really hoped you enjoyed this guide, and I am considering making a glossary of sorts with a bunch of HDTV jargon and lingo in the future. I am also thinking about going into resolutions in a bit more detail.
Last edited by Ryan (2008-05-10 12:00:28)
