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DEL.ICIO.USHigh on Hi-Def
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I bought my HDTV several years ago. At the time there wasn’t much programming. I spent a lot of time watching documentaries about the love life of otters and travel shows that offered a peek into life in Estonia.
Now, the high-def content is finally there. And in 2009, all programming will be digital. So, even though your old analog TV will work just fine with a cable box or satellite receiver, common sense dictates that if you’re in the market for a TV you should be looking at HDTV options.
And that’s where things can get a mite confusing. HDTV is a great advance, but it has made buying a TV a lot more complicated than it used to be.
To start with, you’ll be choosing from a menu of technologies that includes LCD, plasma, DLP and old-tech rear projection or tube models.
Start by ruling out rear projection, even though that is what I have. When I bought mine, rear projection offered a decent HDTV picture at a price I could afford. Prices now have fallen, and there’s no longer much of an argument for rear projection. Sony, in fact, is going out of the rear projection business.
That leaves us with a choice between LCD, plasma and DLP. You’d be fine with any of the three. One of my favorite HDTV experts believes the DLP picture is unmatched. But if I was buying today, I’d pick a plasma set. The brightness and depth of the blacks from plasma is hard to beat. However, plasma uses more electricity and runs quite a bit hotter than LCD.
And while plasma is fairly dependable these days, LCD is the way to go if long life is the most important factor in your decision.
To narrow down brands and specific choices, read reviews. I suggest www.cnet.com, and Consumer Reports magazine does a good job. Use the reviews to rule out sets that have repair issues, or if you find horror stories about the way the manufacturer supports the warranty. Try to build a list of sets in your price range that seem worth considering.
Now use the most powerful selection tool available: Your eyes.
Picture quality is highly subjective. Spend time looking at the pictures on sets that make your short list. Watch from about the same viewing distance and angle you’ll use at home. Retailers will likely have the set hooked up for the best possible high-def picture; ask to see it in standard definition as well, if possible.
As far as size, the temptation is to buy the biggest set you can afford (or can’t afford). To really see the amazing detail offered by HDTV, a big screen is unmatched. But for settings like the one I have at home - a smallish den - a 42-inch set is plenty big enough.
The right sound system brings out the theater-quality of the HDTV experience. When I first got my set I used the built-in speakers. I was amazed at the difference when I added a five speaker system made for home theater. The big sound makes it seem more like being at the movies.
One thing not to fret about: Most manufacturers are touting 1080p sets. The “p” stands for progressive scan. It is superior to 1080i (the “i” stands for interlaced). You can read about the difference in the two methods of displaying the picture here: http://tinyurl.com/y9lcxt.
Progressive scan is better, but keep in mind the fact that no broadcaster is sending out images in that format. So if the set you want offers progressive scan (that’s the way the market is going) that’s great. But do not rule out a 1080i set if the price and picture knock you out. For smaller sets of under 40 inches, experts say a 720p set is fine, by the way.
I hope these tips help. If you make the switch you’re in for a treat, and you won’t have to watch a bunch of otters to get it.
Permalink | Comments (25) | Post your comment | Categories: Columns
Comments
By Dan
January 18, 2008 11:04 PM | Link to this
Sony is getting out of rear projection - Sony used the LCoS (liquid crystal on silicon technology). Sony thinks flat screen LCD is the future
But rear projection is still being marketed by Samsung (which also markets LCD and plasma products) and others - it’s “old fashioned” rear projection technology is DLP (digital light processing) rear projection.
If you are ruling out rear projection, then you are ruling out DLP. And if you want a HDTV over 52 inches and are ruling out rear projection, plasma is the only game in town.
To the uninitiated, there is plasma flat screen and LCD flat screen. There is no DLP flat screen just as there are no round squares.
By Michael
January 18, 2008 11:31 PM | Link to this
720p is fine (not to mention about your only choice) on smaller sets, but if someone plans on buying a Blu-ray player (I’m calling HD DVD dead), they should heavily consider a 1080p television. All Blu-ray players are 1080p, so there is merit to spending the extra buck. I assume that most people will want to use such a television for a minimum of five years, so either go 1080p or find the cheapest yet reliable 720p you can get.
By Politics Aside
January 19, 2008 8:38 AM | Link to this
1080p? Look, I’m the worst couch potato that ever lived. A real sofa spud. I think I’m going to be judged on episode 39 of the Dick Van D** show when I die.
Anyway, I have some data for football lovers: Football is hard to televise. You have to pan back and that makes the players look fuzzy. HDTV almost solved that problem. Some channels are crisper than others. Fox is terrible. I have a 50” Samsung 1080p DLP. CBS shows a crisper picture, but I dont think it’s broadcast in 1080p. or 720p. I think it’s merely “digital”, whatever that means. But dont expect football heaven yet. It will be years, I’m told, before we get to see an actual 1080p camera broadcasting real 1080p to your 1080p television set.
Maybe I heard wrong, I am a little deaf. Maybe I heard right but got it wrong when I processed it. Maybe I’m senile at 57 and get everything wrong. Maybe all programs are 1080p, yet still fuzzy to me because I havent updated my eyeglasses in fifteen years.
Get the tuna cassaroles in the oven early for Sunday night’s Giants and Packers game. Football: 1080p. Wife: 180lb (I’ll be doing the dishes at halftime).
By Dan
January 19, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this
720p (progressive scan) is thought by some to broadcast better images than 1080i (interlaced scan) for fast action broadcast images such as sports
Fox & ESPN/ABC broadcast in 720p - CBS & NBC broadcast in 1080i
My eyes are not sensitive enough to see the difference - either 720p or 1080i is a massive improvement over standard def
For a comprehensive discussion of HDTV purchasing options and questions this site is excellent
[text to be linked] (http://www.cnet.com/hdtv-world/?tag=dir)
By Sara Gilford
January 19, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this
I beg to differ, serious now. The fox broadcasts of the falcon games were horrendous and whatever technology was used, it was inferior to the picture over at CBS on sunday afternoon this fall and winter. There was a noticeable and upsetting difference. And I have average eyes, and average brain to notice differences. Maybe Dan, your problem is that you’ve never taken one of those “find the two bunnies that are the same” tests you see in children’s funbooks. You know, where they show 10 little baby bunnies, and only 2 are exactly alike? have you ever passed that test, if not, stfu about 1080p vs 720p and football and everything.
Just kidding. thanx 4 the link. I think we’re all experts when it comes to television.
By Bill
January 19, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this
Exactly right Sara, that’s the fun with HDTV, we really are all experts. And it’s basically true - what our eyes and ears tell us about the programming is ‘right for us’ even if someone else (literally) sees things differently.
The funny thing is that even the engineers at studios that work in video agree - after checking all the reference monitors - use their eyes, what the video looks like, as a final measuring stick.
As far as 1080p - there are no broadcasts in that format.
I also agree with the poster who says that the contest is over and BluRay is the winner. I think it’ll be a while before that’s official (as far as it being the surviving format) but I do think it’s on the tracks now to be true.
OK. I’m now going to go watch something with a picture quality that far exceeds 1080p. It’s not even close.
I’m going to light a fire, take off my shoes, and watch the fireplace. Amazing sound and the picture is as lifelike as it gets.
By Sara Gilford
January 20, 2008 8:21 AM | Link to this
Watch the fireplace? Are you using rabbit ears? Does your wife have to climb up on the roof and adjust the chimney? What? Totally not fair. The rich guys get all the technology first. That’s why Marx was right. (Chico)
By Bill
January 20, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this
Yeap, Sara, if I had to give up one of the two - fireplace or HDTV - the HDTV would be gone in a minute.
Sometimes it seems that high tech invented multimedia experiences. But I’ll take my fireplace and - tonight - the chili that I make (it won an award once at the California State Fair and is a little hotter than blazing oak logs).
I’m glad that I don’t have to make the choice though - and may even turn on the set to catch some football today.
By Sara Gilford
January 20, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this
a recipe for chili on this cold football-lover’s sunday would be a groove, sir.
I have to miss game one, and half of game two today because I have to go hold my spouse’s hand at a chemo-therapy session, but I’ll catch the end of the Favre/Manning duel and that’s good enough for me.
By Bill
January 20, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this
I hope the chemo goes smoothly.
I’m including a link here to my chili recipe
It is long and not exactly high tech so I decided to put it on my personal Web page. That way people who are more interested in HDTV than chili can just skip it.
It’s really not a recipe, more like directions since I don’t measure … mostly I just do what seems right and tastes right.
Also I just cut and pasted it from an e-mail that I sent to a friend who wanted to know how to make it. So it’s not fancy and there are typos and mispellings (editors keep the world from seeing my horrible flaws when it comes to stuff like that).
The lawyers insist that I add this: I am not responsible for any harm caused by this recipe. I make no representations as to its safety or viability - both during the cooking process and while it is being consumed.
By Chazz
January 21, 2008 10:30 PM | Link to this
Some misinformation in the HDTV column. DLP IS rear projection. Samsung, Mistubishi make DLP models. The “mirrors” are in the rear. Sony got out of the RPTV business but Samsung and Mistubishi DLPs are still there. Most DLPs are 15” - 20” deep. Rear projection!
By Chazz
January 21, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this
Some misinformation in the HDTV column. DLP IS rear projection. Samsung, Mistubishi make DLP models. The “mirrors” are in the rear. Sony got out of the RPTV business but Samsung and Mistubishi DLPs are still there. Most DLPs are 15” - 20” deep. Rear projection!
By Chazz
January 21, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this
Some misinformation in the HDTV column. DLP IS rear projection. Samsung, Mistubishi make DLP models. The “mirrors” are in the rear. Sony got out of the RPTV business but Samsung and Mistubishi DLPs are still there. Most DLPs are 15” - 20” deep. Rear projection!
By Chazz
January 21, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this
Some misinformation in the HDTV column. DLP IS rear projection. Samsung, Mistubishi make DLP models. The “mirrors” are in the rear. Sony got out of the RPTV business but Samsung and Mistubishi DLPs are still there. Most DLPs are 15” - 20” deep. Rear projection!
By Chazz
January 21, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this
Some misinformation in the HDTV column. DLP IS rear projection. Samsung, Mistubishi make DLP models. The “mirrors” are in the rear. Sony got out of the RPTV business but Samsung and Mistubishi DLPs are still there. Most DLPs are 15” - 20” deep. Rear projection!
By Chazz
January 21, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this
Some misinformation in the HDTV column. DLP IS rear projection. Samsung, Mistubishi make DLP models. The “mirrors” are in the rear. Sony got out of the RPTV business but Samsung and Mistubishi DLPs are still there. Most DLPs are 15” - 20” deep. Rear projection!
By Chazz
January 21, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this
Some misinformation in the HDTV column. DLP IS rear projection. Samsung, Mistubishi make DLP models. The “mirrors” are in the rear. Sony got out of the RPTV business but Samsung and Mistubishi DLPs are still there. Most DLPs are 15” - 20” deep. Rear projection!
By Chazz
January 21, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this
Some misinformation in the HDTV column. DLP IS rear projection. Samsung, Mistubishi make DLP models. The “mirrors” are in the rear. Sony got out of the RPTV business but Samsung and Mistubishi DLPs are still there. Most DLPs are 15” - 20” deep. Rear projection!
By Chazz
January 21, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this
Some misinformation in the HDTV column. DLP IS rear projection. Samsung, Mistubishi make DLP models. The “mirrors” are in the rear. Sony got out of the RPTV business but Samsung and Mistubishi DLPs are still there. Most DLPs are 15” - 20” deep. Rear projection!
By Chazz
January 21, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this
Some misinformation in the HDTV column. DLP IS rear projection. Samsung, Mistubishi make DLP models. The “mirrors” are in the rear. Sony got out of the RPTV business but Samsung and Mistubishi DLPs are still there. Most DLPs are 15” - 20” deep. Rear projection!
By Chazz
January 21, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this
Some misinformation in the HDTV column. DLP IS rear projection. Samsung, Mistubishi make DLP models. The “mirrors” are in the rear. Sony got out of the RPTV business but Samsung and Mistubishi DLPs are still there. Most DLPs are 15” - 20” deep. Rear projection!
By Rudy's Back
January 22, 2008 2:03 AM | Link to this
No matter what you do, don’t hook up your HDTV to Cable!!!!!!!!!!! It sucks!!!!!! Dish Network has way more HD channels than Cable.
By Chazz
January 23, 2008 5:14 AM | Link to this
Sorry for all the multiple posts. But the AJC comment system got hung up.
Kept saying “please wait” but nothing happened for like 3 minutes. So, I hit the button a few times and STILL nothing happened. Just “Please wait”, like I was on internet hold. :) Finally after about 5 minutes I hit “refresh”, and there’s almost a dozen duplicate comments!
Arghh… I wasn’t posting duplicates on purpose. I have a T3 line here at work, so the problem was not my internet connection, it was something with the AJC server. OK, here we go again — about the hit “Post”. ONCE.
By Kevin
January 23, 2008 6:22 AM | Link to this
My samsung DLP is 10.5 inches wide.
The picture is not as “brilliant or vivid” or “on fire” like the latest generation of plasmas. Check it out. the plasma wins hands down for Brilliance and color.
By Bill
January 23, 2008 6:50 AM | Link to this
Hi Chaz, no problem - it happens to me too. The only difference is that I can log on and get rid of my excessive posts when that happens.
And yeah, Kevin, I agree — plasma just has a brightness and brilliance that (to my eyes) is unmatched.
Like I said in the column, all this can be greatly subjective. So my notion is that people should buy a set with a picture that please their eyes and preferences.