Question:
I have been in a few tv shops to ask to see an HD tv and see just how good it is.
I get the same story in evry store:
"these TV's" [points] "are hooked up to HD but as we have so many sets running the picture is not so good.
Well I can hardly see the difference.
If its so good why not have just one set running to show customers just how good it is (they can't answer that).
Answers:
They cant really have a HDTV on display showing a HDTV as it should be because a lot of TV or Electrical shops are not accepting HDTV signals just yet, what they will do though is have a HDTV demo disc playing on a standard DVD player.
I think its a joke anyway and keeping up with the Jones's I can see my TV fine and I dont see any point in swapping over, I think its just another way of conning the public into buying something they dont need. IMO
Answers:
The demo disk with probably be shown on an 'upscaling' DVD player to show the best effect, or the HDTV itself will upscale standard images to fit it's higher res. screen. It should look better than normal SD tellies, but you might not notice that much difference.
The true HD picture is stunning, the difference is astounding and anybody call tell the difference easily.
A few months ago, it was probably true that a good CRT TV would better any LCD picture....not now HD LCD's are available. My dad bought a very good CRT last year, the HD totally blows it's socks off and he's very narked that he didn't wait.
The difference between SD and HD has been described as the biggest improvement since black/white changed to colour in the early 70's. Sounds far fetched, but not far off the truth.
Apart from the World Cup, Wimbledon and a few series, there's not much on. It just depends if you want to invest now or wait til later?
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The other issue is that most 'HD' TVs are only 720 lines, vs 576 for PAL... so there's really not much difference. There's a much more noticeable difference with 1080 line HDTVs... I have a 1080 line HD camcorder and after using that for a while 576 line PAL looks awful.
This site has a comparison between DVD and 1080-line HD versions of one of the 'Lord of the Rings' movies, which makes the difference pretty clear:
This is the reason why I rarely buy any DVDs anymore, I don't want to have to buy them again in HD.
Answers:
They cant really have a HDTV on display showing a HDTV as it should be because a lot of TV or Electrical shops are not accepting HDTV signals just yet, what they will do though is have a HDTV demo disc playing on a standard DVD player.
I think its a joke anyway and keeping up with the Jones's I can see my TV fine and I dont see any point in swapping over, I think its just another way of conning the public into buying something they dont need. IMO
AIUI, it's all supposed to offer a more vibrant viewer experience, better colours and whilst they are tinkering with that particular area of the electronic world, they saw fit to include some DRM (digital rights management) as well.
Also, to the OP Sony Centers according to a post on the avforums here somewhere it seems are due to have some live hdtv's setup in the coming weeks. So if you have one near you, it maybe work keeping an eye out.
HTH
Answers:
AIUI, it's all supposed to offer a more vibrant viewer experience, better colours and whilst they are tinkering with that particular area of the electronic world, they saw fit to include some DRM (digital rights management) as well.
Also, to the OP Sony Centers according to a post on the avforums here somewhere it seems are due to have some live hdtv's setup in the coming weeks. So if you have one near you, it maybe work keeping an eye out.
HTH
Sony + DRM keep well away
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Sony + DRM keep well away
AIUI, it's not Sony to blame for the DRM, it's included in all tv's with a HDMI socket. There seems to be a big push from not only the various movie studios to introduce this, but the likes of SKY Broadcasting, who all seem to think that this is the way to protect their broadcast worthy content.
Furthermore, lcd and plasma's are known to make sd content look rubbish, but hd content should look like at the least dvd quality or better. Ironicly, SKY's 'new' HD standard it's been argued in various groups\forums could be already achieved, if they would just stop messing with the compression and bitrates on what they already output.
As for me, I'm still looking into this. I purchased an lcd tv not so long ago and it was pretty bad when viewing analogue material, everything looked somewhat faded. However on dvd's it came alive. I am making do without a tv presently, in a bid to work out what's going to be the best buy. It's presently between the new Sony 32 and the Phillips 32 inch models. But by the time i make my mind up, something better shall probably have come out
Oh yes and for those that are concerned that there may not be anything worth watching on HD. I think this post here: sums that up quite nicely.
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I have SKY HD and a 37" LCD.
Believe me, it's the dogs b******s. The richness of colour and detail is truly amazing, especially for nature programmes. For instance, the quality of picture on the trailer for PLanet Earth on BBC HD is easily the equal if not better than eye quality. In the world cup games, on replays of goals you can see the reflection of the staduim on the ball, fans individual faces etc etc
Once you experience it you will not go back to SD. You do not realise how poor the picture quality is until you see the HD.
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For 1.5k + HD subscription believe me not seeing the peoples reflections on the ball does not bother me in the slightest. Infact, I can quite happily sit here and chuckle at you getting ripped off!
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The cost doesn't bother me.
You will at some point in the near future switch to HD then you'll be kicking yourself for missing out. I will be sitting with a wry smile.
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Think I'll leave it until:
a) There's enough hd broadcasting to warrant spending 2 grand
b) prices come down.. lol
Not seen an hd demo and it's laughable to see the demo on sky's website and interesting to read about the "upscaling"
Cheers
JD
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For instance, the quality of picture on the trailer for PLanet Earth on BBC HD is easily the equal if not better than eye quality.
What you "see" is what you get
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Thanks guys its interesting. I wanted to be able to see exactly what I am missing.
Maybe before too much longer you will be able to go in and see what your buying!
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The only time i notice how bad SD is is in football matches on sky in quick play how all around the players is Pixelated and also somwtiomes in slowmo replays, but it really doesnt bother me.
I mean if someone handed me a HD TV and Free SkyHD id take it, but for the price i really dont think its worht it.
Anyway in 2 years time that will be obsolete and thell have superhd or some new fangled stuff.
So yeah i'm not bothered about hd till its the same pice as SD
EDIT:Okj now i've looked at that comparison and HOW BAD does sd look compared to hd. I never thought it would be so clearer. That has persuded me towards hd but its still tooo pricey.
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If you're going to buy an Xbox 360 or Playstation 3 this year I'd suggest investing in an HD set - haven't seen PS3 in person yet but the 360 looks amazing in HD. If not then I'd probably wait until the Sky HD/Telewest HD was more widespread and cheaper. Plus HD-DVD/BluRay aren't available for mainstream consumers properly yet so the benefits now are negligble.