can you really compare it???? have you seen 42" not talk something bigger than that is just superb colors image quality 720p or 1080i SDTV wont do the trick for me anymore they just look like old tv from the 80 and i have good crt in my house but for me HDTV and any content in more than 720p is the future resistence is futile xD
if i were to buy a 1500$ tv every time a new technology came out i would go bankrupt.
Quote:
Originally Posted by scq I really doubt Microsoft is going to die because of Vista.
We're talking about one of the world's largest corporations here. Even if Vista totally fails, they still have Office, developer tools, their Macintosh front, and their server solutions, as well as peripherals.
i would not buy M$ office and every one i know either use a copy of office or uses a open source office like open office, no one i know can buy office here because it sells at about 400. as for other stuff i have found that a lot of linux based OS have more power than any windows based OS.
their Macintosh front???? they have a Macintosh front? i did not know i thought they were rivals
remember sinclair? he had a BIG company he went bankrupt because off a tricicle he invented LOL
DXR 12KE, your certainty is intresting, but I think misplaced.
Microsoft, today, right now, could stop selling anything, stop making a single cent, and they could continue doing exactly what they're doing today, making all the same thing, developing all the same new pieces of software, hiring all those tens of thousands of people with massive sallerys, for 5 years. They have stated this before, that they do actually have a contingency fund that big, and believe me Microsoft are into a lot more then providing OS's and office suites to home users. Enterprise level software from them will cost hundreds or thousands per lisence per year. Office lisences for large companies will bring in hundreds of thousands per year, per company, then you've got the fact that nearly every OEM in the world, and they are the number one source for PC's for the masses, use Microsoft Windows XP home edition™
Microsofts decline will never be quick, it would take a long time for them to become even a moderate company, as oppose to a large monopoly, and I think the best hope anyone has for that right now is google, but like I said, Microsoft have the money to last 5 years exactly as is, without making a cent, they're big and they won't fail just because of one OS.
I disagree with some points of this well written, condesending article.
I think the Time for HDTV's is obviosly now, because buying an SDTV to a consumer would be like buying a socket 478 mobo with X8 agp to me. Everyone wants to be a little "future proof"...
And besides, if the X-crotch is driving sales up 70% on HDTV's, that will further be propelled by the PS3, Nintendo Revolution, HD/Blu-ray media and so on.
Even if I buy a new top-O-the line Pc, why in the fork would I even buy a CRT or LCD? I'd get a 42' inch HD ready Plasma screen to play FEAR on...
Can an article even be condecending, when its not aimed at a specific person? Hmm.
I disagree with you though Nature, I think a high quality SDTV is fine for most consumers, considering that most people buy the cheapest piece of crap they can find in Comet(or your electrical retailer of choice), if people were to actually buy high quality SDTV's they probably be alot happier then if they just buy another low quality tv but this time in HDTV.
So I think, yes HDTV is usefull, but not because it looks fantastic, but because the price of high quality SDTV's, that were aimed at large budget people, is going to plummet as the people with large budgets buy high quality HDTV's, thus, us poorer folk can buy a great TV for a brilliant price.
For the people saying to me OMG WHY WOULDN'T YOU BUY AN HDTV NOW? Please re-read the article.
The whole point is that people are banging on about how much those of us who don't have HDTV capable sets suck, when in reality the market penetration is still quite small and there will be two whole consoles which support HD this year.
There is still no incentive to upgrade.
So yes, I would buy an HDTV, IF I WAS GOING TO BUY A TV THIS OR EVEN NEXT YEAR, but as it stands my current set is perfectly acceptable.
Hey swine, I make 300$ USD a month in friggin' Jinan: I'm broke too. But other uneducated, unprofessional, consumers like myself looking to buy a new living room set are not gonna wanna buy another one in three years ( like what dude was talking about in this article about his).
Usually when people make a big buy, they do a little research in that field (unless they're a drug dealer, stupid rich, or both), and those people who count they're change (or in my case mao) really want the best bang for they're buck in the long run. Buy a HUGE sdtv now (yeah that looks so cooL!), or wait 4 months and get somthin' ye can lookith at with pride for years to come.
I've the same delima now with buying a pentium M lappy with a 7800 Go or saving even longer (without great games and stuck playing CS 1.5 for what seems like eternity) for a Yonah that will undenibly be a smarter buy. I know I should wait and will, because patients in all things is "golden".
Back on my hippie commune in California, I would never be advocating for buying a TV... I need to be slapped...
This article seems more like an entire rant against the xbox 360 instead of actually a rant against HDTV's but eh. I guess its different for you guys in Europe. Over here in america HDtv is florishing quite well, most sports games are broadcasted in High Definition Television and more channels are opening up each month.
But i do agree that people should wait to buy an HDtv unless they watch a hellalot of sports games or movies. Dvd's may not be in a HD resolution but they look a hellalot better on an HDtv than on a normal television. So does my trust old ps2, gamecube, and i'm pretty sure the x360 looks better on an HDtv.
Have you even thought about using an HDtv for computer use? I know a few people who have medium sized plasma televisions mounted on there desks to be used as a computer monitor. Or people who just run a line from there computer to the HDtv in another room/in the same room and output a movie to it anytime they want too.
Originally Posted by DivineSin Have you even thought about using an HDtv for computer use? I know a few people who have medium sized plasma televisions mounted on there desks to be used as a computer monitor. Or people who just run a line from there computer to the HDtv in another room/in the same room and output a movie to it anytime they want too.
Originally Posted by Nature Hey swine, I make 300$ USD a month in friggin' Jinan: I'm broke too. But other uneducated, unprofessional, consumers like myself looking to buy a new living room set are not gonna wanna buy another one in three years ( like what dude was talking about in this article about his).
Usually when people make a big buy, they do a little research in that field (unless they're a drug dealer, stupid rich, or both), and those people who count they're change (or in my case mao) really want the best bang for they're buck in the long run. Buy a HUGE sdtv now (yeah that looks so cooL!), or wait 4 months and get somthin' ye can lookith at with pride for years to come.
I've the same delima now with buying a pentium M lappy with a 7800 Go or saving even longer (without great games and stuck playing CS 1.5 for what seems like eternity) for a Yonah that will undenibly be a smarter buy. I know I should wait and will, because patients in all things is "golden".
Back on my hippie commune in California, I would never be advocating for buying a TV... I need to be slapped...
Did you even read KNA's reply? The whole point is that HDTV is all well and good if you actually want a new TV set, his point was that he doesn't need a new one, and since few other people are using them, theres no limitation based on having an SDTV.
If your reply was aimed at me, then I wasn't talking about buying an expensive SDTV over an equally expensive HDTV, I was talking about HDTV being supurb for people who can't afford it(not in a, oh if only I had £10 more way, but in a "I'd buy an HDTV if I had £800 more way), because its driven the price of high quality SDTV's down, so that instead of getting a crappy SDTV you can get a decent SDTV.
On a side note, I heard a theory that the reason us europeans aren't so keen on HDTV is that we used PAL which had a higher level of quality then NTSC, whether the 50 or so extra lines make much of a difference I'm not sure, but its a theory nonetheless.
As I wrote: "Buy a HUGE sdtv now (yeah that looks so cooL!), or wait 4 months and get somthin' ye can lookith at with pride for years to come." You can get a killer deal on a big-ass sdtv, but I'm just saying you could save for four more months (depending on ye income) and buy an HD. AND THEY DO NOT COST 800 QUID MORE...
All I was saying is that even if ye don't need a new set now, the next one you buy next will/should be HD ready for your comsuming concience! Hence, the HD era is born and growning like young pig... no pun..
What's sad about HDTV sets is that they offer lower picture quality than newer projectors in the same price range. Nevermind the fact that here in the states there's next-to-nothing being broadcast in HDTV that would make a person want to switch.
I'm getting a projector. I have yet to see an impressive HDTV unit that I could justify spending any money on.
Originally Posted by Captain Slug What's sad about HDTV sets is that they offer lower picture quality than newer projectors in the same price range. Nevermind the fact that here in the states there's next-to-nothing being broadcast in HDTV that would make a person want to switch.
I'm getting a projector. I have yet to see an impressive HDTV unit that I could justify spending any money on.
o.O You have a dedicated room where you can control the light levels to use a projector to watch tv?
I read an interesting piece on Bit-tech today, in it the author goes to great length to tell the world how well off he is without an HDTV and how he doesn't really need one even for the Xbox 360 that he doesn't have yet. Why buy an HDTV?, thardly any programming and the games look just fine on the TV he proudly bought 6 years ago.
First, there are several things i agree with him on. There has been much misinformation spread about how HDTV works, whether or not you'll see a benefit to your next generation games without an HDTV, etc. Anyone who tells you they can't tell the difference between Xbox and Xbox 360 games no matter what the TV, is blind or simply trying to attract attention. Comparing screenshots of ports is only relevant if you are planning on buying your next gen console to play last gen games. Also, there is somewhat limited HDTV programming available, especially in England where the writer appears to be from, which besides being overrun by wolves is also only just recently starting to have HD broadcasts become available.
With all that, you might start to think, why should I buy an HDTV? Here's why.
Even going back to Xbox and PS2, in the games that support it, the higher resolution of HDTV really makes things pop off the screen at you. Microsoft making HDTV support standard on 360 games doesn't kill the SDTV, it just makes sure people with HDTV's get what they are paying for and should be applauded.With bigger and better games on the horizon, the benefit of HDTV will only increase as programmers add even more detailed visual effects to games. For people with big screen TV's the difference is even more stark, the higher resolution allows you to sit closer and enjoy the picture more. When you're reading the advertisements in NYC through the glass roof of your Koenigsegg CCR, you'll thank me.
Yes some game companies have had issues, but what has not been mentioned is that other games like Condemned and PGR3 included sample images to assist gamers in adjusting their settings for the best possible viewing, HDTV or not. It all comes back to the same thing, support well designed games and the game makers will get it together.
As far as programming goes, I'm sure that once the World Cup rolls around our European friends will be singing a different tune, what Janet Jackson's breast did for high definition in the US, "real" football will do over there. If you live in the US, your favorite program probably is recorded in high definition, and may include an Easter Egg or two. High definition movies are a must for any movie buff, HD brings the theater home, you can pour sticky pop and crumbs beneath your seat just to get the full effect.
I'm rather saddened that he feels people with HDTV's have said he "sucks" for not having one, thats certainly not HDBeat readers. We know the many challenges SD people face in their day to day life and have no wish to pile on. I used to be the same way, after seeing smeary pixelated HDTV broadcasts of the NCAA Mens Basketball tournament 5 years ago, I was impressed by how much more I could see, but not moved to purchase one. I only bought my TV two years ago because I got a great deal.
The fact is, today, if your argument against purchasing an HDTV is the price, then that is simply inaccurate, as CRT prices continue to plunge, and LCD prices will do the same next year. Anyone who can afford to buy an Xbox 360 premium system, can afford to buy an HDTV, you don't have to spend $2000, perfectly good TV's can be had for less than $1000 or even $500 depending on your preferred technology. Market penetration will go up markedly as people become amazed at what they can buy for less.
Once you have one, there is no question. One episode of Sunrise Earth on Discovery and it is a wrap; with home improvement, detective shows, and increasing use of HD by independent filmmakers there is no doubt that this year you'll see what you're looking for in high definition.
HDTV's time is now, and I'd like to cordially Mr. Caines across the pond for a visit, if he can go back to life without high definition after drinking the 1080i kool-aid (it's red, the best flavor), then more power to him. 2006 is going to be the year that everyone says "wow, I didn't know high definition made such a big difference, but now I understand", just wait.
The problem with the UK is that we're lagging behind the rest of the world in terms of content. There isn't any now.
Sky is trialing the World Cup in HDTV and that'll be our first HD broadcasting as far as I am aware. However, there's no word on exactly how many channels will be in full HD after that date. Until there is a considerable number of channels in HD, I don't see the point in getting something better. I've got a 42" Sony rear projection TV that is superb - great lighting, great blacks and great colour.
I've watched HDTV when I've visited America and I was impressed, but not anywhere near as impressed as watching streams on the BrightSide display. I literally sat watching the same streams over and over for about 2 1/2 hours. They had to pack up at that time, otherwise I would have carried on watching streams. Words cannot describe just how good the content looked on the BrightSide display - you really have to see it to believe it.
The difference between HDTV and HDR HDTV was like going from Analogue TV to Digital TV - quite simply, it's amazing. If I had US$49,000, I'd be buying one of the BrightSide prototypes today - they are that good.
I think Geoff's final comment sums up a lot of Chris' thoughts too:
"If you are yet to make the jump to High Definition, we would strongly urge you to consider waiting until HDR models become available, or at least buy today in the knowledge that you will upgrade in 12-18 month's time. It really does make that much of a difference."
Why buy an HDTV when there's something as ground breaking as the move from Analogue to Digital Television Signals?
The beauty of HDR HDTV is that it doesn't require the content to be optimised for HDR (it obviously benefits if it is optimised) but I could see massive differences when watching the animated film, Madagascar, on the BrightSide display. You think the characters jump to life on an HDTV, you aint seen nothing - it's on another level on the BrightSide display.
I also noticed your article on HDR, and I think that really could be the next big jump, however I have doubts about whether or not it really is 12-18 months away and how much it will cost.
So basicly "I love HDTV, I have enough money and desire to upgrade my system whenever a new technology is released, and because I love it everyone else who doesn't rush out and get it because its better is stupid"? Jeez, show me a better example of a fanboy then someone whos heavily into either Hi-Fi(sorry dom :p) or Home Cinema and I'll give you either a lollypop or an HDTV depending on if my wallets been eating well recently.
edit: Sorry if that post seems too harsh, I could probably phrase it better, but I won't try, because I suck at being nice. Welcome to bit-tech though :)
I suck at being nice also, my main point is that no, i don't have an extroadinary amount of money, and the perception that you need to in order to get an HDTV, or to get a good one, is misguided.
If you have enough mony to afford the $400 xbox 360 premium system, you can afford an HDTV, if you can't, you're probably skipping meals to afford a 360, which while i can relate to it, prolly isn't the wisest choice.
You can get good CRT's for 500-800 bucks, you can even get LCD's for as little as $800. And once you start watching all your movies on them and get a few HD channels, whether cable or OTA, you'll never go back to watching the regular ones.
edit: I don't think people without HDTV's are stupid, but I'm pretty sure they won't be picked up by the spaceships when the Hale-bopp comet comes back through.
I wouldn't know. THis house has 7 computers and zero TVs, HD or otherwise.
I suppose it's like displays. Sure, LCDs are the wave of the future, but I can buy a 22" CRT for the price of a 14" LCD. The LCD is thin and light weight, but unless you pick it up on a regular basis, whats the point.
Originally Posted by Cthippo I wouldn't know. THis house has 7 computers and zero TVs, HD or otherwise.
I suppose it's like displays. Sure, LCDs are the wave of the future, but I can buy a 22" CRT for the price of a 14" LCD. The LCD is thin and light weight, but unless you pick it up on a regular basis, whats the point.
But it's not, if you watch TV. Well, it improves the quality of your TV watching experience. How much do you people think HDTV's cost really? I got my Sony 32" set for $800 two years ago, which wasn't much more than a SD Wega of the same size would have cost. Prices have dropped since then.
you pay for my new 36"+ HD ready screen, the subscription charges for my cable, all the new sh** ill need to hook it all up, and get me whatever optical media standars there are for HD.... and ill go out and buy a 360 and tell you what i think.
otherwise, im not getting a 360, or any of that other crap. my PS2 will be just as happy as anything else for the next few years hahah.
because not everyone on the freggin planet can splurge on that kind of hardware like the MINORITY you rich *******s are. >:(
you pay for my new 36"+ HD ready screen, the subscription charges for my cable, all the new sh** ill need to hook it all up, and get me whatever optical media standars there are for HD.... and ill go out and buy a 360 and tell you what i think.
otherwise, im not getting a 360, or any of that other crap. my PS2 will be just as happy as anything else for the next few years hahah.
because not everyone on the freggin planet can splurge on that kind of hardware like the MINORITY you rich *******s are. >:(
QFT.
Even if I had the spare cash, I wouldn't bother. Programming is limited, and what's available isn't the slighest bit intersting to me. Computer monitors have a much better pixel pitch and anyone who's used a 17" TFT has been running at 720p (plus some extra space on the top and bottom). Granted it's not quite the same as a 60" plasma, but considering the resolution is as good or better on a $250 flat panel... I'll talke the smaller size and better picture. I'd much rather spend $900 or so on the 24" Dell WS and have five inputs, including component (so I could run full 1080p) and call it big enough, not to mention very versatile.
But then again, I don't care much for console gaming. Still, the 360's graphics, in 720p, do NOT impress me in the slightest. Bring TVs to the sharpness of computer LCDs and call me back. Heck, just make it so 30" panels can run at 1080p (not 50+" at that screwey 1366x768 or whatever or 720p). Meanwhile, I too will wait for the HDR displays, and laugh my arse off at all the suckers to get screwed over my HDCP in a few months when they find out their "new" ubertastic plasma screen won't display their legal HD content due to an idiotic antipiracy measure (out of the few dozen HDTVs at my local best buy, I saw *one* saying it was hdcp-compliant, and that was the $6000 rear-protection 62" thing)
Come on guys, whilst Rjcc and myself might have different viewpoints, he's being perfectly reasonable in his conduct.. could you all at least show him the same respect.
Originally Posted by Rjcc I also noticed your article on HDR, and I think that really could be the next big jump, however I have doubts about whether or not it really is 12-18 months away and how much it will cost.
Hey dude, my comment wasn't necessarily aimed at you, I was merely ading another perspective to the discussion, However, I'm not sure whether we'll see it on the market in 12-18 months - that'll depend on one of the big boys taking it on and making a marketable/sellable screen. The tech is damn cool though, so I can't see why a commercially viable HDR HDTV can't be produced. :)
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i would not buy M$ office and every one i know either use a copy of office or uses a open source office like open office, no one i know can buy office here because it sells at about 400. as for other stuff i have found that a lot of linux based OS have more power than any windows based OS.
their Macintosh front???? they have a Macintosh front? i did not know i thought they were rivals
remember sinclair? he had a BIG company he went bankrupt because off a tricicle he invented LOL
Microsoft, today, right now, could stop selling anything, stop making a single cent, and they could continue doing exactly what they're doing today, making all the same thing, developing all the same new pieces of software, hiring all those tens of thousands of people with massive sallerys, for 5 years. They have stated this before, that they do actually have a contingency fund that big, and believe me Microsoft are into a lot more then providing OS's and office suites to home users. Enterprise level software from them will cost hundreds or thousands per lisence per year. Office lisences for large companies will bring in hundreds of thousands per year, per company, then you've got the fact that nearly every OEM in the world, and they are the number one source for PC's for the masses, use Microsoft Windows XP home edition™
Microsofts decline will never be quick, it would take a long time for them to become even a moderate company, as oppose to a large monopoly, and I think the best hope anyone has for that right now is google, but like I said, Microsoft have the money to last 5 years exactly as is, without making a cent, they're big and they won't fail just because of one OS.
I think the Time for HDTV's is obviosly now, because buying an SDTV to a consumer would be like buying a socket 478 mobo with X8 agp to me. Everyone wants to be a little "future proof"...
And besides, if the X-crotch is driving sales up 70% on HDTV's, that will further be propelled by the PS3, Nintendo Revolution, HD/Blu-ray media and so on.
Even if I buy a new top-O-the line Pc, why in the fork would I even buy a CRT or LCD? I'd get a 42' inch HD ready Plasma screen to play FEAR on...
Clams
I disagree with you though Nature, I think a high quality SDTV is fine for most consumers, considering that most people buy the cheapest piece of crap they can find in Comet(or your electrical retailer of choice), if people were to actually buy high quality SDTV's they probably be alot happier then if they just buy another low quality tv but this time in HDTV.
So I think, yes HDTV is usefull, but not because it looks fantastic, but because the price of high quality SDTV's, that were aimed at large budget people, is going to plummet as the people with large budgets buy high quality HDTV's, thus, us poorer folk can buy a great TV for a brilliant price.
The whole point is that people are banging on about how much those of us who don't have HDTV capable sets suck, when in reality the market penetration is still quite small and there will be two whole consoles which support HD this year.
There is still no incentive to upgrade.
So yes, I would buy an HDTV, IF I WAS GOING TO BUY A TV THIS OR EVEN NEXT YEAR, but as it stands my current set is perfectly acceptable.
Usually when people make a big buy, they do a little research in that field (unless they're a drug dealer, stupid rich, or both), and those people who count they're change (or in my case mao) really want the best bang for they're buck in the long run. Buy a HUGE sdtv now (yeah that looks so cooL!), or wait 4 months and get somthin' ye can lookith at with pride for years to come.
I've the same delima now with buying a pentium M lappy with a 7800 Go or saving even longer (without great games and stuck playing CS 1.5 for what seems like eternity) for a Yonah that will undenibly be a smarter buy. I know I should wait and will, because patients in all things is "golden".
Back on my hippie commune in California, I would never be advocating for buying a TV... I need to be slapped...
Watching Laker games in High Definition is incentive enough for me :D
And I'd much rather a 42 inch plasma screen be my computer moniter than something smaller at equal price like that Dell thing..
Clams
But i do agree that people should wait to buy an HDtv unless they watch a hellalot of sports games or movies. Dvd's may not be in a HD resolution but they look a hellalot better on an HDtv than on a normal television. So does my trust old ps2, gamecube, and i'm pretty sure the x360 looks better on an HDtv.
Have you even thought about using an HDtv for computer use? I know a few people who have medium sized plasma televisions mounted on there desks to be used as a computer monitor. Or people who just run a line from there computer to the HDtv in another room/in the same room and output a movie to it anytime they want too.
What did Me's just post....?!!>!!?
Clams
Did you even read KNA's reply? The whole point is that HDTV is all well and good if you actually want a new TV set, his point was that he doesn't need a new one, and since few other people are using them, theres no limitation based on having an SDTV.
If your reply was aimed at me, then I wasn't talking about buying an expensive SDTV over an equally expensive HDTV, I was talking about HDTV being supurb for people who can't afford it(not in a, oh if only I had £10 more way, but in a "I'd buy an HDTV if I had £800 more way), because its driven the price of high quality SDTV's down, so that instead of getting a crappy SDTV you can get a decent SDTV.
On a side note, I heard a theory that the reason us europeans aren't so keen on HDTV is that we used PAL which had a higher level of quality then NTSC, whether the 50 or so extra lines make much of a difference I'm not sure, but its a theory nonetheless.
All I was saying is that even if ye don't need a new set now, the next one you buy next will/should be HD ready for your comsuming concience! Hence, the HD era is born and growning like young pig... no pun..
Clams
I'm getting a projector. I have yet to see an impressive HDTV unit that I could justify spending any money on.
o.O You have a dedicated room where you can control the light levels to use a projector to watch tv?
http://www.hdbeat.com/2006/01/07/congratulations-you-dont-have-an-hdtv-heres-your-cookie/
I read an interesting piece on Bit-tech today, in it the author goes to great length to tell the world how well off he is without an HDTV and how he doesn't really need one even for the Xbox 360 that he doesn't have yet. Why buy an HDTV?, thardly any programming and the games look just fine on the TV he proudly bought 6 years ago.
First, there are several things i agree with him on. There has been much misinformation spread about how HDTV works, whether or not you'll see a benefit to your next generation games without an HDTV, etc. Anyone who tells you they can't tell the difference between Xbox and Xbox 360 games no matter what the TV, is blind or simply trying to attract attention. Comparing screenshots of ports is only relevant if you are planning on buying your next gen console to play last gen games. Also, there is somewhat limited HDTV programming available, especially in England where the writer appears to be from, which besides being overrun by wolves is also only just recently starting to have HD broadcasts become available.
With all that, you might start to think, why should I buy an HDTV? Here's why.
Even going back to Xbox and PS2, in the games that support it, the higher resolution of HDTV really makes things pop off the screen at you. Microsoft making HDTV support standard on 360 games doesn't kill the SDTV, it just makes sure people with HDTV's get what they are paying for and should be applauded.With bigger and better games on the horizon, the benefit of HDTV will only increase as programmers add even more detailed visual effects to games. For people with big screen TV's the difference is even more stark, the higher resolution allows you to sit closer and enjoy the picture more. When you're reading the advertisements in NYC through the glass roof of your Koenigsegg CCR, you'll thank me.
Yes some game companies have had issues, but what has not been mentioned is that other games like Condemned and PGR3 included sample images to assist gamers in adjusting their settings for the best possible viewing, HDTV or not. It all comes back to the same thing, support well designed games and the game makers will get it together.
As far as programming goes, I'm sure that once the World Cup rolls around our European friends will be singing a different tune, what Janet Jackson's breast did for high definition in the US, "real" football will do over there. If you live in the US, your favorite program probably is recorded in high definition, and may include an Easter Egg or two. High definition movies are a must for any movie buff, HD brings the theater home, you can pour sticky pop and crumbs beneath your seat just to get the full effect.
I'm rather saddened that he feels people with HDTV's have said he "sucks" for not having one, thats certainly not HDBeat readers. We know the many challenges SD people face in their day to day life and have no wish to pile on. I used to be the same way, after seeing smeary pixelated HDTV broadcasts of the NCAA Mens Basketball tournament 5 years ago, I was impressed by how much more I could see, but not moved to purchase one. I only bought my TV two years ago because I got a great deal.
The fact is, today, if your argument against purchasing an HDTV is the price, then that is simply inaccurate, as CRT prices continue to plunge, and LCD prices will do the same next year. Anyone who can afford to buy an Xbox 360 premium system, can afford to buy an HDTV, you don't have to spend $2000, perfectly good TV's can be had for less than $1000 or even $500 depending on your preferred technology. Market penetration will go up markedly as people become amazed at what they can buy for less.
Once you have one, there is no question. One episode of Sunrise Earth on Discovery and it is a wrap; with home improvement, detective shows, and increasing use of HD by independent filmmakers there is no doubt that this year you'll see what you're looking for in high definition.
HDTV's time is now, and I'd like to cordially Mr. Caines across the pond for a visit, if he can go back to life without high definition after drinking the 1080i kool-aid (it's red, the best flavor), then more power to him. 2006 is going to be the year that everyone says "wow, I didn't know high definition made such a big difference, but now I understand", just wait.
Sky is trialing the World Cup in HDTV and that'll be our first HD broadcasting as far as I am aware. However, there's no word on exactly how many channels will be in full HD after that date. Until there is a considerable number of channels in HD, I don't see the point in getting something better. I've got a 42" Sony rear projection TV that is superb - great lighting, great blacks and great colour.
I'd rather wait a few years and get a HDR HDTV like this puppy: http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2005/10/04/brightside_hdr_edr/1.html
I've watched HDTV when I've visited America and I was impressed, but not anywhere near as impressed as watching streams on the BrightSide display. I literally sat watching the same streams over and over for about 2 1/2 hours. They had to pack up at that time, otherwise I would have carried on watching streams. Words cannot describe just how good the content looked on the BrightSide display - you really have to see it to believe it.
The difference between HDTV and HDR HDTV was like going from Analogue TV to Digital TV - quite simply, it's amazing. If I had US$49,000, I'd be buying one of the BrightSide prototypes today - they are that good.
I think Geoff's final comment sums up a lot of Chris' thoughts too:
"If you are yet to make the jump to High Definition, we would strongly urge you to consider waiting until HDR models become available, or at least buy today in the knowledge that you will upgrade in 12-18 month's time. It really does make that much of a difference."
Why buy an HDTV when there's something as ground breaking as the move from Analogue to Digital Television Signals?
The beauty of HDR HDTV is that it doesn't require the content to be optimised for HDR (it obviously benefits if it is optimised) but I could see massive differences when watching the animated film, Madagascar, on the BrightSide display. You think the characters jump to life on an HDTV, you aint seen nothing - it's on another level on the BrightSide display.
edit: Sorry if that post seems too harsh, I could probably phrase it better, but I won't try, because I suck at being nice. Welcome to bit-tech though :)
If you have enough mony to afford the $400 xbox 360 premium system, you can afford an HDTV, if you can't, you're probably skipping meals to afford a 360, which while i can relate to it, prolly isn't the wisest choice.
You can get good CRT's for 500-800 bucks, you can even get LCD's for as little as $800. And once you start watching all your movies on them and get a few HD channels, whether cable or OTA, you'll never go back to watching the regular ones.
edit: I don't think people without HDTV's are stupid, but I'm pretty sure they won't be picked up by the spaceships when the Hale-bopp comet comes back through.
I suppose it's like displays. Sure, LCDs are the wave of the future, but I can buy a 22" CRT for the price of a 14" LCD. The LCD is thin and light weight, but unless you pick it up on a regular basis, whats the point.
But it's not, if you watch TV. Well, it improves the quality of your TV watching experience. How much do you people think HDTV's cost really? I got my Sony 32" set for $800 two years ago, which wasn't much more than a SD Wega of the same size would have cost. Prices have dropped since then.
you pay for my new 36"+ HD ready screen, the subscription charges for my cable, all the new sh** ill need to hook it all up, and get me whatever optical media standars there are for HD.... and ill go out and buy a 360 and tell you what i think.
otherwise, im not getting a 360, or any of that other crap. my PS2 will be just as happy as anything else for the next few years hahah.
because not everyone on the freggin planet can splurge on that kind of hardware like the MINORITY you rich *******s are. >:(
Even if I had the spare cash, I wouldn't bother. Programming is limited, and what's available isn't the slighest bit intersting to me. Computer monitors have a much better pixel pitch and anyone who's used a 17" TFT has been running at 720p (plus some extra space on the top and bottom). Granted it's not quite the same as a 60" plasma, but considering the resolution is as good or better on a $250 flat panel... I'll talke the smaller size and better picture. I'd much rather spend $900 or so on the 24" Dell WS and have five inputs, including component (so I could run full 1080p) and call it big enough, not to mention very versatile.
But then again, I don't care much for console gaming. Still, the 360's graphics, in 720p, do NOT impress me in the slightest. Bring TVs to the sharpness of computer LCDs and call me back. Heck, just make it so 30" panels can run at 1080p (not 50+" at that screwey 1366x768 or whatever or 720p). Meanwhile, I too will wait for the HDR displays, and laugh my arse off at all the suckers to get screwed over my HDCP in a few months when they find out their "new" ubertastic plasma screen won't display their legal HD content due to an idiotic antipiracy measure (out of the few dozen HDTVs at my local best buy, I saw *one* saying it was hdcp-compliant, and that was the $6000 rear-protection 62" thing)
Welcome to the forums. ;)