Progressive scan, HDTV, hype ? needed ?

[jolo]

I have heard so many things from sales people in stores.

I live in the U.S., I do not have a satelite, dish, I have cable which does NOT transmit in HDTV.

I heard it is supposed to be 2006 for it.

The questions is why would I purchase a TV that has HDTV and pay a whole lot more,

Also, why purchase a DVD player with progressive scan, isn't that only for TVs that are HDTV ?

Please help,

Jon

[Marco33]

The questions is why would I purchase a TV that has HDTV and pay a whole lot more?

First, you need to decide what you will be using the TV for. Watching, regular TV, DVD's or playing games?

If you plan to watch a lot of regular TV, the HDTV will show you how poor the cable company's transmision is. The bigger you go the worse the picture will look. When they finaly get around to changing in 2006, You might be ready for a new set anyway. So buying a regular TV now will most likely get you there and in 06... you can get a converter for the set.
IMHO I don't believe this will take place in 06. Anything related to the goverment takes forever.

Now, if you watch a lot of DVD's (like myself) HDTV is the way to go. This is one of the things it's made for. I have a HDTV WS 43" and DVD's look great on it.

I can't see playing games on an expensive set like HDTV but... I guess you could. Need to watch for burn in tho.

Check this sit.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/213962

Isn't that only for TVs that are HDTV ?

Yes

[j1d10t]

I've got a Sony 51 inch HDTV, and with some shows/stations my standard cable looks better than my digital cable. I remember when I bought my TV the sales guy was saying something about how Sony has a special converter for standard broadcasts that instead of just being a line-doubler, it does something else to it so it looks almost like HD. And I have to say, it does. The picture looks better on my HDTV than it does on my 25 inch (regular ) TV. I've been thinking about springing for the HD digital cable package, but not enough stations (in my opinion) broadcast in HD, at least not in my area. I watch a lot of Fox, and UPN, and my cable company only offers CBS and NBC for the broadcast stations. But it does make all of my DVD's look much better, and I enjoy the picture quality of a large screen HDTV over that of just a large screen TV. AS for progressive scan DVD players, I don't know. I don't have a progressive scan DVD player, and the picture looks amazing. On some of my DVD's it looks like I'm looking out a window (and I have 20/20 vision, so don't think I've got eye problems ). I'd say if you're in the market for a new TV, check out the HDTV's, but don't just run out and buy one just because you know you'll need one in a few years - they are a big investment.

[jolo]

Both your comments are great !!

I am skeptical about 2006 for regulation, although while I blame the government fror lying, wasting our money, being prostitutes for large corporations, in this case, I believe the reason it probably won't happen is due to greed and control issues by the large cooperations that own the media markets. They looking toward control and licensing issues more thant improving the picture. I've heard that HDTV has been in Japan and Europe for many years.

I want to purchase a 32-36 inch flat screen TV. It is about $300-400 to make it HDTV ready. I'm still thinking that it isn't worth it, because I really don't know how long I will be waiting. Also, I was told thast the progressive scanning on a DVD player was only useful for HDTV ready TVs. So, it is hard to figure salesmen hype versus reality.

Thanks,

I'd love to have other opinions.

Jon

[j1d10t]

I play my Game Cube on my HDTV, and it looks really good, for a video game. With the newer console games they have the S-Video plug, and that improves the picture a great deal, and a lot of the games even give you the option for configuring the game for the 16x9 ratio, so the image doesn't look so stretched. I don't really worry about the image burning into the screen, because I don't play for hours and hours. And the same can be said for watching one TV station all the time, the logo in the lower right corner will burn an image on to the screen, if you watch nothing but that station all the time.

[kanderson]

Just my 2 cents on this,

I have owned an HDTV for awhile now and I do receive over the air broadcasts using my samsung T-150 HDTV tuner. They are broadcasting HDTV programs currently (although they are limited in number) and the picture quality is outstanding (a lot better than DVD). The progressive scan dvd is hype as far as for an "HDTV" goes. If you have an HDTV monitor that doesn't automatically convert the picture to progressive to begin with, you wasted your money on that HDTV. DVD's do look very good, but they look good on a regular TV too. 2006 is the deadline when tv makers do not sell, standard TV's anymore (at least not bigger than 13 inch, 13inch and smaller can still be regular 480i picture. I think the government will make the 2006 deadline. The best thing I can say about HDTV's at the moment, a widescreen HDTV looks great, especially with widescreen DVD's. Of course all HDTV broadcasts are widescreen 16x9 and the picture quality is stunning. If you are going to buy a big-screen tv, I think it would be a waste of money to buy a tv that is not a least HDTV ready. A smaller tv 27inch or less, that is probably a different story as they are not near as expensive to replace.

[Redd]

I have heard so many things from sales people in stores.

I live in the U.S., I do not have a satelite, dish, I have cable which does NOT transmit in HDTV.

I heard it is supposed to be 2006 for it.

The questions is why would I purchase a TV that has HDTV and pay a whole lot more,

Also, why purchase a DVD player with progressive scan, isn't that only for TVs that are HDTV ?

1. As stated above...I too watch lots of DVD's...this happens when you have little kids (no more unlimited nights out). Plus I do have my XBOX connected to my Sony XBR via High Definition cables. Halo in HD, very kewl.

2. Progressive Scan you ask? Absolutely. For me anyway. How discernable is your eye? For me...I see all the video noise and imperfections. I need Progressive scan. If a regular DVD player looks good to you, then you've answered your own question. Also Progressive Scan DVD Players have come down in price a great deal.

[MachineMan]

Seems like many of the New DVD players are now coming standard with progressive scan as a basic feature.

[FulciLives]

A progressive scan DVD player can output both 480i and 480p
The 480p is progressive and can only be used with a progressive display such as an HDTV but they also output 480i (interlaced) so if you have a standard TV you can still use a progressive scan DVD player but you will not reap any benefit of using it vs a non progressive scan DVD player unless you use it in progressive mode on a TV that supports it.

This seemed to be something that was perhaps confusing the original poster so I just wanted to make it clear.

Also please note that as other people have said just about any DVD will look better on a HDTV than a standard TV and if the original DVD was progressive (most are) and you are using a progressive scan player with a HDTV then the difference will be VERY noticeable.

So in short ... if you watch a lot of DVD videos you will benefit now from having a HDTV ... not be so concerned with cable not offering HDTV as you can benefit NOW with DVD.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[jolo]

Thanks for the comments.

First FulciLives, may I compliment you on your stunning looks as I see on your picture .


May I quote you and reply to your insites, which are most appreciated.

"So in short ... if you watch a lot of DVD videos you will benefit now from having a HDTV ... not be so concerned with cable not offering HDTV as you can benefit NOW with DVD. "

What I would like to respond to this, is the difference that I won't experience with TV and will experience with DVD worth the $400 increase in price of a 32-34 inch flat screen TV ? The ones without have some really great values at 599-799, but HDTV will be $300 plus more for the same set, differing only by HDTV. I find that increase rather high.

Jon

[FulciLives]

Thanks for the comments.

First FulciLives, may I compliment you on your stunning looks as I see on your picture .


May I quote you and reply to your insites, which are most appreciated.

"So in short ... if you watch a lot of DVD videos you will benefit now from having a HDTV ... not be so concerned with cable not offering HDTV as you can benefit NOW with DVD. "

What I would like to respond to this, is the difference that I won't experience with TV and will experience with DVD worth the $400 increase in price of a 32-34 inch flat screen TV ? The ones without have some really great values at 599-799, but HDTV will be $300 plus more for the same set, differing only by HDTV. I find that increase rather high.

Jon

Well I guess it all depends on how often you watch DVD content. If you watch a lot of movies or whatever on DVD then I say it is worth it now to get a HDTV even if you don't experience broadcast HDTV. The difference between a normal TV and a HDTV is vast for the majority of DVD videos. Most will look better by a very big degree ... some may look only slightly better. Depends on how the DVD was created. These days almost all DVD videos that are from film materials (which of course are most titles) are created with progressive video in mind so you will experience better quality.

I gues the best thing to do is get a DVD that you know is progressive (just about any Hollywood blockbuster) and play it back on a HDTV using a progressive scan DVD player hooked up with component video cables. Try to find a store near you that has such a setup so you can see for yourself how great it looks. In fact bring a movie you have on DVD that is progressive that you know well ... a movie you watch alot ... and play it back on that system. This will make the differences more apparent to you.

To make sure that your test DVD is progressive rip it to your computer and run DVD2AVI on it. This will tell you if it is progressive or not. Both DVD Decrypter (the ripping program) and DVD2AVI are free to download and use.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman