Why buy EDTV instead of HDTV?

[alenhard]

I thought HDTV was the way to go if you want the next big thing in television, but all of a sudden there seems to be this big deal about EDTV (enhanced definition, analog, 800x600 resolution).

Anybody have an EDTV television? Why (besides price) would you get one instead of putting down a little more $$$ for an HDTV television? I'm having a hard time figuring this out....

...any comments appreciated!

[Bob W]

Never heard of it.

[freestyler]

has been addressed here

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=166821&highlight=edtv

[Nelson37]

It looks like they are seperating out the lowest level of HDTV as a seperate thing, marketing and/or price reasons.

Also looks like it is Digital and not Analog.

[Celeste]

I believe my television has all three:

SDTV = 480i ( standard tv )
EDTV = 480p ( Enhanced digital tv )
HDTV = 1080i and 720p

so I don't know that you must choose one over the other.

-C

[MachineMan]

Thats correct, many EDTV or HDTV can play all. Each TV has a native resolution. For example a TV with a native resolution of 720p can play 720p with out conversion but will have to down convert 1080i to play it. The best would be a native of 1080i but since there are few HDTV channels availible and most all DVD's are still only 480p, a 480p or 720p native would still be good.

I have a Sony KF-50WE610.

[FulciLives]

I have read that a 16x9 EDTV PLASMA TV has a native resolution of 852x480 which is the "perfect" resolution for a 16x9 enhanced DVD. The resolution is a perfect fit. I forget what the resolution is of a 16x9 HDTV PLASMA TV but it is higher of course than 852x480 which means a 16x9 DVD must be upscaled to fit and this can cause some "odd" problems and/or degrade the signal somewhat.

So many people seem to think that a 16x9 EDTV PLASMA TV gives the best image from a 16x9 enhanced DVD than a 16x9 HDTV PLASMA TV.

I'm not sure how this plays out in EDTV vs HDTV in other formats ... such as TUBE or REAR PROJECTION.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman