Do you have HDTV yet?

[mvd]

Poll question: Do you have HDTV yet?

Or an HDTV-ready TV? I'm planning on buying one tomorrow. I have heard that in 2007, everything will be going digital - meaning over-the-air will be a thing of the past. Yet another thing that will help corporations and hurt lower income people who can get a few over-the-air stations in their cities. :grr:

Anyway, do you have one yet?

[neuvocat]

1. I was about to

but then I saw an ad on PBS that showed an animation of a pig on it. The ad afterwards said that "...you spent 4000 dollars on a tv set to watch an animated pig. 4000 dollars."

I know they were trying to go for the humor angle on that but it was enough to make me change my mind and go for something cheaper and more reliable. I'll just wait for the prices to go down and the hardware to get a better design.

[Placebo]

8. Agreed

[sir_captain]

13. You can get one for $700

A big, beautiful Sony HDTV--still not free, but a hell of a lot better than $4000.

[napi21]

2. NOPE! Any we have 2 TV's, one 1 yr old, one 3 yrs old.

I'm NOT going to buy any new ones 'till one of ours croak!

[RummyTheDummy]

3. I have it

And IMO, if you have the money it's worth it. Especially if you enjoy sports, but even if you don't. It's like looking out a window.

[mvd]

5. Some of them are huge!

It would be like watching sports on a movie screen. I don't have the money for those, though. I'm getting a 30 inch LCD model.

[sir_captain]

14. If you want to save even more money

look at Sony's CRT-based HDTV's. You can get their widescreen 32" model for around $700.

[madrchsod]

4. no money

can`t buy shit on 8.75 an hour.

[Placebo]

6. I don't really see the point yet.

Once it becomes more "common" I'll get it. Besides, no sense in wasting 3 grand on a telly now when in a year or 2 there will be one that's 2 grand and with way better tech.

[mvd]

7. The one I'm buying at Best Buy is $1,200

With a $200 rebate. That's still out of many people's price ranges, though..

[Not Me]

9. It is the one luxury I have afforded myself in the last 3 years...

and I love it.

[Spock_is_Skeptical]

10. Nope, not planning on it, either.

I don't have cable, so it would be a waste.

[sir_captain]

12. Not really

All the networks are broadcasting HD over the air for free.

[sir_captain]

11. Over the air isn't going anywhere

in fact, the only true HDTV you can get at the moment (ie, that isn't compressed at all by cable companies) is the free, over the air HDTV provided by CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, and PBS. Digital signals can go over the air just fine (see: Cell Phones.)

[mvd]

17. Yes it is

Just not immediately. These cable companies will have all the control.

You need HDTV-ready to get any digital. And digital cable seems to be the wave of the future. Comcast is always bugging people to subscibe. I won't until they add C-SPAN 2.

[sir_captain]

19. You're not well informed

you don't need an HDTV-ready TV for digital cable. All digital cable boxes have analog outs on them, and only a tiny minority of even HDTV users are using the digital connections (DVI and HDCP.) Just like a DVD player (which is digital) there's a DAC (Digital to Analog converter) in every digital cable box. Eventually, 10 years from now, will analog TV's be phased out? Sure, just like analong cell phones have been. And low-end digital-only TV's will cost as much or less than current low-end analog ones.

There will *never* be no over-the-air HDTV--it's actually against the law. The networks will never allow the cable and satellite companies to gain total control that way--the networks are bigger companies than the cable companies and it's not in their best interest.

[mvd]

22. I think you misunderstood me

See post below. It seems that everything WILL be going digital by 2007. I'll find a link if you want. Right now, I need a converter to get digital. Which I won't get. I'll get the HDTV.

[mvd]

23. Link

http://www.gotapex.com/forums/printthread.php?t=82914

All broadcasts are scheduled to be in digital by 2007. Realistically, not all will be by that year. While HDTV isn't the only means of getting digital, I expect there will be extra costs any way you do it. HDTVs make things the easiest.

So it looks like we are both right in ways. :hi:

[sir_captain]

29. I think you are still misunderstanding, actually

All broadcasts were supposed to be digital this year, actually, and the 2007 date is an extension because they haven't gotten switched over yet.

I think the fundamental misunderstanding here is what the word digital means. All it means is that the data, in this case, video and sound, is being transmitted as 1's and 0's rather than as the wave-patterns of analog transmission. CD's, DVD's, MP3 players, etc, are all digital and have been forever.

Just because the source is digital doesn't mean that what you watch it with, or listen to it with, has to be. On the contrary. Your CD player, and your DVD player, and other people's digital cable boxes, all take the digital source material and convert it into an analog form to send to your speakers or tv or whatever. There is not a single TV on the market that is digital only. Not one. Coaxial, composite, s-video, and component video connections are all analog connections. Even after all TV broadcasts are digital, you will still be able to use an analog TV to watch tv.

[mvd]

31. I think I understand what you're saying

But I think you're talking about now. When all broadcasts go to digital, won't you need something to convert if you have an analog TV?

[sir_captain]

35. Sort of

there will be no difference for cable or satellite subscribers. As I said in a post above, it is true that for over the air, if your tv doesn't have one built-in, you'll need a digital set-top box, but you don't need to get it from the cable company. And by 2007, nearly every new television will have one built-in.

[mvd]

36. Ok, we're clear then

Thanks for filling in the whole picture for me.

[sir_captain]

37. No problem

enjoy your new tv!

[mvd]

20. Or..

you can get a converter, which has a monthly fee. What I meant is any over-the-air will be in digital. Which means that the cable companies will get their hands in in any case.

[sir_captain]

30. No, no, no

it is true that to receive over the air digital broadcasts, you either need a tv with a built in HDTV receiver, or you need to buy a stand-alone one. But you certainly don't need to buy one from the cable company.

This is an example of what I mean: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7259245&type=product&productCategoryId=cat03022&id=1117178265456

[Deja Q]

15. You're kidding? So many non-NO responses??!

I'd rather go out with friends and fuckin' SOCIALIZE than be isolated by a radiation-emitting box that displays typically mind-numbing cow shit 24/7; the only programs good are so dated people summarily ignore them...

[mvd]

16. I'm not a big TV watcher, but I want the extra channels.

Because there are few good sitcoms anymore. Different people enjoy different things, of course.

[Deja Q]

21. I grew up with TV and have seen how it's detrimental to people.

If you needed a context as to my POV.

People also used to live without the need FOR television too...

And I believe we're all about to do so again anyway. Peak oil.

[mvd]

25. Hasn't harmed me

I just take it in doses like most things.

[Finder]

18. We have 2--one big screen and one smaller one.

My husband is into his toys. If he doesn't have a TV over 60inches, he is a bear. It is worth it if you entertain a lot or watch sports. Superbowl Sunday is a big thing in my home.

[ConfuZed]

24. No...

I don't have HDTV income, praises be to our smartest leader-person Bush. *drools*

[Bluebear]

26. Isn't there a blood test for that?

[Tripper11]

27. We recently bought this bad boy.....

44", HDTV ready, LCD rear projection tv.


We aren't able to get out all the time, so this was our present to ourselves recently.
We have the whole home theatre deal, so we watch movies loud and big and enjoy immensely.
We did have Comcast come out with the HD box and hook it up, but it was not compatible with our TIVO(I know there is a work around).
Right now though, there are only several channels broadcasting in HD right now, and for the hassle, we will wait until the next year or two when everyone makes the switch.

[hyphenate]

28. As I get older, my eyesight is getting worse

Combine that with a 25" TV that is getting old (It's about 12 years old or a little more), and you have the general atmosphere that a new TV is due soon. Since I'm going for a mortgage on a house, though, I will have to wait awhile longer, but if everything goes as it should, I will eventually have both.

I fell in love with a particular model at Best Buy but it was WAY too rich for my blood. I'm going for a flat screen plasma one because I can't lift anything big, and once I'm out of state there won't be that many people to help me out at the new place. The one I've finally decided on is a Panasonic 42" EDTV, which, from what I was told, will get the HDTV signal fine (please correct me if that's wrong!).

When I was counting my chickens, the TV, a newer digital camera, a new mattress and a house were my only priorities. I have other things I'm going to need, but if I got these things, life would be very good. :)

[tedoll78]

32. Yup. A 52" Toshiba DSL.

My video games look gorgeous on it. :P

And I seldom go to the movies anymore, probably since I'm more likely to invite friends over for movie & board gaming nights.

[bridgit]

33. no...

:cry:

[Kire]

34. Get a high end one.

I bought a bottom end one and it's useless.