HD television??

DH is dying to get an HD tv---we were looking at them in the store and honestly, I can't see a difference in them from the regular ones they had in the same area.

Is it just another money grab, trying to make us think we need something that really isn't any better than what we already have?

Lets hear some opinions please on HD television.

Finally a topic on here that I am actually knowledgable about. lol.
Yes, HD is a massive improvement, however you will not be able to see the difference unless you have a High Definition Cable Box, or satellite receiver.
If you don't have a HD tv, but do have the hd input devices then you will see a difference, but not the full potential. Now that they have released Blue Ray DVD's and HD DVD's, it is a good idea to upgrade the tv now. The prices have come down dramatically.

Once you have gone to HD it is really hard to go back. Several of our local stations here are broadcast in HD on different channels and to flip back and forth is like taking your glasses on and off.

I scoffed at the idea of Blue Ray to until I saw one playing at a Sam's Club. The image difference in that is phenomenal!!!!

I know. I bought a Playstation 3 just because of the Blue Ray feature. It was a hefty $599, but in the end it is worth it.
There has been some concern about the dual formats being on the market at the same time. (Like DVD and Divx) but more than likely Blue Ray will win over HD, because it's Sony, and because the storage capabilities of the discs.

What is Divx and blue Ray?

We don't watch a lot of TV, maybe a movie every month, some sports and 1 or 2 programs. DH has his xbox 360, but is the expense really worth it? Extra receiver, pay for the special channels and I am sure there are other hidden costs. I am fighting this because our current tv is only 4 years old---lol

We have an "old" TV that's not HD---bought in 2001 and we still LOVE it. It's an RCA with built in TV programming guide (called Guide Plus)--so it tells you what shows are on NOW which is a great feature for someone not willing to cough it up for cable or SatTV. We also have a newer HD TV. We like both the same. The prices have come down significantly since we bought our HD TV.

I can tell you though as far as DVD's and Blue Ray go it is SOOO much harder to have those around with little kids than the VHS I grew up on!!!! Already we've lost a handful of DVD's due to scratching. We never did break a VHS. So isn't it's durability considered a con at all???? We just bought the fix-a-scratch-disc-kit so we'll see how that goes. Not holding my breath. LOL.

3gardeners I can tell you when we bought our regular TV back in 2001 we were pitched up and down and around again about how THAT TV would be obsolete in a few years. Naturally I fretted and stewed about spending the money on it. Still don't regret it. I find technology really doesn't go out the window overnight.

Blue ray is the one of the new high definition DVD formats. Divx was a competing format of DVD when it first came out.

Personally, I think it is worth it, but then again I am a movie fanatic. I rent from Netflix and I get a few movies in every week.

If you are not a tv or movie fan, then I might suggest waiting for a while. The prices for the the HD tv's have been dropping slowly and will continue to do so.
DVD's are much easier to damage than vhs tapes, but it is worth it for the quality, extra features, and chapter skipping. At least I think. I always hated rewinding tapes. lol.

remember the tape rewinder? we had one of those. lol!

UPDATE Important news, Millions of $40 coupons are available to owners of TVs that may not work in 2009.

http://tech.yahoo.com/news/ap/20080101/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/digital_tv

Tir--- thank you SO much for that link. My mom was just asking about this problem. Now SOLVED!!! I owe ya one.

I guess the gov't coupons are reasonable since the gov't is ordering the change.

Sallyg, you and all are certainly welcome. I think I have one TV that may could use this converter box to.

very quick to sign up for the coupon. Two per household allowed. Will be sent in Feb or March. I read elsewhere that you may as well get your box then and try it ; you may want a better antenna. Anything digital has got to be better than what Mom is currently watching, I have a hunch.

uh oh...Mom isn't gonna be at all impressed. I have no idea how to break the news to her...

Wouldn't anything be better than nothing? Especially if you aren't used to the newer TV's? I've viewed all the new styles, even have a plasma but still don't see that huge a difference.

sallyg, we don't use cable so installed an antenna in the attic, big like a satellite dish, and reception is wonderful, no annoying rabbit ears to adjust on the TV top.

Think it cost about 70 bucks and is well worth it. The antenna connects to your cable jack outlets so every TV is covered.

hey, we thought about getting her cable, but really, nothing that good for her! Plus dealing with the big confusing remote (reference other thread on technology challenges) I mean, she'll be watching PBS and local news without all the snow.

Fox usually comes in the worst wherever we've lived but the large permanent antenna's they are pretty good. I'm sure she'll appreciate the change! You know we have so many remotes and even the "universal" do-all remotes aren't programmed to run all the equipment, most annoying! But at least with DVD players there is no time clock to program. hehe.

Mom refuses to have to pay any money to watch tv...as it is now, she only gets maybe 5 channels. This should be interesting.

Explain it again for me? You will have to get a digital tv and something like satellite?

I don't understand why, but when I went in to order the coupons it asks if you are paying for a system, which I assume is either satellite or cable, and I thought by checking that box it would not allow me to finish the request for the coupons. But it did. And then it asks me if I would swear that all of the information I put down is true. Which it was.

So, then it said I would be given the coupons. I guess that means that I must have some TVs in my house that are not on the cable or satellite system? Is that what it is? Also I am assuming that if I don't use the coupons in 90 days that they can be re-issued to someone else? I hope.

Jeanette

For what? The coupon thing? The U.S. is switching over how our channels are broadcast and older TV's won't be able to pick up the images unless you buy this converter box per TV.

For our house, instead of TV top antenna, we opted to buy a satellite dish sized antenna that either mounts in your attic or outside on top the house. It brings in all the regular channels more clearly at a cost of about $70 and you never have to adjust your antenna again outside of initially setting it up.

I to refuse to pay money for TV channels. If cable didn't have any junk commercials THEN it'd be worth buying! We had it before and every year (the satellite) was raising prices again. I think they are just trying to squeeze cable out of the picture and then satellite will be the cable prices.

Even PBS now has commercials. :(

I don't think getting any of the coupons will be an issue. It's not like issuing them, outside of postage, costs them anything, unless you DO use them.

So tell me, who all is making the money on this thing? The TVs are made by foreign companies, the foreign companies and countries are buying up all of our industries, so who is gaining in this fiasco, and why does our government care whether or not we have lousy viewing?

If I didn't want to have commercials to mute I would buy TIVO I guess. People that have it swear by it. But, like you, why should I have to spend that kind of money?

I guess my point is, how can our government force this on the people? And to deactivate their TVs is totally amazing.

Jeanette

I've heard others love TiVo but I also heard it's a service charge to run those???? If that's true, no thanks!

You'd have to read the article in depth to understand the reasoning behind it. For example,

Don't forget to copy paste the link in your emails so you can let your family/friends know they need to apply to get a coupon.

Had I not seen the link on the SBC homepage for my email I never would have known about this.

Tir, I just purchased a TV about 6 months ago. I did not ask, nor do I know, if it is HD. So, I guess, when our local channel broadcasts their news in HD and I don't see any difference, I must not have that capability.

So, now I have to go out and buy a new TV!! Or, buy the box?? Somebody made those boxes? Who? Somebody makes all of these TVs, Who? And who is paying for the coupons? Either way, you might not think this is costing you anything, but believe me, nobody gets anything for FREE.

And whether you get them or not, you are paying for everyone else that is. Including my coupons whether I need them or not.

Jeanette

Jeanette,

That's the point I had hoped I had made. That "I" AM paying for the technology switch that many will use.

As a consumer "who" makes the stuff doesn't matter to me so long as my stuff works well. I try to buy American-made products when I can [even if the American co. outsources manufacturing to another country].

Tir,

Sorry, I do have a problem with not having any option to "Buy American". All of our TVs, DVDs, TiVos, cars, etc. are made foreign. And I don't mean "outsourced". In other words, "follow the money". Who in Congress signed off on this? Guess we don't want to get into that.

And the biggest problem I have with it is being forced to HAVE it. Whether I like it or not, my antenna operated TV will not work.

Jeanette

Yes there could be plenty of political ranting on the subject I'm sure, a no-no for Dave's thank goodness.

I do try to buy American goods or like I said, at least from American companies, whenever possible. This is from as small as the produce I buy (if no country of origin I don't bother with it) on up to cars.

Good point about the TV, it does seem we are being "forced" to upgrade. But I guess no one "forces" me to watch TV and just as when we had to put out the money to buy the technology (the TV, the VCR, the DVD) to begin with no one made me buy a TV, we are only maintaining what we'd bought. Perhaps the picture will be better and you'll be able to enjoy your viewing more?

I was just talking to my DH about this last night. I'm inclined to stop watching t.v. but I like watching dvd's. I'm sure prices will go down on the new stuff.

Actually I just read a nice family magazine article about how a family in a new house didn't get their cable lines installed when they moved in and the wires were left in the attic. Then the contractors sprayed the insulation all over the lines. Despite attempts to find the lines to install the family couldn't. Each night they found other things around the house they needed doing. Once the work was done they started hanging out more as a family, playing games, longer talks at the dinner table, etc. After 2 weeks their adult son home for a visit said he had found the cable lines. The parents said, "Cover them back up!" They didn't realize how much time they had forfeited by the long line of shows they "had" to watch each night.

I took away a sweet lesson from them. And just in time as after 4 years I was starting to wish I had satellite again. :)

Sounds like a fairy tale to me. LOL Like something someone made up.

I guess you've never tried it then. We did a no TV week growing up and found it to be very beneficial.

Remember Jnette, the glass is half full. :)

Tir, I guess I am considerably older than you because I was in junior high school when TV came to the West coast, and in high school before my dad decided it was going to be more than just a "flash in the pan", so he bought one. i.e. here to stay. By that time I was going to school and working jobs in the evenings, and dating. I did not care for Lawrence Welk, etc. In other words, I didn't have time for TV.

It was not until I was settled down and married with a baby that we got a TV. YEAH, that old.

( : >)

Jeanette

threegardeners, this conversion to digital schedule is set for the U.S. Do you get programming from the States? Canada may have different plans altogether - let us know if you can find out what's planned.

Yuska

I'm 28.

I'm 54. We had t.v. when I was growing up but it was kind of boring. It is still mostly boring. However, it can be a comfort to people who live alone and to me when I just need to be brain-dead for awhile. I'm sure we'll end up digital, as my D.H. is a media junkie. My understanding is that the broadcasting companies want digital because it takes less room, somehow, than what we've got now. Then there will be even more opportunity for advertisements.

You see that is the problem. Aside from whatever problems they have with the airwaves getting crowded, people are going to spend all this money for the HD but are still going to get all the same old crap.

Jeanette

You see that is the problem. Aside from whatever problems they have with the airwaves getting crowded, people are going to spend all this money for the HD but are still going to get all the same old crap.

Yes Tir, I will never forget that my mom always timed Sunday dinner at 2:00 because that is when the old time radio shows started. There were several half hour shows. Mysteries and comedies. There were 5 of us girls so this kept us quiet, no fighting, and a very pleasant time Yes, we did fight too.

And Tir, I'm 68.

Jeanette

Same old crap, but better pictures, lol. Guess we'll know soon enough. Makes sense, takes up less room.

I saw a commercial yesterday about the digital transition and thought I would share the website in case anyone has questions about it.
The address is: www.dtvtransition.org