Go High Definition Television?
Is it worth the cost - is it for us baby boomers or just a gimmick?
Jan 10, 2007
Each providers says their product is superior, of course. To cable providers – cable beats satellite and to satellite purveyors, the reverse. Actually, they’re relatively comparable, with proprietary foibles here and there.
As for high definition – it’s surprising. Ever the skeptic, ever watchful for gimmicks to part me from cash, I capitulated when my techno-geek husband couldn’t wait any longer. Needing a new TV, we considered another tubularly driven set. BUT the extreme weight of those was the deciding factor. The one we disposed of weighed 160 pounds.
We did homework, shopped and settled on a Panasonic 37” plasma HD unit, upper- moderately priced. Out of the box, the difference was a treat.
Picture quality was less linear; impressive color, no pixelation. Audio extremely different. Being moderately hearing-impaired, I have difficulty with most TV. Sound is muddy. I can’t distinguish words -- it’s frustrating. This set provided crisper, clearer sound. Conversation was significantly easier. Not perfect, but nicer. Is that about high def technology or the unit itself? I don’t know.
My husband eloquently pleaded his case for HD satellite service. We got on a waiting list (demand is exceeding supply). Our number came up.
The installer showed me Discovery HD Theater channel.
I was dumbfounded. Living on the Gulf of Mexico, I know what oceans look like in sunlight. Not the flat, dull image of old television. I sat there looking at Mutiny on the Bounty. It was like looking out the window at the Gulf on a sunny day.
The quality difference between high def signal on high def equipment vs standard TV is like the difference between photos taken with a ten megapixel digital camera and a Brownie box camera.
Color is true life. Sound is undistorted and crisp as a Fuji apple in October – and this time, it’s obviously the technology. Picture is sharp and clear, unless you’re watching fast action like sports, where you’ll find some motion blur.
The downside -- it’s new technology. The satellite kicks out once in a while for a few seconds – annoying. There isn’t a lot of high def programming yet – Jeopardy in high def is useless – you tend to get fixated on Alex’s nose hairs. But it’s coming. You can see some artifacting in analog broadcasts, sometimes, too.
There’s a two format battle – the 720 and 1080/1080i resolution choice. You can buy sets with either and no one knows where the wheel is going to stop. It’s like Beta/VHS in the 80s, except chances are good no matter which you choose (the 720s are cheaper) you won’t obsolete in the next year or two anyway. The 1080 gives ultra-realistic stills and nature-type programming. The 720 gives a faster picture refresh more compatible for sports and action stuff. Both will provide satisfactory HD experiences. As I understand it, no matter which format is ultimately adopted for the signal standard, both types of TVs will do the job, so you won’t be stuck with a white elephant.
Bottom line – if you’re gadget prone, have $900 or more to drop on a TV and maybe need a new set anyway, go for it. Sets for much under that price may not be the best decision and there is a giant quality difference between plasma and the other types of screen – plasma being the better choice. And if you decide to hang the TV on the wall, kits to do that run $200-$400.
Costs to upgrade reception aren’t huge. You’ll pay an install (not negotiable now because of demand) and about twelve bucks a month added to your current fees if you have digital cable or satellite service. To get those services new, figure $35 -$60 per month for basic packages if you don’t add premium channels like HBO (they run about $13 each monthly).
If you have a DVD player – movies will look and sound terrific with your new high def set up, but they won’t be high def. For that, you need to add about another $1000 purchase of a high def DVD player or a Blue Ray Disk player which is a whole different set of questions. Then you have to buy the proper format of prerecorded DVDs. Gets complicated and begins to be expensive. But you don’t have to jump in that deeply if you don’t want to.
You can get your toes wet with just a new TV and high def reception from satellite or cable. It isn’t going to change your life. It’s fun. That’s all it is.
More:
Read an explanation of HD vs standard TV
