High Definition Televisions

[mollipen]

I would also recommend against a widescreen set if you're like me, and play a lot of SNES etc shit. Sure you can put on bars to give you the proper 4:3 aspect, but it just feels weird playing and having that part of the screen un-usable. I just couldn't get used to it. You don't really gain anything with a widescreen set anyway, except you don't have to look at black bars when watching DVDs...whoopy.

So, wait, first you say that black bars are bad, and then you say getting rid of the black bars on widescreen DVDs is no big deal. Which is it exactly?

Widescreen is the future. Pretty much every DVD release now has a widescreen transfer, and as time goes on more and more TV shows are switching over to being broadcast in widescreen. Anybody who purchases a new TV and purposely avoids getting a widescreen unit, with the exception of a prohibitive cost, is crazy. Widescreen becoming the standard for home television is only a question of when, not if.

[Taito]

So, wait, first you say that black bars are bad, and then you say getting rid of the black bars on widescreen DVDs is no big deal. Which is it exactly?

Widescreen is the future. Pretty much every DVD release now has a widescreen transfer, and as time goes on more and more TV shows are switching over to being broadcast in widescreen. Anybody who purchases a new TV and purposely avoids getting a widescreen unit, with the exception of a prohibitive cost, is crazy. Widescreen becoming the standard for home television is only a question of when, not if.

This post reminds me of a question I've always had about the new digital broadcast standards for TV networks. What's going to happen to all past TV programs (reruns), recorded in 4:3, after the standards are in effect? Are they going to be shown in fullscreen on a 4:3 television, or will they be tailored for widescreen TVs, resulting in a much smaller picture for everyone using regular square sets?

[Masaka]

Thanks a ton for all of the info guys.

I went up to Best Buy this weekend and they let me hook my PS2 up to the 34" Sony widescreen. GGXX actually worked fine, despite its weird progressive mode, and it was awe inspiring.

I wound up actually ordering the 30" model I mentioned initially, since it was 500 bucks cheaper, and I the same as the 34", except the size. BB.com has free shipping and no interest financing till next January, so rather than buy it outright, I just financed it.

HD gaming in Chateau de Mas starts December 17th

I do have to say that BB.com's customer service is mad shitty. I almost didn't buy it, because when I called them to make sure the TV qualified for the financing, the guy on the phone wouldn't give me a straight answer. He kept getting evasive when I asked if the item I selected qualified for the financing, so finally I was like "screw it" and wasn't going to get it.

The next day, each of the qualifying items had notes saying so

[Tones]

Nice. Post some pictures once you get it all up and running.

[DirtySouth]

I'm hearing more and more people recommending staying away from plasma screens due to the short life, burn-in, etc, but what about LCD screens? I'm starting to see more and more of those, and so far, the pictures on them have been outstanding. Unfortunately, they are even more expensive than plasmas. How is the life and burn in, and any other problems of LCD's compared to plasmas?

[MechDeus]

GGXX actually worked fine, despite its weird progressive mode, and it was awe inspiring.

"Wierd?" You mean because of the 525p? And yeah, once you play GGXX in progressive you can't go back. It hurts.

[Tones]

Hmm, I would guess that the same problems attributed to computer LCD screens could be applied to TV screens. Burn-in is a problem with all types of screens, it's just that plasmas are more prone to it. If I recall correctly, burn-in isn't a problem with LCD RPTV's, so it may be the same with standard LCD screens.

Compared to plasmas (from my experience with looking at them in stores), the black levels aren't as high with LCD's, but there's a certain look that they have--almost a smoothed out look. Depends on what you prefer, I guess (and judging by your response, it's LCD). What models did you look like? Size?

[Master]

Soul Calibur Xbox is widescreen in 480P, but NOT in 720P.

PS: Gamecube has no 720P option.

[Rocca]

I'm finally upgrading my television (27" Sony Trinitron), and I've decided to go HD. I've got a couple of models in mind:

Sony 30" Widescreen HD TV

Sony 32" Flatscreen HD TV

Who else is running HD TVs and how happy are you with the support from ye olde console makers?

BB.com is offering free shipping and a free DVD player with the purchase of TVs too

Masaka i was at my friend's place between classes at the College, and his appartment downtown is sweet, mostly because of the sony Wega. It's the same one you're asking for, it's great quality and well worth the price. Although I dont know THAT much more then the average person on TV hardware, I know that it's one of the sweetest televisions' at reasonnable price.

[DHG Otaku]

Word.

How much did professional calibration cost you? I was thinking about getting it done on my new Sony 36" KV36FS100 WEGA, but I wouldn't know where to begin to find someone in the area to do it, or how much it would set me back.

it'll usually run 200-300 bucks...quite steep so I'd only recommend if you have a nice big 32-36" or bigger TV. Then again, all I care about is picture quality and if I couldn't afford to get my TV callibrated, then I'd buy a smaller set to have enough money for it. :P I was able to get mine done for free (36" Wega) from a good friend who taught me all the stuff about TVs that I didn't learn in college. :P