y2flyy
join:2004-04-17
Baton Rouge, LA
| 'Does HD Matter Yet?'
Good question? Personally I do think currently it matters. To the avg comsumer they would not notice a difference. even if they did it doesn't warrant the cost of service with only few channels available. It will matter once HD is a standard after the cable companies are forced to switch. |
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robscullion
Premium
join:2001-12-07
Philadelphia, PA | The cable companies will never be forced to switch. |
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N3OGH
Bear patrol must be working like a charm
Premium
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs | reply to y2flyy
I have a high def DV and a high def box from Comcast.
Pretty much only thing I watch in HD is sporting events. The Nascar races in HD are awesome... |
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Kearnstd
Elf Wizard
Premium
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ
| reply to y2flyy
lack of HD programing is why HD doesnt really matter yet. that said its still no reason not to buy an HDTV, just make sure it has HDMI and HDCP for when the new Policeware DVDs come out.
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[65 Arcanist]Filan(High Elf) Zone: Broadband Reports |
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Slacker44
join:2001-05-10
Gilbert, AZ
1 edit | reply to y2flyy
I certainly can't speak for the nation as a whole, but everyone I know here in Phoenix thinks HD definately matters. Personally, I rarely watch channels that aren't HD. FoodTV and the Travel Channel are going HD soon and I hope Cox picks those up here. Once those channels go HD, I'll have zero need for non-HD channels at all.
As for Satellite HD, lets see what the "analyst" says after DirecTV puts up their new system with a boatload of HD channels. |
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truocchio
join:2004-07-05
Miami Beach, FL
| reply to y2flyy
I have to disagree. Any person with decent vision will notice the difference. It is tremendous. I really didnt think it mattered till I moved into my new place a year ago and spent on a true HD system. Anyone who comes to my place remarks on the quality and clarity of the HD channels. Its like the difference from dial up to broadband (and not 256k bb). Discovery HD is the best, it actually saves me on traveling :P !!! |
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GOLFnSUN
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
 ·Comcast
| reply to N3OGH
said by N3OGH  :I have a high def DV and a high def box from Comcast. Pretty much only thing I watch in HD is sporting events. The Nascar races in HD are awesome... I agree with you. Sports in HD is just like night and day. They look way better in HD format. And now, almost all prime time series are in HD too. Not as obvious an advantage by having HD when comparing to sports, but it is still better than SD.
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yabos
join:2003-02-16
Ingersoll, ON | reply to Kearnstd
Pretty much every prime time show is in HD now, so there's lots of programming. Discovery Chanel HD, 100% HD programming. PBS HD. Pretty much 80% or more of what I watch is available in HD. |
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cableties
Premium
join:2005-01-27
 ·Verizon FIOS
| reply to GOLFnSUN
SD is good for NOT seeing Madden's makeup!!!
So the reason 25% watch is that there are only 10 HD channels, and 4 are PPV. Most DVDs confuse folks as the aspect ratios mislead and don't always fill the screens. And some sets don't do a very good job down-samp'n to SD.
I know my HDTV-Ready set is used mostly (correction 100%) for Xbox 360. I'm waiting for new generation of HDTVsets this summer and maybe even longer for SED sets. And HDTV-LCD sets are still evolving...better contrast, faster response time, 1080P...almost makes sense to just use TV for gaming and movies. But I'm not paying more for minimal HD content. |
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SkullBot
join:2003-05-07
Huntington Beach, CA
| reply to yabos
I bought an HDTV about a month ago. I rushed out and got the SA 8300HD from my cable co. (brighthouse) and subscribed to all the HD content they offer. Having spent some time with it after being on the fence for so long I have to say it is a cool thing however not nearly enough content to justify the price. I dont watch network TV so that dosent count to me. Discovery HD and INHD and HDMAX are the best channels out there right now. I calibrated my TV so it looks really good however I would not recommend it to anyone that is on the fence right now. I mainly got mine for games, DVDs, and to replace a 20 year old broken TV. |
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BF69
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN
| reply to robscullion
said by robscullion :The cable companies will never be forced to switch. basically they will. Do you think in 2021 HDTV will not be the standard? Of course it will be. Standard TV will be dead long before then. I will be shocked if in 2016 most TV programming isn't in HD. |
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SNT
Premium
join:2002-07-17
Satellite Beach, FL | reply to SkullBot
That's more or less due to Brighthouse. I switched to Dish which has more HD content for less money. Then to that you can add the OTA HD which blows away the cable and Sat compressed content.
-SNT |
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SkullBot
join:2003-05-07
Huntington Beach, CA | I wish I could get DISH or DIRECTV. However living in a condo I'm stuck with cable. |
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SNT
Premium
join:2002-07-17
Satellite Beach, FL | I'm sorry man. I feel for you. |
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robscullion
Premium
join:2001-12-07
Philadelphia, PA
 ·Speakeasy
| reply to BF69
Actually, I expect we'll have moved away from the time-slotted, broadcast model of content distribution by then. There's a good chance we'll even be past the idea of a broadcast standard at that point and more into media encoding standards. That is if the current morphing of cable/telcos into data service providers continues to it's logical conclusion of IP based on-demand style programming.
I read the OP's remark to mean that the CCs would be forced to switch to HD by some non-market (IE FCC) force. I cannot tell you the number of times I've heard co-workers say they needed to get an HDTV before the FCC cutoff date. This is people who all have cable. There's a lot of confusion out there on the whole "HD"/FCC thing.
Anyway, I think they'll continue to supply SD content until it's no longer worth the cost. When the cost is higher than the return, they'll tell the 3 people that are left on SD that they need to get an HD box. To me, that's not exactly "being forced" but I admit it's a subjective term. |
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bond787
join:2002-06-25
Guy | reply to y2flyy
Well said man i agree |
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vatorman
@verizon.net
| reply to robscullion
As a televison employee for over 32 years in network and local companies, I'm here to tell you... IT DOES MATTER and they will be forced to switch. There will be no regular tv as of the latest deadline by the FCC which is around 3 years time.
They will be forced to compete with the other services. And once people see HD pix they are convinced. It is obvious. |
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dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
| reply to Slacker44
said by Slacker44 :I certainly can't speak for the nation as a whole, but everyone I know here in Phoenix thinks HD definately matters. Personally, I rarely watch channels that aren't HD. FoodTV and the Travel Channel are going HD soon and I hope Cox picks those up here. Once those channels go HD, I'll have zero need for non-HD channels at all. As for Satellite HD, lets see what the "analyst" says after DirecTV puts up their new system with a boatload of HD channels. I wonder which four cox phoenix dropped. their ads used to say 20 hd channels now its only 16. and some of those are PPV so those really don't count.
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PaulHikeS2
join:2003-03-06
Merrimack, NH
·Comcast
| reply to vatorman
The FCC deadline is for the switch from analog to digital, not a switch to HD. Digital comes in other forms, such as multicasting: it's not just HD.
None of this, however, affects the cable companies. The FCC deadline is only for broadcast television. Cable companies can continue to send an analog signal as long as feasible for them to do so, because CATV is a closed system.
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Jay: What the @#$% is the internet??? |
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Kearnstd
Elf Wizard
Premium
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ
| reply to y2flyy
HDTV needs to be easier to use imo, the typical home user doesnt know what component video is or even how to switch their TV set off of the standard CATV input. whats needed is elimination of the cable box even for digital, making a standard across all CATV systems and then having TVs do it with a card from the cable co while retaining the program guide one gets with the box.
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[65 Arcanist]Filan(High Elf) Zone: Broadband Reports |
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