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Clearing up the confusion around HDTV products
By Darco | February 3, 2008
Brian Greene talks about how HDTV’s are different and what to look for when purchasing one. Greene is the Home Theater Supervisor at Best Buy in Carbondale.
‘Tis the season for giving, but it’s also the season for getting.
C’mon, you know it’s tough to walk into a store and just pick up the stuff on your list for friends and family with all the deals going on.
High-Def, digital, flat-panel, plasma, “i’s” and “p’s;” what do all these things mean?
We tell you.
If you’re looking to make a big purchase, this is the time to do it, especially if you want to make an addition to your home entertainment system. Before you decide to jump in and spend, it’s probably a good idea to know what you’re getting into.
High-Def, digital, flat-panel, plasma, “i’s” and “p’s;” what do all these things mean? First things first. Are you looking into buying a new television because you heard that you had to?
In February 2009, all television stations are required to only transmit their signals digitally, as opposed to the dual analog and digital signals they send out now.
David Young of The Sound Room in St, Louis, who is also a specialist with the Home Theater Specialists of America said to only worry about that if your television has bunny ears. “It really doesn’t mean anything to someone receiving information via satellite or cable,” he said.
Cable and satellite receivers will convert the signal for your analog television. If you are using an antenna, the government will offer a coupon redemption program to receive a converter box.
Now if you’re thinking about a HD television as a gift or if you just have to have one, there are definitely a few things to consider. According to Brian Greene, the Home Theater Supervisor at Best Buy in Carbondale, there are different types of high definition televisions. First, there are the larger 50 to 75 inch rear projection televisions. The next type is the smaller LCD and Plasma screens that can be hung on the wall. Then there are types between those two as well.
When thinking about resolution, you’re looking at a difference between 720p and 1080i or even 1080p.
Well, what’s the “p?”
“That’s where people get confused,” Greene said. The “i” stands for interlacing, where the television only scans every other line of resolution. The “p” stands for progressive, which scans every line of resolution. The basic high definition signal is 1080i or 780p. “There’s a big debate on which has the better resolution,” Greene said. For the best picture possible, the next line of DVD’s, Blu-Ray and HDDVD’s are 1080p. “That’s what true high definition is, 1080p,” Greene said.
So, cutting through all the technical jargon, which should you buy to get more bang for your buck?
If you’re looking for a television that will give you the best picture possible with your current set up and aren’t interested in an upgrade to a system that will include HDDVD’s or Blu-Ray discs anytime soon, you should go with 720p.
If you’re buying for down the road and want a television that will handle the advances in technology in the next ten years, go for 1080p.
Another important factor is the processor.
“The TV’s are making the image right here on the screen,” Greene said. “It’s not like the old TV’s where they project it out bigger. You want to look for a brand with the best processor.” The processor in the television is similar to one in a computer. You want one that will keep up best with the quality of signal that is sent.
One of the biggest factors to remember when choosing a television is the environment in which it will sit. The flat panel screens have a hard surface, which means you’ll need to think about where to place it to minimize a glare. If you’re mounting it on the wall, or placing it on a stand, you’ll want to decide what to do with the furniture that held your previous television, it may not work for the newer widescreen televisions.
Greene said that it’s sometimes overwhelming to come in a big store like Best Buy and see the biggest television and want to take it home, but that might not be the best choice. He recommends thinking about your old television and how it relates to the space it is in now.
“Do you want people to walk in and say ‘that’s a really nice TV’ or ‘that’s a really big TV,’” he said.
Source: satellite-keys.net
Topics: HDTV articles |