( 
)
HD buyers need to be confident in a few basic ideas before they attempt
to shop for the right HIGH DEFINITION TELEVISION for their homes. There
are three simple concepts I'll address that you should feel you have firmly grasped before you go to
town. I also have a few money saving addendum's that I hope you'll find save you both a headache, and some cash.
The first concept is that every purchase any person makes has a value. You should keep in mind while you shop, the value that HDTV has for you personally. To some buyers, HDTV is the only way to fly, while for others it means virtually nothing. I'm certain that you'll fall somewhere in between, but you should really examine how much you personally value HDTV before you hit the stores.
What is HDTV? In essence it is a new kind of television with considerably sharper image quality. If you don't find this concept desirable, and you feel that your TV is good enough for you as it is, you should perhaps take the time to go experience a TRUE HD presentation at your local electronics retailer just to be sure. Ask them to "Tune in a TRUE HD SIGNAL ON THEIR TOP OF THE LINE TV" so that you can really see what HDTV can do. While you are there ask them to put a regular TV next to it with the same programming. Look at the two side by side, and if you don't care about the difference, HDTV is definitely not for you.
Ah but you are still with me, so you want to know the important stuff. Okay here we go: The second concept you must wrap your mind around before you shop is the importance of screen resolution. If you noticed the difference between your standard television and the HD one at the store, you see the difference. Resolution is what makes this super sharp image possible. AT THE CURRENT RETAIL LEVEL, Broadcast HDTV is rated at what they call 1080i. It may not be important for you to know or remember the details of what this number means technically, except that retail HDTV broadcasts don't get any better than 1080i. Memorize that number, it is the sharpest TRUE HDTV can get. 1080i. (This is the resolution George Lucas dreams in!) You may have heard of another similar format called 1080p. I'll talk about 1080p later. For now understand that 1080i is as good as it gets.
Thirdly one should understand that there are different qualities of HDTV. This isn't like going from a generic product to a name brand product and seeing a difference in quality. The difference here is in sharpness of image (RESOLUTION), clarity, and range of color, brightness, and control features. Most importantly the difference in quality translates into a difference in RESOLUTION. That feeling you get when looking at an actual flower can be identically reproduced by the resolution HDTV.
To have a real understanding of the resolution differences you should perhaps think of resolution as it relates to standard television like this: REGULAR TV is good quality, EDTV (Enhanced Definition TV or 'almost High Definition') is double the quality of REGULAR TV, and TRUE HDTV (1080i/1080p) is at least six times as detailed as REGULAR TV! THATS RIGHT, SIX TIMES AS DETAILED! SIX TIMES AS CLEAR!
If you really want to experience HDTV in your home, settle for nothing less than TRUE HDTV (1080i). If you actually want to experience true HDTV and all that it has to offer, EDTV will not make you completely happy, however it has at least twice the resolution as REGULAR TV and if you are on a budget, it is a fantastic upgrade! It will also most certainly fool the typical Jones's into thinking that you've gone all the way.
HOW TO SHOP:
Know your stuff. Most television sales people don't know what they are talking about. They'll try to fool you into believing that what they are saying is fact, when actually they weren't paying close attention at all during the last training meeting they had.
A key point regarding HD TV is the presence or lack of an HD Tuner. The first option and usually the least expensive, is to buy an HDTV "MONITOR" or what is more accurately described as an HDTV without an HD TUNER (usuall this is a wise way to go if you intend on buying Cable or Satellite HD programming services.) This means that you will not get any HD PICTURE SIGNAL to your new HDTV without buying an external HD TUNER of some kind. The second option is to buy an HDTV with an HD TUNER included or BUILT IN to the HDTV. This means that you will be able to tune local HD broadcasts for free over the air when connected to an antenna. The third option, having bought an HDTV "MONITOR" is to buy an HDTV RECEIVER from your local CABLE COMPANY, so that you can subscribe to the HD PROGRAMMING they offer. The final option is to buy an HDTV "MONITOR" and to buy an HDTV RECEIVER from your favorite Satellite Provider so that you can subscribe to the HD PROGRAMMING they offer.
Finally HDTV is offered in a variety of different and new set designs. Primarily the FLAT PANEL LCD TV's and PLASMA TV's offer space optimization and bank breaking price maximization, while the rear projection LCD and standard cathode ray tube HDTV's offer an equally impressive image and often cost far less while occupying considerably more space in your living room. If money is no object, go flat and expensive, and if living space is no object but money is tight, go for a big and beautiful HD CRT (CATHODE RAY TUBE HDTV) or rear projection LCD.
If you feel like you have a firm understanding of everything I've covered so far, you are almost ready to shop until you drop. Print this review out and take it with you, at the end I summarize the key points and you can use them as a reference when the sales guys turn on the pressure and the bad information.
The basics of High Definition Television are now common knowledge to you. You have a firm grasp of the cornerstone information on HDTV and this knowledge makes you an intelligent HDTV buyer. You know product and its key points, and you know the personal value HDTV has to you, and it is now time to take to the market and begin shopping for the right tv for you!
Good luck, and by all means don't pass on any opportunity to begin watching HDTV in your home! (MOST AREAS NEAR BIG CITIES HAVE LOCAL CHANNELS BROADCAST IN HD FOR FREE!!! YOU WON'T NEED A SUBSCRIPTION TO AN EXPENSIVE CABLE OR SATTELITE SERVICE PROVIDER IN ORDER TO IMMEDIATELY BEGIN EXPERIENCING TRUE HDTV) JUST CONNECT YOUR ROOF ANTENNA TO YOUR TUNER EQUIPPED NEW HDTV SET AND YOU ARE READY TO GO!!! IF YOU'VE GOT MORE MONEY TO SPEND, BY ALL MEANS THERE ARE SOME FANTASTIC HDTV PROGRAMMING PACKAGES AVAILABLE THROUGH MANY CABLE AND SATTELITE COMPANIES, SO SIGN UP, TUNE IN AND SEE THE WORLD WITH A NEW PAIR OF EYES!!!
SUMMARY POINTS:
1. What does HDTV means to you? (HOW MUCH DO YOU PERSONALLY VALUE THE IMPROVED IMAGE OF HDTV VS STANDARD TV)
2. The Importance of Resolution (What resolution satisfies your personal budget and your visual preferences.)
3. Quality (Warranty, Crispness, Name brand, Color Range, Brightness, Features & RESOLUTION.)
4. The Tuner (Is it included, or excluded? For service do you prefer cable, or satellite, or local free off of the air signals?)
5. HDTV SET DESIGN (LCD/FLAT PANEL, PLASMA, CRT TUBE, OR LCD PROJECTION)
6. An HDTV is something you'll likely keep for a very long time, so be sure you get exactly what you are looking for when you buy!
7. DO NOT LET THE LYING STINKING CHEATING ROTTEN FILTHY SALESMAN/WOMAN SELL YOU HD VIDEO CABLES THAT COST MORE THAN $30.00 (THIS IS WHERE THEY ROB YOU BLIND BY CHARGING YOU FROM $100.00 TO $250.00 FOR SOMETHING WORTH AT MOST $30.00. DIGITAL VIDEO CABLES ARE ALL THE SAME! EITHER THEY WORK OR THEY DON'T, THERE IS NO IMPROVED IMAGE BY SUBMITTING YOURSELF TO HIGHWAY ROBBERY. AS WITH ALL THINGS DIGITAL, EITHER IT WORKS OR IT DOESN'T, & IT WON'T WORK BETTER JUST BECAUSE IT COSTS MORE.
8. The latest sales strategy has been to try to trick people into paying tons more money for 1080p versus 1080i. The difference between the two cannot be discerned by the human eye during live motion. A human eye can only tell the difference between the two when a frame is frozen (as in paused.) Also you should be aware that no company broadcasts in 1080p. (SO IT HAS NO REAL VALUE TO ANYONE AS OF YET.) May I suggest that you not waste an extra $2,000 or so on a 1080p TV unless you really need to show off how in touch with the future you are, and how much money you've got.
(If you liked my review and it helped you save some money, please feel free to send me a thank you. PayPal donations are much appreciated! Send your small donation via PayPal to supplyisunlimited@gmail.com )
Addendum:
Recently I got this letter from a trusted eBay member and thought it was worth sharing with you, so you don't have to just take my word for it:
Dear supplyisunlimited,
I read your information about HDTV and there is one question that has been bothering me for some time. What is the purpose for the HDMI cable? I know what the cable is, but what I can't get past is the simple fact that on one house I have HDTV satellite service, and at my other home I have cable service, with the HDTV box. In both cases, the coax bringing the service in is RG-59, or a SINGLE wire. Since it is obvious that the single wire can bring in ALL of the audio and video data needed for high definition, is it just a gimmick for the manufacturers to then switch to HDMI, S-video, or composit cables to hook things up to your reciever? I may be cynical but it appears that the different cables may be just some attempt on the manufacturers render the older equipment obsolete. Even a digital antenna, suitable to receive HDTV over the airwaves, uses RG-59 for the input. Thanks for your response.
-rgatijnet
Dear rgatinet,
Your logical deductions lead you in the right direction. They are thieves, liars, and criminals, people of low ethical and moral values. A class action lawsuit should be filed. An HDMI cable carries both audio and video, just like the coax cable or RG59 that tv's have been using since the early 80's. If these cables can bring the HDTV signal into your house, there is no reason why they couldn't go between your cable/sat box and the HDTV you've got. So there is no reason to promote these cables, or to sell them at a price 100 times that of a standard coax cable, except to try to make tons of money by deceiving people into thinking that it is somehow better. Thanks for your letter!
SupplyIsUnlimited
The first concept is that every purchase any person makes has a value. You should keep in mind while you shop, the value that HDTV has for you personally. To some buyers, HDTV is the only way to fly, while for others it means virtually nothing. I'm certain that you'll fall somewhere in between, but you should really examine how much you personally value HDTV before you hit the stores.
What is HDTV? In essence it is a new kind of television with considerably sharper image quality. If you don't find this concept desirable, and you feel that your TV is good enough for you as it is, you should perhaps take the time to go experience a TRUE HD presentation at your local electronics retailer just to be sure. Ask them to "Tune in a TRUE HD SIGNAL ON THEIR TOP OF THE LINE TV" so that you can really see what HDTV can do. While you are there ask them to put a regular TV next to it with the same programming. Look at the two side by side, and if you don't care about the difference, HDTV is definitely not for you.
Ah but you are still with me, so you want to know the important stuff. Okay here we go: The second concept you must wrap your mind around before you shop is the importance of screen resolution. If you noticed the difference between your standard television and the HD one at the store, you see the difference. Resolution is what makes this super sharp image possible. AT THE CURRENT RETAIL LEVEL, Broadcast HDTV is rated at what they call 1080i. It may not be important for you to know or remember the details of what this number means technically, except that retail HDTV broadcasts don't get any better than 1080i. Memorize that number, it is the sharpest TRUE HDTV can get. 1080i. (This is the resolution George Lucas dreams in!) You may have heard of another similar format called 1080p. I'll talk about 1080p later. For now understand that 1080i is as good as it gets.
Thirdly one should understand that there are different qualities of HDTV. This isn't like going from a generic product to a name brand product and seeing a difference in quality. The difference here is in sharpness of image (RESOLUTION), clarity, and range of color, brightness, and control features. Most importantly the difference in quality translates into a difference in RESOLUTION. That feeling you get when looking at an actual flower can be identically reproduced by the resolution HDTV.
To have a real understanding of the resolution differences you should perhaps think of resolution as it relates to standard television like this: REGULAR TV is good quality, EDTV (Enhanced Definition TV or 'almost High Definition') is double the quality of REGULAR TV, and TRUE HDTV (1080i/1080p) is at least six times as detailed as REGULAR TV! THATS RIGHT, SIX TIMES AS DETAILED! SIX TIMES AS CLEAR!
If you really want to experience HDTV in your home, settle for nothing less than TRUE HDTV (1080i). If you actually want to experience true HDTV and all that it has to offer, EDTV will not make you completely happy, however it has at least twice the resolution as REGULAR TV and if you are on a budget, it is a fantastic upgrade! It will also most certainly fool the typical Jones's into thinking that you've gone all the way.
HOW TO SHOP:
Know your stuff. Most television sales people don't know what they are talking about. They'll try to fool you into believing that what they are saying is fact, when actually they weren't paying close attention at all during the last training meeting they had.
A key point regarding HD TV is the presence or lack of an HD Tuner. The first option and usually the least expensive, is to buy an HDTV "MONITOR" or what is more accurately described as an HDTV without an HD TUNER (usuall this is a wise way to go if you intend on buying Cable or Satellite HD programming services.) This means that you will not get any HD PICTURE SIGNAL to your new HDTV without buying an external HD TUNER of some kind. The second option is to buy an HDTV with an HD TUNER included or BUILT IN to the HDTV. This means that you will be able to tune local HD broadcasts for free over the air when connected to an antenna. The third option, having bought an HDTV "MONITOR" is to buy an HDTV RECEIVER from your local CABLE COMPANY, so that you can subscribe to the HD PROGRAMMING they offer. The final option is to buy an HDTV "MONITOR" and to buy an HDTV RECEIVER from your favorite Satellite Provider so that you can subscribe to the HD PROGRAMMING they offer.
Finally HDTV is offered in a variety of different and new set designs. Primarily the FLAT PANEL LCD TV's and PLASMA TV's offer space optimization and bank breaking price maximization, while the rear projection LCD and standard cathode ray tube HDTV's offer an equally impressive image and often cost far less while occupying considerably more space in your living room. If money is no object, go flat and expensive, and if living space is no object but money is tight, go for a big and beautiful HD CRT (CATHODE RAY TUBE HDTV) or rear projection LCD.
If you feel like you have a firm understanding of everything I've covered so far, you are almost ready to shop until you drop. Print this review out and take it with you, at the end I summarize the key points and you can use them as a reference when the sales guys turn on the pressure and the bad information.
The basics of High Definition Television are now common knowledge to you. You have a firm grasp of the cornerstone information on HDTV and this knowledge makes you an intelligent HDTV buyer. You know product and its key points, and you know the personal value HDTV has to you, and it is now time to take to the market and begin shopping for the right tv for you!
Good luck, and by all means don't pass on any opportunity to begin watching HDTV in your home! (MOST AREAS NEAR BIG CITIES HAVE LOCAL CHANNELS BROADCAST IN HD FOR FREE!!! YOU WON'T NEED A SUBSCRIPTION TO AN EXPENSIVE CABLE OR SATTELITE SERVICE PROVIDER IN ORDER TO IMMEDIATELY BEGIN EXPERIENCING TRUE HDTV) JUST CONNECT YOUR ROOF ANTENNA TO YOUR TUNER EQUIPPED NEW HDTV SET AND YOU ARE READY TO GO!!! IF YOU'VE GOT MORE MONEY TO SPEND, BY ALL MEANS THERE ARE SOME FANTASTIC HDTV PROGRAMMING PACKAGES AVAILABLE THROUGH MANY CABLE AND SATTELITE COMPANIES, SO SIGN UP, TUNE IN AND SEE THE WORLD WITH A NEW PAIR OF EYES!!!
SUMMARY POINTS:
1. What does HDTV means to you? (HOW MUCH DO YOU PERSONALLY VALUE THE IMPROVED IMAGE OF HDTV VS STANDARD TV)
2. The Importance of Resolution (What resolution satisfies your personal budget and your visual preferences.)
3. Quality (Warranty, Crispness, Name brand, Color Range, Brightness, Features & RESOLUTION.)
4. The Tuner (Is it included, or excluded? For service do you prefer cable, or satellite, or local free off of the air signals?)
5. HDTV SET DESIGN (LCD/FLAT PANEL, PLASMA, CRT TUBE, OR LCD PROJECTION)
6. An HDTV is something you'll likely keep for a very long time, so be sure you get exactly what you are looking for when you buy!
7. DO NOT LET THE LYING STINKING CHEATING ROTTEN FILTHY SALESMAN/WOMAN SELL YOU HD VIDEO CABLES THAT COST MORE THAN $30.00 (THIS IS WHERE THEY ROB YOU BLIND BY CHARGING YOU FROM $100.00 TO $250.00 FOR SOMETHING WORTH AT MOST $30.00. DIGITAL VIDEO CABLES ARE ALL THE SAME! EITHER THEY WORK OR THEY DON'T, THERE IS NO IMPROVED IMAGE BY SUBMITTING YOURSELF TO HIGHWAY ROBBERY. AS WITH ALL THINGS DIGITAL, EITHER IT WORKS OR IT DOESN'T, & IT WON'T WORK BETTER JUST BECAUSE IT COSTS MORE.
8. The latest sales strategy has been to try to trick people into paying tons more money for 1080p versus 1080i. The difference between the two cannot be discerned by the human eye during live motion. A human eye can only tell the difference between the two when a frame is frozen (as in paused.) Also you should be aware that no company broadcasts in 1080p. (SO IT HAS NO REAL VALUE TO ANYONE AS OF YET.) May I suggest that you not waste an extra $2,000 or so on a 1080p TV unless you really need to show off how in touch with the future you are, and how much money you've got.
(If you liked my review and it helped you save some money, please feel free to send me a thank you. PayPal donations are much appreciated! Send your small donation via PayPal to supplyisunlimited@gmail.com )
Addendum:
Recently I got this letter from a trusted eBay member and thought it was worth sharing with you, so you don't have to just take my word for it:
Dear supplyisunlimited,
I read your information about HDTV and there is one question that has been bothering me for some time. What is the purpose for the HDMI cable? I know what the cable is, but what I can't get past is the simple fact that on one house I have HDTV satellite service, and at my other home I have cable service, with the HDTV box. In both cases, the coax bringing the service in is RG-59, or a SINGLE wire. Since it is obvious that the single wire can bring in ALL of the audio and video data needed for high definition, is it just a gimmick for the manufacturers to then switch to HDMI, S-video, or composit cables to hook things up to your reciever? I may be cynical but it appears that the different cables may be just some attempt on the manufacturers render the older equipment obsolete. Even a digital antenna, suitable to receive HDTV over the airwaves, uses RG-59 for the input. Thanks for your response.
-rgatijnet
Dear rgatinet,
Your logical deductions lead you in the right direction. They are thieves, liars, and criminals, people of low ethical and moral values. A class action lawsuit should be filed. An HDMI cable carries both audio and video, just like the coax cable or RG59 that tv's have been using since the early 80's. If these cables can bring the HDTV signal into your house, there is no reason why they couldn't go between your cable/sat box and the HDTV you've got. So there is no reason to promote these cables, or to sell them at a price 100 times that of a standard coax cable, except to try to make tons of money by deceiving people into thinking that it is somehow better. Thanks for your letter!
SupplyIsUnlimited
Guide created: 04/17/06 (updated 10/05/08)
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