Comments on: An Education in High Definition for the Novice http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/an-education-in-high-definition-for-the-novice/ A premier personal finance blog, established 2003. Within, Flexo discusses his own experiences with money, and he and other authors comment on a wide range of personal finance topics. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:52:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kevin http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/an-education-in-high-definition-for-the-novice/comment-page-1/#comment-119093 Kevin Tue, 25 Sep 2007 17:32:19 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/09/25/an-education-in-high-definition-for-the-novice/#comment-119093 Meg is right. Plasmas are not as bright as the LCDs, so if you have a brightly lit room or the TV might be reflecting a bright light like a sunny window, Plasma is probably isn't the right choice. If you add that language to your guide I think you've got a great basic info package to HD. Meg is right. Plasmas are not as bright as the LCDs, so if you have a brightly lit room or the TV might be reflecting a bright light like a sunny window, Plasma is probably isn’t the right choice.

If you add that language to your guide I think you’ve got a great basic info package to HD.

]]> By: Chris http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/an-education-in-high-definition-for-the-novice/comment-page-1/#comment-119092 Chris Tue, 25 Sep 2007 15:57:44 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/09/25/an-education-in-high-definition-for-the-novice/#comment-119092 We went with a front projection system in our library which can be dimmed to pitch black. It is a standard def 480i and produces a GREAT picture at 72". Having seen the fancy HD projectors set up in dark rooms at the stores, I see very little difference. Mine of course I bought used, so I spent about $400 on a system that could have cost thousands just a few years ago. The BEST decision we made was to watch exclusively on the projector and get the TV OUT of the living room. We spend more time in conversation rather than in silence watching a screen, and it makes movie nights all the more special. We went with a front projection system in our library which can be dimmed to pitch black. It is a standard def 480i and produces a GREAT picture at 72″. Having seen the fancy HD projectors set up in dark rooms at the stores, I see very little difference. Mine of course I bought used, so I spent about $400 on a system that could have cost thousands just a few years ago.

The BEST decision we made was to watch exclusively on the projector and get the TV OUT of the living room. We spend more time in conversation rather than in silence watching a screen, and it makes movie nights all the more special.

]]> By: Rev http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/an-education-in-high-definition-for-the-novice/comment-page-1/#comment-119091 Rev Tue, 25 Sep 2007 15:26:42 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/09/25/an-education-in-high-definition-for-the-novice/#comment-119091 From what ?I read rear projection isn't getting much love. Yes its bigger but light. I have a 65" 1080p Mitsubishi DLP and it is sweet. They are a cheaper technology, but they produce richer color than LCD. Like most though can be washed out by lots of light in the room. Seems most large TVs can. If you have the room I recommend DLP all the way. Easier on the pocket and the only sacrifice is size. Good color, Brightness, no blur. Also check them out at different stores Best Buy, CC, RC Willy, etc. They will have different setups. Also be sure to compare what is playing. They will run standard def TV on some and HD on others to make them look better. You CAN bring your own content and run it on each TV. If they say no then leave the store. From what ?I read rear projection isn’t getting much love. Yes its bigger but light. I have a 65″ 1080p Mitsubishi DLP and it is sweet. They are a cheaper technology, but they produce richer color than LCD. Like most though can be washed out by lots of light in the room. Seems most large TVs can.

If you have the room I recommend DLP all the way. Easier on the pocket and the only sacrifice is size. Good color, Brightness, no blur.

Also check them out at different stores Best Buy, CC, RC Willy, etc. They will have different setups.

Also be sure to compare what is playing. They will run standard def TV on some and HD on others to make them look better. You CAN bring your own content and run it on each TV. If they say no then leave the store.

]]> By: Tony http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/an-education-in-high-definition-for-the-novice/comment-page-1/#comment-119090 Tony Tue, 25 Sep 2007 15:21:28 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/09/25/an-education-in-high-definition-for-the-novice/#comment-119090 "What kind of cable service do I need?" What about just getting an OTA antenna? These can run about $50 (about the price of a month of basic cable), and then your HD programming is free. You don't get cable channels - but for HD, few providers add much extra programming there anyway. “What kind of cable service do I need?”

What about just getting an OTA antenna? These can run about $50 (about the price of a month of basic cable), and then your HD programming is free. You don’t get cable channels – but for HD, few providers add much extra programming there anyway.

]]> By: Flexo http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/an-education-in-high-definition-for-the-novice/comment-page-1/#comment-119089 Flexo Tue, 25 Sep 2007 15:17:36 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/09/25/an-education-in-high-definition-for-the-novice/#comment-119089 Meg: Those are two excellent points. If you've ever been to Circuit City, you'll notice that they reduce ambient light in the television department as much as possible so the images pop out more. These lighting conditions probably won't match your living room. I'm not sure if Best Buy does the same thing -- in my location, most of the televisions are in a section where the lighting matches the rest of the store, but they have a "Magnolia Home Theater" area -- Circuit City has a similar area to set apart its more expensive displays -- where they do adjust the lighting and create a large living-room replica for better auditioning. Meg: Those are two excellent points. If you’ve ever been to Circuit City, you’ll notice that they reduce ambient light in the television department as much as possible so the images pop out more. These lighting conditions probably won’t match your living room.

I’m not sure if Best Buy does the same thing — in my location, most of the televisions are in a section where the lighting matches the rest of the store, but they have a “Magnolia Home Theater” area — Circuit City has a similar area to set apart its more expensive displays — where they do adjust the lighting and create a large living-room replica for better auditioning.

]]> By: Meg http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/an-education-in-high-definition-for-the-novice/comment-page-1/#comment-119088 Meg Tue, 25 Sep 2007 13:19:45 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/09/25/an-education-in-high-definition-for-the-novice/#comment-119088 I want to point out two other differences between LCD and Plasma. 1) LCD TV's use 30% less energy than Plasmas. 2) If you have a lot of natural light in the room, you want to go with LCD--Plasmas have huge glare issues. I want to point out two other differences between LCD and Plasma.

1) LCD TV’s use 30% less energy than Plasmas.

2) If you have a lot of natural light in the room, you want to go with LCD–Plasmas have huge glare issues.

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