TV’s used to be the simplest gadget to buy, quite reliable and relatively inexpensive. All that has changed. Now we face the questions of when to buy and what. For me, I’ve decided to act like a loosing sports team and “wait until next year”. There are too many changes still taking place.
What are the changes?
1. Date: February 17, 2009
This is the biggest change. It is the date that the US Congress has set for all television stations broadcasting at full-power to transmit digital-only signals. Whoops! That means the old standard analog sets will no longer work, unless -
- you buy a box for each set that converts the signal to analog, or
- your cable or satellite company, who are still allowed to distribute the analog signal, converts the signal for you, or
- you buy a new digital TV.
2. Definition: HDTV
Because this digital signal can carry more content, the TV manufacturers have been moving toward the technology to use it, called High Definition TV (HDTV). “Definition” means how refined the picture is on the screen for sharp, crisp details.
TV pictures are composed of a number of lines, and are written onto the screen in two passes (interlaced) or one pass (progressive). The definition for digital TV currently progresses from -
- SDTV - standard definition that shows 480 interlaced lines, labeled (640 x 480i),
- EDTV - enhanced definition that shows 480 or 576 progressive lines, labeled (720 x 480p) or (720 x 576p),
- HDTV - high (enough for smaller screens) definition that shows 768 progressive lines, labeled (1366 x 768p), to
- Full HDTV - high definition for screens over 40″ or for video games and computers, labeled (1920 x 1080p).
3. Display: Aspect Ratio
- 4:3 - the traditional width-to-height ratio of older TV’s.
- 16:9 - the wide-screen format like you see at the movies
4. Display: Flat screen
The screen is the most expensive component of a TV set. The old tube is gone and has been replaced by -
- Plasma - for darker rooms where the furniture is spread out.
- pros - generally less expensive, wider view angle, high contrast, accurate colors, handles fast motions, offers largest sizes.
- cons - has dimmer picture in bright room, reflective glass surface, shorter useful life, burn-in of images, heavier, uses more electricity
- LCD - for brighter rooms with tighter viewing angles and video game usage.
- pros - better picture in bright room, longer useful life, lighter, no image burn-in with video games, uses less power.
- cons - a bit more expensive, smaller viewing angle, less contrast, more blur with fast motion, smaller sizes.
Given the amount of change that is still going on, my choice for Santa is to “wait until next year”. If I had to buy today, however, I’d choose a wide-screen, full HDTV set with the largest flat screen I could afford that was best suited for the room and its use. Even though many broadcasts don’t transmit full HDTV, I’d opt for it because it is only a matter of time before they will. I’d make that choice because the technology changes in progress have a while to go before they reach any stable plateau.
Some experts out there may disagree. I’d love to know why.
N. B. Click below to make a comment. If you would prefer to make an enhancement to the original article, please go to wikiSenior.com and click on edit.