Up until recently, the only few things a person would need to consider when purchasing a TV is the screen size and what extra few features it has, such as stereo speakers, # of AV inputs, etc. Now with HD game consoles, Blu-ray and HD DVD players getting set to hit the market next year, chances are that there will be a fair hike in HDTV set sales also in the near future. As HDTV sets become more mass-produced and widespread, the prices have fallen rapidly over the past few years. Now when the consumer goes out to invest in one of these, this is where the problem starts, since there is a wide range of HD capable sets, which consist of a wide range of screen sizes, technologies, screen resolutions and video inputs such as HDMI, HDCP DVI, Component, etc.
When it comes to screen technology, the most common types for displaying HDTV content include CRTs, Plasma, LCD and rear and front projection. Next, each type comes in several screen resolutions, not to mention screen sizes. The most common methods of describing HD capable include HDTV-ready, HDTV and full-HD TV. TV’s that are described as HDTV-ready tend to be misleading as most of these either down-convert the HD signal to show as standard definition or offer a resolution in between standard definition and 720-line high definition. Sets described as showing native 720i/p HDTV generally show at least 1280 x 720, but may go anywhere between this and 1920i/p (1920 x 1080). Finally, Full-HD sets can show a true 1080i/p picture and feature a minimum native resolution of 1920 x 1080.
HD CRT sets will likely be the cheapest as well as generally offer the advantage of showing full-HD (1920 x 1080), however these have a limited screen size up to ~40″ due to them being as bulky and heavy as standard definition CRT sets. Plasma TVs have the advantage of being thin; however the majority of 42″ high definition capable plasma TVs just display above standard definition of between 848 x 480 and 1024 x 768. The more expensive models can show 720i/p natively; where as models above 60″ tend to offer full-HD natively. LCD sets come in a much wider range of sizes than plasma and offer some advantages including being lighter as well as offering at least native 720i/p support in any size; however they have the drawback of a narrower viewing angle. Finally, while DLP sets may be another cheap alternative, they have the drawback of a very narrow vertical viewing angle as well as needing periodic replacement lamps.
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You’ll need help when it comes to sorting the many, seemingly bewildering, options available today. Here it is The introduction of high-definition TV by a number of global broadcasters and the arrival of giant flat screens are transforming the TV world. With broadcasters showing selected programs in HDTV, consumers have begun to replace their old cumbersome, chunky boxes with a more esthetic LCDs (liquid-crystal display) or plasma TVs. Thanks to higher-definition formats, people can now see every detail, from the expression on the face of a Super Bowl player to the sweat trickling down a singer’s face performing in hot weather. Advertisement “The bottom line is that, going forward, wide-screen TVs with full HD resolution will definitely be a market requirement rather than just a luxury,” says Bruce Berkoff, chief marketing officer at LG.Philips LCD, the world’s largest maker of LCD panels. The full, rather lengthy |
Interestingly, the list of TV technologies goes on if we include LCD & DLP projectors and even carbon TVs which promise to overcome the drawbacks of Plasma and LCD TVs. At present, font-projection systems have the drawback in that they require a dimly lit room to see the optimum picture, however the black projection screen aims to sort this out, which could make it a good competitor to other large HDTV displays, assuming the projection screen will not be overly priced.
Unfortunately, one of the worst things to happen with HDTV has to be when the FCC tried enforcing mandatory broadcast flag recognition support on sets. Although the broadcast flags have been done away with as a result of an appeals court ruling, unfortunately it is too late for HDTV sets since the majority would have included such support to be compliant with in the FCC’s original deadline. On the other hand, the main thing the broadcast flag would have affected would have been recording devices such as TV tuners for PCs and HDTV recording set-top boxes. Unfortunately, by the time HD recorders become widespread (including Blu-ray and HD DVD recorders ), chances are that these will all support some sort of copy-protection recognition technology, much like how current DVD recorders will prevent the recording of Macrovision protected content.
As there are other things to decide on when choosing a
TV, including contrast ratio and lumens/brightness, for a more detailed comparision of the different display technologies, have a look at this forum thread sticky. Feel free to discuss about HDTV, including sets and picking up broadcasts on our Satellite, HD-TV, Blu-ray and HD-DVD Forum.
Source: Buisness Week – Technology
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10 Comments
I know for sure that I do NOT want to lift and move a 40" CRT set. [edited by rdgrimes on 08.11.2005 00:19]
image enhanced dvd looks good enough for me long live dvd & down with drmed hd-dvd & br Most popular headlines
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