Which TV and Why??

[cardaway]

What little I have figured out is that I probably want DLP instead of plasma or LCD. I wish someone could explain why that's the case -- I sure can't!

Seriously, I believe its because of the lack of burn-in (so better than plasma) and the better black levels (so better than LCD, within the same price range).

Given my limited research so far, that is exactly why think I'm going DLP.

Does anyone know if "cable card" has anything to do with HDTV decisions?

Cable card? Built in HDTV tuner maybe?

 

[LoraJ]

I can't really offer up much advice, but if any video games are going to be played on this set, stay away from plasma. You'll have major burn in problems. There is absolutely no burn in with LCD.

The problem with burn-ins will be if you pause the game for extended periods of times. Also maybe static displays in the corner. But according to this article, and also what we were told in the store was to not play video games for a couple of weeks to avoid burn-in. Once the tv runs for a certain amount of time, the burn-in risk goes down:

http://www.cnet.com/4520-7874_1-5108443-2.html?tag=lnav

 

[bicker]

The problem of burn-in is worse (from what I understand) if you plan to watch a lot of standard television on your HDTV set.

 

[wdwoldtimer]

A cable card is like a PC Card or PCMCIA card which allows the TV's built-in cable tuner to receive a cable company's digital signal. It's a way to eliminate the use of the klunky set top boxes. Cable companies don't like this technology because it results in a loss of revenue - they are supposed to charge a lower rental fee for the card as opposed to the set top box, no video-on-demand etc. They are being forced by the FCC to provide a cable card option...so look for them to do as little as possible to make cable cards successful.

 

[cardaway]

The problem with burn-ins will be if you pause the game for extended periods of times. Also maybe static displays in the corner. But according to this article, and also what we were told in the store was to not play video games for a couple of weeks to avoid burn-in. Once the tv runs for a certain amount of time, the burn-in risk goes down:

http://www.cnet.com/4520-7874_1-5108443-2.html?tag=lnav

I believe there is all white setting on most plasma's that will overburn, if you will, any minor burn in from static displays on games.

 

[cardaway]

The problem of burn-in is worse (from what I understand) if you plan to watch a lot of standard television on your HDTV set.

Which is why I've seen people use the "smooth wide" option to fill the screen when watching 4x3 TV or movies. I think there is also an option to change the colors of the vertical bars to lessen the risk.

 

[bicker]

"smooth wide"

What does that do? Does it slowly move the 4:3 picture back and forth, right and left, over time, so every pixel gets a chance to shine?

 

[wdwoldtimer]

No, it stretches a standard 4:3 format picture to widescreen so everything looks short and fat. It's awful. Some do it gradually, trying to stretch less in the center. With that, things suddenly get short/fat as they move away from center and you get nauseous watching it happen.

 

[gris gris]

Is your tv HDTV compatible or HDTV ready? We are also looking for a new TV and about the only thing I can figure out is if your tv is HDTV Compatible you need a different converter box, if the tv is HDTV READY, it has the converter built in, or something like that. It IS really confusing.

I'm not really sure what ours is! When we got it we had to swap our digital cable box with an HD box. So maybe ours is HDTV compatible. It is confusing! Then add the DVR to it....LOL we had to get a new box when that happened

 

[DawnCt1]

What little I have figured out is that I probably want DLP instead of plasma or LCD. I wish someone could explain why that's the case -- I sure can't!

Seriously, I believe its because of the lack of burn-in (so better than plasma) and the better black levels (so better than LCD, within the same price range).

Does anyone know if "cable card" has anything to do with HDTV decisions?

Now you threw another group of letters in there. What is DLP?

 

[cardaway]

No, it stretches a standard 4:3 format picture to widescreen so everything looks short and fat. It's awful. Some do it gradually, trying to stretch less in the center. With that, things suddenly get short/fat as they move away from center and you get nauseous watching it happen.

Some do that but a friends set seems to do something different. The short/fat effect is reduced quite a bit. On his set the setting is called "smooth wide" vs the "full" setting which is exactly what you described. Whatever it does, it doesn't look too bad because we have watched a lot of old school 4x3 TV on it with that setting turned on.

 

[wdwoldtimer]

Some do that but a friends set seems to do something different. The short/fat effect is reduced quite a bit. On his set the setting is called "smooth wide" vs the "full" setting which is exactly what you described. Whatever it does, it doesn't look too bad because we have watched a lot of old school 4x3 TV on it with that setting turned on.

Yeah the "smooth wide" is what I was talking about with the gradual stretching. Samsung's have that feature. They keep a percentage of the middle of the screen unstretched and gradually stretch the 4:3 picture as you move away from center. If the picture has a single person in the center, they don't look distorted, only the "background" does. But whatever appears to the left or right of center, gets stretched. This can sometimes look better than the uniform stretch, but is really bad if the camera pans at all (esp with any sports). Then it sort of looks like you're looking through an inverse fish eye lens....or riding Mission:Hurl.

 

[cardaway]

Yeah the "smooth wide" is what I was talking about with the gradual stretching. Samsung's have that feature. They keep a percentage of the middle of the screen unstretched and gradually stretch the 4:3 picture as you move away from center. If the picture has a single person in the center, they don't look distorted, only the "background" does. But whatever appears to the left or right of center, gets stretched. This can sometimes look better than the uniform stretch, but is really bad if the camera pans at all (esp with any sports). Then it sort of looks like you're looking through an inverse fish eye lens....or riding Mission:Hurl.

I get it now and I think that is what I was seeing. I also think it works for most 4x3 shows that are going to keep the action towards the center, which must be why I haven't noticed the stretching in the sides. Obviously sports is something that will not work.

Most of what we have watched in that setting have been shows that haven't went wide yet. Shows that still are composing everything for the 4x3 frame.

 

[bicker]

I wish I could explain DLP to you, Dawn, but I just can't. The best I can do is copy-and-paste from Wikipedia: "the image is created by microscopically small mirrors laid out in a matrix on a semiconductor chip..."

 

[DawnCt1]

I wish I could explain DLP to you, Dawn, but I just can't. The best I can do is copy-and-paste from Wikipedia: "the image is created by microscopically small mirrors laid out in a matrix on a semiconductor chip..."

Okay, I went window shopping. I went to Costco and they didn't have a Panasonic plasma which is the best rated by Consumer Reports. They had Phillips which had a recall notice, Akai, and I don't remember what else. I liked the plasma but I have a bright room during the day (although I don't watch tv during the day unless I am sick and immobile. Then they had DLP. A little thicker but who cares. If you have to sit off to the side the picture isn't very visable but the plus side is, there is no glare. I went to Bernie's and the prices were awful for a Plasma. I think I would buy it on line and pay shipping if they couldn't match the price or come close. If I bought it locally the taxes would not quite equal the shipping. Then there is LCD. ultra expensive. The DLP is the most affordable and the HDTV DLP has a decent picture. Who am I to care. I am sitting heree watching a tv that flashes off and on every 3 seconds and the color is fading! I don't want to buy a tv until DH gets home from Iraq. it doesn't seem polite. But, if I were going to buy one today, I would make my best deal on the Panasonic Plasma although I can't imagine that I am even thinking of spending that much for a TV. My first car was a yellow Volks Wagen Bug convertible and I paid $3500!!! I am also considering that perhaps I don't need a 50 inch tv. I am watching a 37 in now. it isn't that small. A 42 inch wide screen is probably comparable in size. I am sitting about 12 feet away. I can remember when the biggest tv was a 25 inch console and who complained then???

 

[diznygirl]

I got my 42 inch Hitachi as an Open Box special at Best Buy. Great deal. It's a plasma. I have one wall of windows in the family room and haven't noticed the glare being an issue.

I asked DH about DLP - he said yes to sharpest picture, but there is a problem with seeing rainbow swirls appearing on the screen while you are watching tv. He said at least we could eliminate the glare if we need to.

As usual, I have no idea what he is talking about. But I hope this helps.

 

[MAKmom]

I would love to hang it on the wall but I don't have one to hang it one. The one long wall is where the sofa is. The other wall is all fire place except for about 4 ft. The current tv is at an angle so the new one will have to be. The edge of the tv could overlap the fireplace bricks a bit and look fine. I think the skinnier the better however.

Dawn the trend now is to hang it OVER the fireplace.

 

[bicker]

Over the fireplace seems way too high.

 

[DawnCt1]

Dawn the trend now is to hang it OVER the fireplace.

I know, except I have a very big fire place, the opening is higher than usual. and to hang it where it would look good, we would be looking up.

 

[cardaway]

Over the fireplace seems way too high.

Agreed. Way too high. Should be looking straight ahead if at all possible.

Anybody have links to review sites for 50 inch DLP sets?