$378 at Best Buy: Toshiba 26DF56

[Mehen]

Yeah, in my case because of room contraints etc, I probably would end up with a big DLP as opposed to a projector, and they are better for TV which I ultimately watch more of than movies. For me it is still too early to purchase a tv, with all the bluray/HD/tv signal stuff, but by what - 2010 was it? that they are completely switching to HD...

I just feel I need to argue against current HDTVs because I feel it is too early to put big $ into them If you want big for now, spend well under $1 and get a nice 480p projector to tide you over.

(edit: so whether right/wrong, I will still argue!! muahahaha)

[Jerry Jones]

One reason some INFORMED consumers don't feel anxious to buy HDTVs is the fact most over-the-air digital TV is not broadcast in *high* definition.

Most over-the-air digital TV here in Boise is *standard* definition!

As a test, I just used my Acer Ferrari...

http://tinyurl.com/fjqgn

...which has a resolution of 1680 x 1050.

I just used my DVICO Fusion USB HDTV receiver...

http://tinyurl.com/cnza4

...and watched *standard* definition digital TV -- on the Acer Ferrari display -- from local over-the-air sources and compared that to what I see on my 26" Toshiba standard definition widescreen set.

Frankly, I prefer the tube TV display.

The Acer display is also nice, but the resolution of the display is so high you can see the digital artifacting of broadcast TV in painful detail.

Broadcast digital TV is -- in my opinion -- far better than analog ever was.

Still, it's far from perfect.

I think the best experience one can hope for with HDTV is the high definition DVD experience and the experience derived from watching those few broadcast programs that are actually *high* definition.

But I can see pixelization even on the *high* definition programming broadcast here in Boise.

HDTV is hyped beyond the reality.

Jerry Jones

http://www.jonesgroup.net

[nunchalnaomi]

I watch sporting events at my friends house in hd on his 45 lcd (it is a 1080p set, but the broadcasts are 1080I) . It looks great. I don't think it is hype. I live in CA. so we might get better signals, but it looks great on hd and non hd signals. I agree about the hd dvd format war. But that is not the only way to get hd content. His xbox 360 games also look fantastic. I don't see the reason to buy a non hd tv. I bought a toshiba for 179$ last year and that will be the last non hd tv I buy. The hd prices are dropping. It seems to me you could have spent a little more and been able to view hd now and have room to grow. Around xmas or a lttle after I will be looking for a set that has multiple inputs (hdmi is a must, but I also want a dvi out for my pc). I honestly don't think a sd set is a good purchase. There are hd set for a little more then 400$. I would have spent a little more to get a lot more. My friend spent over 3 grand on a 45" 1080p lcd. But he makes good money and wants what he wants. I think hd is not hype. It looks fantastic. I am an informed consumer. We all have different criteria. I honestly think a sd set is a waste of time and money.

[Jerry Jones]

There's only one thing worse than buying a good quality standard definition set, in my opinion.

Buying a CHEAPO (Wal-Mart's Tatung, etc.) high definition set.

When I buy HD, I'll buy a quality brand.

But you'll never convince me there aren't problems with *standard* definition programs broadcast on high definition sets; there are.

Nor will you convince POPULAR MECHANICS here:

http://tinyurl.com/f5o58

Jerry Jones

http://www.jonesgroup.net