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In Reply to: Need new TV - burn in question + posted by Don T on November 29, 2002 at 13:33:24:
I had the same dilemma regarding whether or not to purchase a widescreen TV when most of my viewing was non-DVD fare. I went with a HTDV 36" with a conventional 4:3 screen. The black bars on movies just don't bother me like they do some folks so that wasn't an issue. If you're used to watching a standard interlaced display (is that right Steve?) going to HDTV will be a big step up. No scan lines, even on a large screen. If you still opt for a 16:9 display, check out the 34" Panasonics or Toshibas. As for the HDTV tuner, I've spoken to my cable company and when they start regular Hi-Def broadcasting, they will rent a tuner for about $10/mo. Maybe that would be an option over purchasing your own.
Follow Ups:
I'm gravitating more towards the conventional 36 inch tube monitor you are speaking of, and my wife is moving towards the large rear projection models so the tube widescreen might end up being our choice. The only problems I have with these is that they are smaller than the comparable/less priced rear projection models and more expensive than the conventional monitors. The lighter Samsung and Panasonic dlp/lcd projection models are out of our price range.Today we checked out the HDTV signal providers, it wouldn't have taken much to make this a done deal but there just isn't much we are going to be able to get at all. We really want to participate with HDTV - right now only our local PBS station and the Discovery channel are occasionally broadcasting in high definition digital. Like I said we want to do this, and it's almost enough but right now we can't even find out who else is on board for the next year. We're likely do buy into HDTV but it seems unfortunate there are so few providers to help us enjoy this new technology.
Inch for inch, a rear screen projection TV is cheaper, but what turns me off is the narrow viewing angleCheck with your cable company to see if HBO and Showtime are broadcast in HDTV. As I understand it, the PBS stuff is selected programming only, not the regular fare. I just got a blurb in the mail from Time/Warner (my cable provider) and it sounds like they're getting close to adding the local CBS and ABC affiliates to the HDTV lineup. This year's SuperBowl is going to be broadcast in hi-def so I hope the deal gets done.
I think we are changing our minds about this purchase. The tubes, especially the widescreens are just too small, heavy and expensive when compared to what we can get in a projection model. It's clear to us that with the projection models we can get a larger widescreen with HDTV for hundreds less then a tube set with stand. The tube setups on stands with wheels seem downright unsafe because of the weight of the TV - and we've been checking out $500 TV stands. The Mitsubishi projection models we've are currently looking at come with wheels built into the base so they move easily, the widescreen is more appropriately sized for long term satisfaction, picture quality and color seem good enough and like you said it costs less.While doing the cost analysis of the purchase the additional HDTV components seem like an expense with the tubed system, with the projection models it's a bonus - ie. I can get a good projection model with HDTV components for the same price as a smaller tubed model with stand without HDTV components.
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