10 HDTV myths from PCWorld
By Kevin C. Tofel 
posted Oct 30th 2005 11:28AM
posted Oct 30th 2005 11:28AM
I'm surprised they only stopped at ten since there's just so much
misunderstanding about HDTV. Hopefully, we clarified that a little with
weekend feature last week: HDTV Defined. Here's the list of myths from PCWorld along with my brief thoughts. What do you think: facts or myth? What myths have you heard that are missing from the list?1. An HD set is all you need to get high-def programs. Actually, an HD set by itself doesn't "get" anything until you hook up an antenna or other programming source. Keep in mind that "HD-Ready" has no digital tuner while "HDTV" has some tuning capabilities.
2. The bigger your HDTV set, the better it will look. Perhaps if you're showing off the size of it to the neighbors, but what about the picture? Output resolution, program signal and proper calibration have much to do with this one.
3. The higher the screen resolution, the better the image quality of an HDTV. Not necessary. First off, you need to consider the set's native resolution. The broadcast format will also dictate what the image quality is.
4. You have to relinquish the fluid motion of a CRT screen when you move up to HDTV. Oh, say it isn't so! Progressive scanning and advances in PDPs and DLP sets bring the flatties up to par with the fatties.
5. Burn-in will wreck your plasma HDTV within a year. Sure, ghosting and burn-in are a concern, but not one to worry about these days. This myth might have been valid during the first few generations of PDPs, but they've come a long way since then.
6. Bright LCDs look beautiful everywhere, and they use much less power than plasma or CRT sets do. Not so fast; brightness is good, but too bright of a picture affects those important black levels too. As far as power concerns: the power differences between sets aren't likely to break your utility budget.
7. These pricey TVs look so great out of the box that it's a waste to pay a small fortune to have a professional calibrate your set. Well, what's a small fortune, these days? Didn't you just pay one for your set? So, what's a few more dollars to make it sparkle? If you have a THX-mastered DVD, we show you how to calibrate your own set. Or you can purchase a DVD to help for around $50 or less.
8. All true HDTV programming looks equally great. Well now, that depends on the compression no? Not to mention, can your set handle the signal it's receiving or is it converting for the native resolution of your set?
9. Standard-definition TV is unwatchable on HDTV. I wouldn't say unwatchable, but it's not great. If you can't receive a fair amount of HDTV programming where you live, perhaps it's not yet time to drop a bundle on a new HDTV set.
10. I'll have to toss all my current analog sets when the digital conversion kicks in. Not likely since the DTV legislation is calling for analog-to-digital converter subsidies. Even if the government doesn't fund it, you can bet that companies will produce the converters and they'll be more than happy to sell them to you!
I don't understand why so many people are concerned about #10 anyway. It only applies to OTA broadcasts. The vast majority of America watches TV on cable or something like DirecTV. Sure, there are those out there that still use antennas, but it kills me that there are people out there right now watching cable TV who really think that they will be forced to buy a new TV in the next 3-4 years by the government.
People won't be FORCED to switch, but they'll feel pretty stupid watching widescreen high-def shows on a 4:3 standard definition TV while all their neighbors went out and spent $500 to get a new TV.
Thanks, I didn't know about #7, great tip.
Follow up to #10: Where are these DTV to analog tuners? Anyone, Anyone? I have yet to see these tuners at retail (or anywhere else for that matter).
Mark. These tuners have been out for some time now. Any (most) over-the-air tuners will lower a digital broadcast to a lesser resolution, lets say 480i/p and send it to the set via normal red, white, and yellow cables (composite).
http://www.circuitcity.com/rpsm/catOid/-15608/N/20012866+20015607+20015608/rpem/ccd/categorylist.do
They missed the biggest one. That HDTV and DVD are the same. The average tv watcher does not know that true HD source outputs a min. of 240 lines of details more than dvd player.
i think this is all an HDTV scam, just like the widescreen scam.
What some people don't know. Is you can hook up some HDTV cable boxes to your TV. You will get the programming in widescreen and the clarity is really sharp. To compare, it is like watching a DVD movie. I have been doing it for a year now. On a standard TV.
Correction Second Sentence. When I said, "TV" I mean standard TV. NON-HD
I agree with #6. If you've got a decent SDTV, adding a HD box and using the S video or component outs does improve the picture tremendously.
The bottom line is that digital improves reception. If I compare my TV's reception of digital vs. analog, even on SD material, the digital wins hands down. There's no ghosting, no static, no washing out. It's just as good as it can possibly be.
If you look at the NAB's rfq for set top boxes for the digital transition, you see that the boxes will have 2 outputs: coax and composite. Neither is as good as S video or component, but I suspect both will be a huge improvement over analog.
And that is in USA. Imagine in Europe...
Buzzcut, you just told the reason that my mother is going to recieve the radio shack $90 ATSC tuner for Christmas. She has an antenna and a good Panasonic TV with no desire to get ether cable or sat. But I hate watching TV overthere and I am sure she will appricate the dramictily better picture that digital can bring.
No snow or ghosting.
The only draw back is FOX in my area does not have ATSC broadcast yet so she will have to switch back to the Panasonics tuner to watch that station...I can here the troubleshooting calls now...Oh well
on #6, well, lets just say the difference between the 350 watts of the CRT vs the 150 watts of the LCD is pretty significant.....and thats straight from the back of the my babies. its not a car payment, but I could use the extra couple bucks.