DVI fading away as HDMI picks up steam
By Kevin C. Tofel 
posted January 30th 2006 2:56PM
posted January 30th 2006 2:56PM
If the predictions are correct, DVI technology may disappear faster than SACD & DVD-Audio as HDMI begins to take center stage. In-Stat is reporting that the number of
HDMI-enabled devices sold in 2004 was 5 million, while in 2005 that number jumped to 17.4 million. Digital Visual
Interface had one thing against it right off the bat: it's middle word of "Visual". DVI clearly provides a
stunning digital signal, but for video only, while HDMI provides a digital conduit for both audio and video. Add the
fact that the HDMI standards have been updated
over the past year to include better PC compatibility as well as UDI, or Unified Display Interface specs and you've
got DVI fading away into the digital sunset. In-Stat anticipates that DVI will be extinct by 2008, which is personally
shocking as my two HDTVs are older than DVI!
I bought my HDTV last April, a Samsung HL-P4663W. The TV has both HDMI and DVI inputs. I bought the TV after my wife and I closed on a new condiminium. I then researched the cable boxes used by both Comcast and the local cable company (owned by the town itself). Both boxes included DVI output. I plunked down a chunk of cash and bought a nice DVI cable online. When we moved in I was furious to discover that the developer of the building owned a small satellite-based cable company and that this company was the only company that serviced the building. The developer's cable company didn't even offer HD service.
The board of trustees took control of the building in December and the town's cable company finished converting the building less than two weeks ago. I got my digital cable installed last week.
The only problem I had was Motorolla updated their HD/DVR boxes. The boxes now have HDMI and not DVI output. I had to shell out more cash, though less than half what I paid for the DVI cable, to get a pure digital feed to my TV. Even the Motorolla website doesn't indicate that the boxes are HDMI capable; the site still indicates they are DVI only. The box is the DCT 6412. The model number is same as what is listed on the website.
The funny thing is that my Radio Shack Accurian HD receiver had an HDMI output. I didn't buy and HDMI cable when I bought the receiver because I figured I already had a nice digital cable waiting for me when I no longer needed to watch my HD OTA.
I'm personally all for having separate video and audio connections. It's silly to use a TV's speakers watching a nice HD broadcast in DD 5.1 surround sound. I only use my TV speakers when I'm watching a non-5.1 broadcast. Otherwise I use the optical connection to my stereo.
yawn....dvi, hdmi....could just use component...or in any event there are $10 options for the digital cables...the expensive ones are 90% profit