John Sy

I have a friend at work who wants to get an HD ready TV. The TV he is looking at is a 4:3 TV. I'm saying that if he's going to look at high definition, he should be looking at 16:9. His budget is only about $2000 for now. What I said was for him to postpone picking up this TV until 16:9 becomes more affordable.

Anyone have any thoughts about this?

Movie_Man

quote:<HR>Originally posted by John Sy:
I have a friend at work who wants to get an HD ready TV. The TV he is looking at is a 4:3 TV. I'm saying that if he's going to look at high definition, he should be looking at 16:9. His budget is only about $2000 for now. What I said was for him to postpone picking up this TV until 16:9 becomes more affordable.

Anyone have any thoughts about this?<HR>

I would have to agree with you. I think it would be a true waste of money to get a 4:3 HDTV. It will pretty much be obsolete once you get it home. If he doesn't have the money now, save it for something better. They will only get cheaper with time. Also, there are many deals out there where you can make no payments/no interest for a year. I did that route, now I'm scrambling to rake together some cash, but I love my TV!! Too bad I can only eat Macaroni & Cheese for the next 9 months.

Thunderball

Well, I have to agree.
I bought a \/\/ega today because,and only because, my current TV is about 3 years old(not that old) but doesn't have S or Component inputs.
I was looking at the Panasonic HD 4:3 and while the picture was better than the TV I bought, it was also $600 more. I'd have to say he should wait until 16x9 is more affordable.

David A. Frattaroli

The Toshiba 40H80 is HD and wide. It can be had for less than $1900 at proactiveelectronics.com.

I would never go back to 4:3. Unless it coud do anamorphic squeeze.

Frank S

Also bear in mind that most of the 4x3 HDTV's have compatability problems with High Definition STB's!

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jpcamb

Tell your friend to get used to the black bars on the screen, because he'll have them 99% of the time in 2006 when everthing (new) is broadcast in HDTV / wide screen. A decent strecth mode on a 16:9 now makes up for this later.
Later!

John Sy

Yeah, I basically told him to save his money for a 16:9 HD ready TV when the time comes.

Just a quick question though: are we guaranteed that all HDTV programming in the future will be 16:9? I guess 16:9 is part of the HDTV spec right?

steve f

16x9 is supposed to be part of the new specs for HD. Also prices should be taking a big drop in a few months. Panasonic announced a few weeks ago that they'll have a 47" widescreen HDTV (or HD ready) with a list price of $2000. I'd guess maybe a street price of $1500 if we're lucky, unless it's so popular it's backordered and the stores are selling them for close to sticker.

Michael T Hudson

Well I have to disagree with you guys. I have a Proscan 36800 HR which is HD ready according to some people and not to others. I purchased it with a Proscan PSHD105 which is the proscan model for the RCA DTC-100 Direct TV box. It send the HI Def Signal to the TV using a VGA connection and the picture is amazing. I also use the other VGA for my DC and it looks great as well. Being that most shows will be 4:3 for a while this made the most since. However when I do get my house the Elite 610 HD will be mine. And this will make a nice TV for the office.

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Michael
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