Does anyone have, or is anyone familiar with this HDTV by sony? Thinking about getting one, but I am really trying to decide if it is worth it to go digital yet.

 

I don't have that TV and I am not familiar with it, but I wanted to say going digital now is the way to go. I got a 55" widescreen a couple of months ago and I love it. Being able to watch movies in their "correct" format without bars is great, and having everything upconverted to 480p is great. Buy the TV and get an XBOX with the Hi-Def pack.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Fluorescin
[B]Does anyone have, or is anyone familiar with this HDTV by sony?

 

I agree -- way too early. Let it sort out before spending big bucks. Remember Beta?

 

Well from what I know they aren't cheap! I've heard that some of these sets sell up to $25,000. About a year ago I was contemplating on getting one, but was told that not every channel comes in that signal. I agree the picture quality is great but not for one or two channels. The salesman told me that there are 486 active lines of information in a standard television set. In HDTV there are 1080 active lines hence the more wider richer dense picture. By 2006 all channels should be transmitting in digital signal. So if you still have an analog TV, good luck trying to watch you favorite shows. You'll probably have to get a converter (if available) or a new digital TV. I ended getting a Sony Wega 36' digital flat screen. The picture is awesome. I guess financially I wasn't ready for an HDTV.

girlzrace2
white/red 01'

 

Sorry, but as someone who's been watching HDTV for over a year now I have to totally disagree with the posts about it being too early. That's a great set and there is plenty of HDTV to watch now, especially if you have local stations broadcasting digital. As for the argument that the standards aren't worked out yet, that's also a misconception. The standards for broadcasting are set. If there weren't standards, there wouldn't be as many stations broadcasting as there is (we have three locals broadcasting digital here, and I'm in BFE Idaho). The standard that is still being argued (by the MPAA) has to do with recording of HDTV.

As for the price, that $25k figure may be been true three years ago when the first generation sets came out. You can still spend a bundle if you buy a plasma display, but Digital TVs and receivers are in their 3rd generations now and prices have come down quite a bit from what they used to be. I paid $3k for my set two years ago and $500 for the satellite/hdtv receiver, the same set now sells for under $2k. BTW, my set is a 53" Sony XBR 4:3. So to answer the original question, yes, I like the Sony.

 

I'm with you RodneyK. My sister just purchased a nice Mitsu HDTV for $3K. And it is not too early to get an HDTV. Most of these sets now come HDTV ready. In other words they don't have an HDTV tuner in them but given an HDTV signal they can display it properly. It is doubtful you will ever need an HDTV with a built-in tuner anyway as in most cases it is going to come from your cable provider or satellite provider.

Go for it, the picture alone should convince you.

 

The set that I have posted is ~3,200.00. I have a ton of DVD's and an xbox/gamecube/ps2. Here in Raleigh we have one of the first stations (WRAL) to broadcast in digital. Does anyone with an HDTV have digital cable? Was wondering how that looked on the HDTV as well. I am a sony fan and have had all trinitron TVs and monitors. Still a tough decision. Could get a supercharger for the S!

 

Hell, might as well go digital now, Analog television sets are going to be obsolete in the near future.

 

Depending wher you are you should be able to get CBS, ABC and NBC feeds for HD. At this time ALL scrited programming on CBS and ABC are broadcast in HD. CBS is 1080i and ABC is 720p. Fox also broadcasts a number of programsin 720p. NBC is still in the stone age. Dish Network telecasts two feeds in HD HBO and Showtime. Both are in 1080i, but HBO letterboxes their programming to 16x9. Showtime sends the feed as it was filmed.
I had digital cable but they weer unable to provide a very good signal, which is why I went to Satellite

HD is here and all stations will be required to broadcast in Digital by sometime in 2002 if I am not mistaken.

The Sony is a nice set, I have a Toshiba 56H80. I prefered the picture over the Sony, might be worth a look.
I also have an older XBR2, which is is great direct view, but I do like the Tosh for the rear projectors.