PS3 Help - HDTV For Playstation 3
By Dominic Snadeeza
If you are buying a PS3, or already own one of these new high
definition gaming consoles, then it could be your old television
that is letting you down.
Recently TV’s have got wider and thinner, but have they got any
better ?
Sure, the latest trend is HDTV (High Definition TeleVision),
promising stunning picture quality, but at a much higher price
than regular CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) Televisions.
Have a look online, or in the electrical stores and you will
see a massive quantity of High-def televisions available. Buzz
words like plasma, rear projection and LCD will roll off the
salemans tongue and then you will have to choose from a variety
of screen sizes, shapes and brands. It's enough to make you give
up before you even start looking for the perfect compliment to
your Sony PlayStation 3 videogame console.
So what exactly is HDTV then ?
Putting it simply, it's all about small dots. Any television
picture is made up of dots of colour. The smaller the dots, the
more vivid the images will look. That is why HDTV images look
great.
Why do HDTV cost so much ?
Currently we are still paying a premium price because the
technology is new and cost a lot of money to develop. The reason
for this is that the colour dots that make up the picture have
to be 9 times smaller on the HDTV. This makes them very
expensive to build.
The PlayStation3 is similar in that it cost a huge amount of
money to develop, but Sony can afford to sell the PS3 console at
a gross loss, purely because Sony know that the average owner
will spend an additional $100 + on very profitable games and
accessories for their next-gen games machine. HDTV manufacturers
do not have this option, so we pay more until the development
costs are covered.
So Do I need a HDTV for my PS3 ?
If the question was ‘will my PS3 only work with a HDTV’, then
the answer is no. The PlayStation 3 comes bundled with a cable
that will let you use a regular television, however the picture
quality is so much worse than a HDTV that is makes your PS3
games look only slightly better than PlayStation 2 games.
If you are happy with a small screen, then the alternative is
to hook your PS3 up to a computer monitor. You will need a
special cable, and a monitor with a digital input, but this will
work fine. If your monitor doesn’t have speakers, then you will
need to buy some.
If you want a screen larger than 22 inches, then definitely get
a HTDV, but make sure it has at least one HDMI connector on the
back and has a resolution of 1080i or 1080p and a screen refresh
rate of 8ms or less.
About the Author: Dominic Snadeeza writes for Absolute PS3 Sony
PlayStation e-zine at: http://ps3.absolute-playstation.com He
will offer any help or assistance you need on choosing a HDTV
for your PS3 console at: http://psn.absolute-playstation.com/ or
find more PS3 HDTV info at:
http://hdtv.absolute-playstation.com/
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link:
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=175941&ca=Computers+and+Technology
Friday, December 25, 2009
HDTV – HDTV Explained
HDTV – HDTV Explained
By Lucy Bartlett
You have probably heard of HDTV but you may be confused by all
of the new terminology.
The maximum resolution on a standard analog TV is 720 X 480
pixels, which is about 337,000 total pixels. HDTV is part of the
Digital TV specifications which has many different video
resolutions. The two main resolutions to be concerned about are
720p and 1080i. The "p" means progressive and "i" mean
interlaced, in both resolutions every second has 60 frames of
video.
Progressive resolution puts 60 full frames on the screen every
second. Interlaced resolution puts 30 frames of only odd lines
and then 30 frames of only even lines up every second. Some
people find that the interlaced video causes flickering.
The 720p video resolution is 1280 X 720 pixels, which gives
921,600 total pixels and the 1080i video resolution is 1920 X
1080, which gives a huge 2,073,000 pixels.
It is personal choice as to which resolution you prefer, the
best way of finding out is to go down to your local retailer and
look for yourself.
The sound on HDTV will sound better than it did on your analog
tv, some HDTV programs include Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound,
but you will need the relevant speakers to be able to take
advantage of this.
You will have to buy a new HDTV. Some HDTVs come with built-in
tuners, while others do not. The tuner converts the signal into
something that your TV can recognize. HDTVs that do not come
with a tuner are commonly called "HDTV Ready." An HDTV without a
tuner is worthless.
It is possible to view HDTV on your pc, you can do this with
ATi HDTV Wonder, it comes with its own antenna to pick up
airborne HDTV signals, it also has inputs for cable and
satellite signals. A benefit of this is that you can play and
record any show you want on your computer.
Find more information at http://www.whathdtv.info
About the Author: Lucy Bartlett is a proud contributing author.
Find more articles at http://mindbodyandsoulportal.info/ For
more info visit http://whathdtv.info/sitemap.php or
http://whathdtv.info/hdtv-reviews-and-ratings.php/
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link:
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=61919&ca=Entertainment
By Lucy Bartlett
You have probably heard of HDTV but you may be confused by all
of the new terminology.
The maximum resolution on a standard analog TV is 720 X 480
pixels, which is about 337,000 total pixels. HDTV is part of the
Digital TV specifications which has many different video
resolutions. The two main resolutions to be concerned about are
720p and 1080i. The "p" means progressive and "i" mean
interlaced, in both resolutions every second has 60 frames of
video.
Progressive resolution puts 60 full frames on the screen every
second. Interlaced resolution puts 30 frames of only odd lines
and then 30 frames of only even lines up every second. Some
people find that the interlaced video causes flickering.
The 720p video resolution is 1280 X 720 pixels, which gives
921,600 total pixels and the 1080i video resolution is 1920 X
1080, which gives a huge 2,073,000 pixels.
It is personal choice as to which resolution you prefer, the
best way of finding out is to go down to your local retailer and
look for yourself.
The sound on HDTV will sound better than it did on your analog
tv, some HDTV programs include Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound,
but you will need the relevant speakers to be able to take
advantage of this.
You will have to buy a new HDTV. Some HDTVs come with built-in
tuners, while others do not. The tuner converts the signal into
something that your TV can recognize. HDTVs that do not come
with a tuner are commonly called "HDTV Ready." An HDTV without a
tuner is worthless.
It is possible to view HDTV on your pc, you can do this with
ATi HDTV Wonder, it comes with its own antenna to pick up
airborne HDTV signals, it also has inputs for cable and
satellite signals. A benefit of this is that you can play and
record any show you want on your computer.
Find more information at http://www.whathdtv.info
About the Author: Lucy Bartlett is a proud contributing author.
Find more articles at http://mindbodyandsoulportal.info/ For
more info visit http://whathdtv.info/sitemap.php or
http://whathdtv.info/hdtv-reviews-and-ratings.php/
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link:
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=61919&ca=Entertainment
10 Tips on How to Buy a Hdtv Makes it Easier to Decide on the Best HDTV to Buy
Since a HDTV is not as expensive as a while back, more and more
consumers spend their money towards the latest wide screen craze
- a high definition (HD) flat screen television. More and more
people are becoming aware of the terms LCD, HDTV and Plasma and
for especially the younger working generation the main question
is not if they will spend hard earned cash towards a HDTV of
choice but when they will spend it.
1. Realize that your HDTV purchase will give you a product that
should under normal circumstances last up to 20 - 30 years.
Rather buy a HDTV tv of higher quality so that it will not be
outdated within 10 years.
2. Realize that technology products are becoming cheaper than
ever to manufacture and that the market response drives the
prices down at a phenomenal rate. Buying the more expensive
model may not be the best HDTV to buy.
3. Realize that you may suffer severely from self-inflicted
injuries kicking yourself afterwards if you have not taken the
time (about 2 minutes) to learn what makes one HDTV better than
the next one.
4. Know the difference between the main types of tv screens:
CTR, LCD and Plasma and each of their advantages and
disadvantages.
5. Know that the higher the resolution of a television screen
the most likely the quality of the display may be better than a
HDTV with a lower screen resolution.
6. Know that the television screen is made up of tiny particles
that display color. These particles are calls pixels. The more
pixels fitted into a screen, the higher the resolution.
7. Know that there were major technological advances made
towards the way that the tv screen manages the pixel colors to
create better flowing movements. Choosing an older type may make
your "new" tv age faster and you may have to replace it earlier
than you might have expected to.
8. Know the latest display type, called a progressive scan type
as well as that "interlaced" refers to earlier technology. Of
these a number of 1080i would refer to the term “interlaced” and
1080p would refer to a "progressive scan" television.
9. Know that a bigger screen size not always refer to a better
television. Other than knowing the effect of screen resolution
on your budget, you will become aware of the fact that bigger
costs more but does not necessarily means better picture detail.
Just a quick warning - do not put a very large screen in a small
room. The larger the screen the further you have to sit from it.
10. A higher Color-depth constitutes a wider assortment of
colors that can be displayed. The more the merrier. A 2-million
pixel resolution is a minimum I would recommend.
Considering both the fact of the risk you are taking if you buy
the first HDTV that you see (because you may fall in love with
it), and the fact that the prices are coming down the longer you
wait, then ultimately you are safer waiting but then if you
never make the decision you may loose out on the experience of
HDTV.
About the Author: If you are in for an upgrade you may as well
get up to date with the ins and outs of LCD HDTV screens and
HDTV Plasma Tvs. http://hdtv-plasma-tvs.com
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link:
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=286491&ca=Computers+and+Technology
consumers spend their money towards the latest wide screen craze
- a high definition (HD) flat screen television. More and more
people are becoming aware of the terms LCD, HDTV and Plasma and
for especially the younger working generation the main question
is not if they will spend hard earned cash towards a HDTV of
choice but when they will spend it.
1. Realize that your HDTV purchase will give you a product that
should under normal circumstances last up to 20 - 30 years.
Rather buy a HDTV tv of higher quality so that it will not be
outdated within 10 years.
2. Realize that technology products are becoming cheaper than
ever to manufacture and that the market response drives the
prices down at a phenomenal rate. Buying the more expensive
model may not be the best HDTV to buy.
3. Realize that you may suffer severely from self-inflicted
injuries kicking yourself afterwards if you have not taken the
time (about 2 minutes) to learn what makes one HDTV better than
the next one.
4. Know the difference between the main types of tv screens:
CTR, LCD and Plasma and each of their advantages and
disadvantages.
5. Know that the higher the resolution of a television screen
the most likely the quality of the display may be better than a
HDTV with a lower screen resolution.
6. Know that the television screen is made up of tiny particles
that display color. These particles are calls pixels. The more
pixels fitted into a screen, the higher the resolution.
7. Know that there were major technological advances made
towards the way that the tv screen manages the pixel colors to
create better flowing movements. Choosing an older type may make
your "new" tv age faster and you may have to replace it earlier
than you might have expected to.
8. Know the latest display type, called a progressive scan type
as well as that "interlaced" refers to earlier technology. Of
these a number of 1080i would refer to the term “interlaced” and
1080p would refer to a "progressive scan" television.
9. Know that a bigger screen size not always refer to a better
television. Other than knowing the effect of screen resolution
on your budget, you will become aware of the fact that bigger
costs more but does not necessarily means better picture detail.
Just a quick warning - do not put a very large screen in a small
room. The larger the screen the further you have to sit from it.
10. A higher Color-depth constitutes a wider assortment of
colors that can be displayed. The more the merrier. A 2-million
pixel resolution is a minimum I would recommend.
Considering both the fact of the risk you are taking if you buy
the first HDTV that you see (because you may fall in love with
it), and the fact that the prices are coming down the longer you
wait, then ultimately you are safer waiting but then if you
never make the decision you may loose out on the experience of
HDTV.
About the Author: If you are in for an upgrade you may as well
get up to date with the ins and outs of LCD HDTV screens and
HDTV Plasma Tvs. http://hdtv-plasma-tvs.com
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link:
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=286491&ca=Computers+and+Technology
HDTV, Blu-ray and HDMI For Technophobes!
HDTV, Blu-ray and HDMI For Technophobes!
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tim_L._Wood]Tim L. Wood
If your a bit of a techno-phobe then you'll be a bit puzzled by all the acronyms such as HD, Blu-ray and HDMI. However fear not as I'm here to unlock the puzzle for you in easy to digest chunks!
The age of the television has moved on and unless you've never been down the electronics aisle at your local grocery store you'll realise that TV's have moved on and no longer resemble boxes which require you to have a gold medal in weight lifting!
The HD Television, HD standing for High Definition, is now here in full force and we are bombarded with choice and brand, but which really is best?
If you're thinking of upgrading from your regular box style set to a flat screen HD TV then you've picked a great time! Of course your best deals are going to be online when it comes to price, but I would suggest checking out whichever TV you might be interested in down at your local electronics store just to be sure you are happy with all the features and connections.
HDMI stands for High Definition Media Interface which is just fancy lingo for a socket on your television which allows a cable to connect to other devices to show high definition content on your new HD TV. Basically if you buy a HD TV then you'll want to make sure that it has around 3 HDMI connections, no lower than 2, so you can connect a Blu-ray player and maybe that PS3!
So what about Blu-ray? Well Blu-ray has been around for around 3 years now but hasn't come into its own until about the last 6 to 9 months due to its highly publicized battle with HD DVD. Now that HD DVD is dead Blu-ray is the only high definition media that is readily available to buy pretty much anywhere you can buy regular DVDs.
Basically Blu-ray is DVD on steroids in that it shows movies in such a way that you might feel like you are on the actual set of the movie. The picture is so clear that you'll swear its the best thing you have ever seen! Now just to make things clear here, a Blu-ray player will only work with a HD-TV and just to complicate things a little further you want both your HD TV and your Blu-ray player to support 1080p.
Oh my god, whats 1080p you ask! OK the simple explaination is that 1080p is the number of lines vertically that run down your HD-TV and the 'p' stands for progressive which means the image is not interlaced. If you're not sure of the difference then don't worry, just make sure that both devices support 1080p. They may also support 1080i which is fine.
Hopefully this has given you some understanding of the new types of technology that we are now deluged with on a daily basis, however if you need some further buying advice then check out rel=nofollow http://www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/Blue-RayReview where you can find links to several articles about the devices mentioned above!
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?HDTV,-Blu-ray-and-HDMI-For-Technophobes!&id=3321133] HDTV, Blu-ray and HDMI For Technophobes!
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tim_L._Wood]Tim L. Wood
If your a bit of a techno-phobe then you'll be a bit puzzled by all the acronyms such as HD, Blu-ray and HDMI. However fear not as I'm here to unlock the puzzle for you in easy to digest chunks!
The age of the television has moved on and unless you've never been down the electronics aisle at your local grocery store you'll realise that TV's have moved on and no longer resemble boxes which require you to have a gold medal in weight lifting!
The HD Television, HD standing for High Definition, is now here in full force and we are bombarded with choice and brand, but which really is best?
If you're thinking of upgrading from your regular box style set to a flat screen HD TV then you've picked a great time! Of course your best deals are going to be online when it comes to price, but I would suggest checking out whichever TV you might be interested in down at your local electronics store just to be sure you are happy with all the features and connections.
HDMI stands for High Definition Media Interface which is just fancy lingo for a socket on your television which allows a cable to connect to other devices to show high definition content on your new HD TV. Basically if you buy a HD TV then you'll want to make sure that it has around 3 HDMI connections, no lower than 2, so you can connect a Blu-ray player and maybe that PS3!
So what about Blu-ray? Well Blu-ray has been around for around 3 years now but hasn't come into its own until about the last 6 to 9 months due to its highly publicized battle with HD DVD. Now that HD DVD is dead Blu-ray is the only high definition media that is readily available to buy pretty much anywhere you can buy regular DVDs.
Basically Blu-ray is DVD on steroids in that it shows movies in such a way that you might feel like you are on the actual set of the movie. The picture is so clear that you'll swear its the best thing you have ever seen! Now just to make things clear here, a Blu-ray player will only work with a HD-TV and just to complicate things a little further you want both your HD TV and your Blu-ray player to support 1080p.
Oh my god, whats 1080p you ask! OK the simple explaination is that 1080p is the number of lines vertically that run down your HD-TV and the 'p' stands for progressive which means the image is not interlaced. If you're not sure of the difference then don't worry, just make sure that both devices support 1080p. They may also support 1080i which is fine.
Hopefully this has given you some understanding of the new types of technology that we are now deluged with on a daily basis, however if you need some further buying advice then check out rel=nofollow http://www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/Blue-RayReview where you can find links to several articles about the devices mentioned above!
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?HDTV,-Blu-ray-and-HDMI-For-Technophobes!&id=3321133] HDTV, Blu-ray and HDMI For Technophobes!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
HDTV Holiday Gift Guide - Technical Specs Untangled
HDTV Holiday Gift Guide - Technical Specs Untangled
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Brian_McLaughlin]Brian McLaughlin
Many people head out to buy a new HDTV, but have no idea what all of the technical specs mean, and get overwhelmed while shopping. Different sales people give different opinions, and in the end, a lot just end up leaving confused. What do all these specs mean? Here's a rundown of some of the big specs and what you should look for.
First off, before we get into the details, let's talk about technical specs versus "marketing speak". Technical specs are those aspects of an HDTV (or other consumer electronic product) that are easily verifiable with industry standard tests. Something like contrast ratio can actually be verified with a standard test, while marketing speak is something designed to try and help sell the product and can often times not be easily, if at all, verified. These usually come in the form of something that sounds impressive, but can't be quantified easily. For example, if the box for the HDTV proclaims something like "Intellicolor Advanced II for improved picture clarity", that is just a term marketing came up with to try and make their product sound impressive. Sure enough, if you look at another manufacturer's HDTV box, you won't find that same "feature" listed. That's because their marketing department will have come up with some other impressive sounding feature that will make their product sound better.
Now, this isn't to say that these marketing terms aren't based on something real, like some function in the HDTV's hardware or software, but often times if you try and find out exactly what that means by asking a salesperson or checking the manufacturers website, you won't be able to get a clear answer. And sometimes a lower priced TV from the same manufacturer will have the same feature, but they won't list it on the box because they want the higher priced TV to sound more impressive. My advice, for the most part, is to just ignore these terms. If it sounds flashy and fancy and vague, its just marketing speak.
On to the actual technical specs and what they mean. We'll go over the biggies, let you know what they mean, and what you should look for when shopping for your HDTV.
Resolution
This is the first thing you should look for when shopping for an HDTV. Commonly you'll see terms like 720P, 1080i or 1080P. This comes from how TVs display their images. Each image on your HDTV is made up of tiny little dots called pixels, and each pixel shows one tiny dot of the picture. For example, a TV specified as 720P is actually showing 720 rows of pixels on your TV, and 1280 columns of pixels. If you were to draw it out, it would look like a table with 720 rows and 1280 columns, and each little square in the table would be one pixel. That means a 720P HDTV actually contains 720x1280=921,000 pixels.
A 1080P TV is actually 1080x1920=2,073,600 pixels. That means that a 1080P picture is actually made up of over 2 million little dots and will give you a much clearer picture than a 720P HDTV. If you see a TV marketed as an HDTV with a resolution other than one of these two, stay away from it, as it won't be able to display the image without scaling it it larger or smaller, and it won't give you the best picture.
It's also important to note that a 1080P HDTV and can display a 720P image and will just scale it up to fit the whole screen, while a 720P TV can typically display a 1080P image but it will scale it down (and you'll lose resolution in the process).
My recommendation is to get a 1080P TV, it will give you the best resolution image overall, and as you watch HD content on your new TV, you'll know you're watching the best possible resolution. Now, as for the difference between 1080i and 1080p, this is a difference in how the image is displayed on the TV. Most people will never be able to notice the difference, but if you want to know, the best is 1080p, but if the 1080i TV is more affordable to you, and the picture looks great to you, rest assured, you're still getting a fine TV.
Contrast Ratio
The contrast ratio of a TV is how black the blacks get, versus how white the whites get. Early LCD TVs had really bad contrast ratios, such that blacks in a scene never really looked black, and the whites never looked very bright. This became a problem when you would watch a movie, and there'd be a scene where the character was walking around a dimly lit alley, for example. The TV would not be able to discern the difference between all those dark colors, and everything would look like a muddy black mess and you'd lose a lot of the picture detail simply because the TV was unable to show the subtle variations in color actually present in the picture.
The good news is the technology has improved vastly now, and most TVs on the market do a much better job with this. If you're looking at the numbers, a higher contrast ratio gives you a better picture. So an HDTV with a contrast ratio of 1000:1 would be much worse than one with a contrast ratio of 80,000:1. The bigger the number, the better it is for you.
Refresh Rate
Lately, this has become a big selling point for HDTVs. You'll see this specified as 60Hz, 120 Hz, and now, 240Hz. What is it and which is best? In short, it has to do with how fast each individual pixel can change color, and the higher the Hz, the better. Older LCD HDTVs were not very good at changing colors quickly, so in programs with lots of quick motion, you could see a blurring effect on the image. To some people, it's not that noticeable, but once you know what to look for, its much easier to see and be distracted by it. If you're shopping for an HDTV, look for one that has a refresh rate of at least 120 Hz. You may be tempted to go for one with 240 Hz, and if you do, just make sure it's "real" 240 Hz, as some companies will try and fool you into thinking their TV offers 240Hz, but it's only actually giving you 120 Hz. Look for terms like "performance comparable to 240 Hz". If you see something like that, it's most likely a 120 Hz HDTV. There are many more 120 Hz TVs on the market right now than 240 Hz, so you should be able to find a 120 Hz TV easily and affordably.
Connection Type
You'll see this listed as things like 1 composite video, 1 component video, 1 S-video and 2 HDMI video inputs. What do these mean? Lets look at them from worst to best.
Composite video - the worst looking of all the inputs, you'll need this if you have an old VCR or a really old DVD player you intend to hook up to the TV. Typically you'll find it on the back of your VCR or DVD player and the connection will be a yellow color. Only good for Standard Definition video signals (ie, the old analogue signal we've used for years).
S video - a decent DVD player will have at least an S-video output. This will typically be labeled as such and looks like a circular connector with smaller connections inside it. You can see what one looks like rel=nofollow [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Close-up_of_S-video_female_connector.jpg]here. Only good for standard definition pictures, but gives better video quality than composite video.
Component Video - Often referred to RGB connection, as it separates the video signal into the three colors Red, Blue and Green. This is a way to transfer an analogue video signal in standard def and HiDef. You'll see these three connectors on the back of most modern DVD players, cable boxes, etc.
HDMI - An all digital connection to your HDTV that gives the best signal quality. Hi Def Bluray players, video game machines like XBox 360 and PS3 and some cable and satellite boxes will have this type of connection. Quickly becoming the HiDef standard, so the more of these the better.
You'll also want to look for things like coaxial inputs, which you might need for old cable TV systems, or inputs like VGA or DVI if you are hoping to hook your computer up to the TV and use it as your PC's display.
Final Notes
Other niceties you might want to look for are USB ports for hooking up cameras to the TV to display pictures, video, etc or even media card readers so you can load your flash cards right into the TV to look at your latest family pictures, etc. These aren't necessities, but might help you make the final decision as to which TV is going to give you the best bang for your buck.
In the end, a big factor in your decision will be price and overall video quality. If you like the picture and price, and the specs are good, then go for it and enjoy your new purchase. Good luck!
I hope you've found this article helpful and if you are looking for some great hi tech gift suggestions, you can check out my recommendations [http://ireviewhq.com/2009/12/top-10-tech-gifts-for-christmas-2009/]HERE. Happy Holidays!
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?HDTV-Holiday-Gift-Guide---Technical-Specs-Untangled&id=3413212] HDTV Holiday Gift Guide - Technical Specs Untangled
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Brian_McLaughlin]Brian McLaughlin
Many people head out to buy a new HDTV, but have no idea what all of the technical specs mean, and get overwhelmed while shopping. Different sales people give different opinions, and in the end, a lot just end up leaving confused. What do all these specs mean? Here's a rundown of some of the big specs and what you should look for.
First off, before we get into the details, let's talk about technical specs versus "marketing speak". Technical specs are those aspects of an HDTV (or other consumer electronic product) that are easily verifiable with industry standard tests. Something like contrast ratio can actually be verified with a standard test, while marketing speak is something designed to try and help sell the product and can often times not be easily, if at all, verified. These usually come in the form of something that sounds impressive, but can't be quantified easily. For example, if the box for the HDTV proclaims something like "Intellicolor Advanced II for improved picture clarity", that is just a term marketing came up with to try and make their product sound impressive. Sure enough, if you look at another manufacturer's HDTV box, you won't find that same "feature" listed. That's because their marketing department will have come up with some other impressive sounding feature that will make their product sound better.
Now, this isn't to say that these marketing terms aren't based on something real, like some function in the HDTV's hardware or software, but often times if you try and find out exactly what that means by asking a salesperson or checking the manufacturers website, you won't be able to get a clear answer. And sometimes a lower priced TV from the same manufacturer will have the same feature, but they won't list it on the box because they want the higher priced TV to sound more impressive. My advice, for the most part, is to just ignore these terms. If it sounds flashy and fancy and vague, its just marketing speak.
On to the actual technical specs and what they mean. We'll go over the biggies, let you know what they mean, and what you should look for when shopping for your HDTV.
Resolution
This is the first thing you should look for when shopping for an HDTV. Commonly you'll see terms like 720P, 1080i or 1080P. This comes from how TVs display their images. Each image on your HDTV is made up of tiny little dots called pixels, and each pixel shows one tiny dot of the picture. For example, a TV specified as 720P is actually showing 720 rows of pixels on your TV, and 1280 columns of pixels. If you were to draw it out, it would look like a table with 720 rows and 1280 columns, and each little square in the table would be one pixel. That means a 720P HDTV actually contains 720x1280=921,000 pixels.
A 1080P TV is actually 1080x1920=2,073,600 pixels. That means that a 1080P picture is actually made up of over 2 million little dots and will give you a much clearer picture than a 720P HDTV. If you see a TV marketed as an HDTV with a resolution other than one of these two, stay away from it, as it won't be able to display the image without scaling it it larger or smaller, and it won't give you the best picture.
It's also important to note that a 1080P HDTV and can display a 720P image and will just scale it up to fit the whole screen, while a 720P TV can typically display a 1080P image but it will scale it down (and you'll lose resolution in the process).
My recommendation is to get a 1080P TV, it will give you the best resolution image overall, and as you watch HD content on your new TV, you'll know you're watching the best possible resolution. Now, as for the difference between 1080i and 1080p, this is a difference in how the image is displayed on the TV. Most people will never be able to notice the difference, but if you want to know, the best is 1080p, but if the 1080i TV is more affordable to you, and the picture looks great to you, rest assured, you're still getting a fine TV.
Contrast Ratio
The contrast ratio of a TV is how black the blacks get, versus how white the whites get. Early LCD TVs had really bad contrast ratios, such that blacks in a scene never really looked black, and the whites never looked very bright. This became a problem when you would watch a movie, and there'd be a scene where the character was walking around a dimly lit alley, for example. The TV would not be able to discern the difference between all those dark colors, and everything would look like a muddy black mess and you'd lose a lot of the picture detail simply because the TV was unable to show the subtle variations in color actually present in the picture.
The good news is the technology has improved vastly now, and most TVs on the market do a much better job with this. If you're looking at the numbers, a higher contrast ratio gives you a better picture. So an HDTV with a contrast ratio of 1000:1 would be much worse than one with a contrast ratio of 80,000:1. The bigger the number, the better it is for you.
Refresh Rate
Lately, this has become a big selling point for HDTVs. You'll see this specified as 60Hz, 120 Hz, and now, 240Hz. What is it and which is best? In short, it has to do with how fast each individual pixel can change color, and the higher the Hz, the better. Older LCD HDTVs were not very good at changing colors quickly, so in programs with lots of quick motion, you could see a blurring effect on the image. To some people, it's not that noticeable, but once you know what to look for, its much easier to see and be distracted by it. If you're shopping for an HDTV, look for one that has a refresh rate of at least 120 Hz. You may be tempted to go for one with 240 Hz, and if you do, just make sure it's "real" 240 Hz, as some companies will try and fool you into thinking their TV offers 240Hz, but it's only actually giving you 120 Hz. Look for terms like "performance comparable to 240 Hz". If you see something like that, it's most likely a 120 Hz HDTV. There are many more 120 Hz TVs on the market right now than 240 Hz, so you should be able to find a 120 Hz TV easily and affordably.
Connection Type
You'll see this listed as things like 1 composite video, 1 component video, 1 S-video and 2 HDMI video inputs. What do these mean? Lets look at them from worst to best.
Composite video - the worst looking of all the inputs, you'll need this if you have an old VCR or a really old DVD player you intend to hook up to the TV. Typically you'll find it on the back of your VCR or DVD player and the connection will be a yellow color. Only good for Standard Definition video signals (ie, the old analogue signal we've used for years).
S video - a decent DVD player will have at least an S-video output. This will typically be labeled as such and looks like a circular connector with smaller connections inside it. You can see what one looks like rel=nofollow [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Close-up_of_S-video_female_connector.jpg]here. Only good for standard definition pictures, but gives better video quality than composite video.
Component Video - Often referred to RGB connection, as it separates the video signal into the three colors Red, Blue and Green. This is a way to transfer an analogue video signal in standard def and HiDef. You'll see these three connectors on the back of most modern DVD players, cable boxes, etc.
HDMI - An all digital connection to your HDTV that gives the best signal quality. Hi Def Bluray players, video game machines like XBox 360 and PS3 and some cable and satellite boxes will have this type of connection. Quickly becoming the HiDef standard, so the more of these the better.
You'll also want to look for things like coaxial inputs, which you might need for old cable TV systems, or inputs like VGA or DVI if you are hoping to hook your computer up to the TV and use it as your PC's display.
Final Notes
Other niceties you might want to look for are USB ports for hooking up cameras to the TV to display pictures, video, etc or even media card readers so you can load your flash cards right into the TV to look at your latest family pictures, etc. These aren't necessities, but might help you make the final decision as to which TV is going to give you the best bang for your buck.
In the end, a big factor in your decision will be price and overall video quality. If you like the picture and price, and the specs are good, then go for it and enjoy your new purchase. Good luck!
I hope you've found this article helpful and if you are looking for some great hi tech gift suggestions, you can check out my recommendations [http://ireviewhq.com/2009/12/top-10-tech-gifts-for-christmas-2009/]HERE. Happy Holidays!
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?HDTV-Holiday-Gift-Guide---Technical-Specs-Untangled&id=3413212] HDTV Holiday Gift Guide - Technical Specs Untangled
HDTV Converters
HDTV Converters
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ken_Marlborough]Ken Marlborough
HDTV converters are specially designed devices for signal conversion. HDTV, also known as High Definition Television, is the most recent innovation in DTV. The HDTV can telecast pictures with high resolutions which are twice more than the traditional analog telecasts and surround sound.
Generally, the HDTV converters are incorporated in most of the HDTV systems. But, the HDTV systems are quite expensive. Moreover, today, most of the homes have analog television sets. To enjoy the effect of HDTV, you can implement a HDTV converter in your analog televisions sets. The HDTV converters will transform the digital signals into analog signals. Thus, the converter will help the analog televisions provide the maximum picture quality almost similar to HDTV sets.
To experience, the full benefits of HDTV signals, HDTV systems are always apt because the analog televisions will not be able to display the pictures with high resolution and surround sound as sharp as HDTV sets.
The HDTV converter automatically detects the input signal, which can be in RGBHV, YPbPr, or YCbCr format, and converts the signal into display with 480i, 480p, 720p, or 1080i resolution. Apart from this, the HDTV converters can also take 480i component video signals, and decode into the display with HDTV resolutions, where, "i" means interlaced and "p" means progressive. HDTV converters can transfer numerous pixels on a scan line into analog signals for horizontal resolutions. In the case of vertical resolutions, the HDTV converters will transform the 16:9 ratio HDTV picture with 1080i into a 480 scan line picture with 4:3 ratio or a picture with 360 scan line with 60 line black letterbox bars.
Unlike the ordinary television converters, HDTV converters are highly compact devices embedded with cutting-edge technology. With the increase in the demand, different brands and types of HDTV converters are available in the market. Philips, Viewsonic, Doremi Labs, Inc., JVC Professional Products Company, and Panasonic are some of the leading brands in HDTV converters. Prices of the HDTV converters will range from $150 to $300. HDTV converters can be purchased from local outlets or electronic stores. For better option in prices, brands, and types, online or electronic stores are always ideal. [http://www.WetPluto.com/HDTV.html]HDTV provides detailed information on HDTV, Plasma HDTV, HDTV Antennas, HDTV Reviews and more. HDTV is affiliated with [http://www.i-HomeTheaters.com]Home Theater Projectors.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?HDTV-Converters&id=353911] HDTV Converters
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ken_Marlborough]Ken Marlborough
HDTV converters are specially designed devices for signal conversion. HDTV, also known as High Definition Television, is the most recent innovation in DTV. The HDTV can telecast pictures with high resolutions which are twice more than the traditional analog telecasts and surround sound.
Generally, the HDTV converters are incorporated in most of the HDTV systems. But, the HDTV systems are quite expensive. Moreover, today, most of the homes have analog television sets. To enjoy the effect of HDTV, you can implement a HDTV converter in your analog televisions sets. The HDTV converters will transform the digital signals into analog signals. Thus, the converter will help the analog televisions provide the maximum picture quality almost similar to HDTV sets.
To experience, the full benefits of HDTV signals, HDTV systems are always apt because the analog televisions will not be able to display the pictures with high resolution and surround sound as sharp as HDTV sets.
The HDTV converter automatically detects the input signal, which can be in RGBHV, YPbPr, or YCbCr format, and converts the signal into display with 480i, 480p, 720p, or 1080i resolution. Apart from this, the HDTV converters can also take 480i component video signals, and decode into the display with HDTV resolutions, where, "i" means interlaced and "p" means progressive. HDTV converters can transfer numerous pixels on a scan line into analog signals for horizontal resolutions. In the case of vertical resolutions, the HDTV converters will transform the 16:9 ratio HDTV picture with 1080i into a 480 scan line picture with 4:3 ratio or a picture with 360 scan line with 60 line black letterbox bars.
Unlike the ordinary television converters, HDTV converters are highly compact devices embedded with cutting-edge technology. With the increase in the demand, different brands and types of HDTV converters are available in the market. Philips, Viewsonic, Doremi Labs, Inc., JVC Professional Products Company, and Panasonic are some of the leading brands in HDTV converters. Prices of the HDTV converters will range from $150 to $300. HDTV converters can be purchased from local outlets or electronic stores. For better option in prices, brands, and types, online or electronic stores are always ideal. [http://www.WetPluto.com/HDTV.html]HDTV provides detailed information on HDTV, Plasma HDTV, HDTV Antennas, HDTV Reviews and more. HDTV is affiliated with [http://www.i-HomeTheaters.com]Home Theater Projectors.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?HDTV-Converters&id=353911] HDTV Converters
HDTV and Bluray HD Player - Should I Wait Or Should I Buy?
HDTV and Bluray HD Player - Should I Wait Or Should I Buy?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mike_Singh]Mike Singh
If you have purchased a newer HDTV, Blu-Ray HD player models previewed, may be just what you are looking for. The HDTV-Blu-Ray HD player models previewed will include looks at Panasonic, Samsung and Pioneer brands. These three companies are planning on using the new Blu-Ray technology to make DVD watching on HDTV a lot better. Initially these models may be a bit pricey, but the competition and demand will lower the prices pretty quickly.
The first thing to look at in HDTV-Blu-Ray HD player models previewed is a closer look at the technology and how it works. A lot of the newer HDTV's use 1080p resolution, while some use 1080i. The 'i' and 'p' stand for interlaced and progressive. Interlaced uses two passes to get the picture, while progressive uses only one pass. Generally progressive gives better picture quality. This is where Blu-Ray comes in.
When looking at HDTV-Blu-Ray HD player models previewed, a closer look at Blu-Ray technology is in order as well. The way it works is with a blue light laser. This laser reads or illuminates what are called pits on the disc. The wavelength in this technology is shorter, which means that the pits can be spaced closer together. This then means that the pits can be spaced closer together. This then means that more information can fit in a smaller amount of space. When it comes to HDTV-Blu-Ray HD player models previewed, you will also want to know that they are able to output a 1080p signal. This is done with what is known as High Definition Multimedia Interface or HDMI, via a jack. This resolution in HDTV's is becoming more and more common and with Blu-Ray you can correspond this to get excellent quality.
Taking an even closer look at HDTV and Blu-Ray HD player models, a better look at each brand is warranted. One of the three that are planning to release with Blu-Ray technology is Samsung. Some of the features of Samsung's Blu-Ray will include 9-in-2 Multi Memory Card Slot. This will enable viewing of digital photos on your television screen. This brand will also have the ability to set an alarm. Besides these features it will cost around a thousand dollars initially, but the price will probably drop fast. This brand is slim and very full of quality and rated fairly high.
The next model that will be releasing with Blu-Ray technology is Pioneer. This brand has what is called Home Media Gallery software that will let you view pictures, listen to music or watch movies that may be stored on a computer. This can all be done at 1080p resolution if you have the right HDTV to do so. This brand is highly reliable and rated consistently. This one will cost around $1,800 but may also drop as well.
The last brand that will be using Blu-Ray technology is Panasonic. This will also be in conjunction with Panasonic's HDTV that is plasma like with 1080p resolution. This one will cost around $1,500 but may also come down with time as well. This one will have what is called EZ-Sync HDAV1 technology. This let's the user use multiple HDMI units with just one remote. HDMI stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface.
With all these options to choose from and the great new technology, it should be fairly easy to find one that will suit your needs and budget. With the full amount of information you should be ready to go out and take a closer look at each model. This then will allow you to get the best deal in the end.
Check out http://www.hdtvland.org/ for articles on [http://www.hdtvland.org/LCD_vs_Plasma.html]lcd vs plasma and hdtv review.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?HDTV-and-Bluray-HD-Player---Should-I-Wait-Or-Should-I-Buy?&id=317459] HDTV and Bluray HD Player - Should I Wait Or Should I Buy?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mike_Singh]Mike Singh
If you have purchased a newer HDTV, Blu-Ray HD player models previewed, may be just what you are looking for. The HDTV-Blu-Ray HD player models previewed will include looks at Panasonic, Samsung and Pioneer brands. These three companies are planning on using the new Blu-Ray technology to make DVD watching on HDTV a lot better. Initially these models may be a bit pricey, but the competition and demand will lower the prices pretty quickly.
The first thing to look at in HDTV-Blu-Ray HD player models previewed is a closer look at the technology and how it works. A lot of the newer HDTV's use 1080p resolution, while some use 1080i. The 'i' and 'p' stand for interlaced and progressive. Interlaced uses two passes to get the picture, while progressive uses only one pass. Generally progressive gives better picture quality. This is where Blu-Ray comes in.
When looking at HDTV-Blu-Ray HD player models previewed, a closer look at Blu-Ray technology is in order as well. The way it works is with a blue light laser. This laser reads or illuminates what are called pits on the disc. The wavelength in this technology is shorter, which means that the pits can be spaced closer together. This then means that the pits can be spaced closer together. This then means that more information can fit in a smaller amount of space. When it comes to HDTV-Blu-Ray HD player models previewed, you will also want to know that they are able to output a 1080p signal. This is done with what is known as High Definition Multimedia Interface or HDMI, via a jack. This resolution in HDTV's is becoming more and more common and with Blu-Ray you can correspond this to get excellent quality.
Taking an even closer look at HDTV and Blu-Ray HD player models, a better look at each brand is warranted. One of the three that are planning to release with Blu-Ray technology is Samsung. Some of the features of Samsung's Blu-Ray will include 9-in-2 Multi Memory Card Slot. This will enable viewing of digital photos on your television screen. This brand will also have the ability to set an alarm. Besides these features it will cost around a thousand dollars initially, but the price will probably drop fast. This brand is slim and very full of quality and rated fairly high.
The next model that will be releasing with Blu-Ray technology is Pioneer. This brand has what is called Home Media Gallery software that will let you view pictures, listen to music or watch movies that may be stored on a computer. This can all be done at 1080p resolution if you have the right HDTV to do so. This brand is highly reliable and rated consistently. This one will cost around $1,800 but may also drop as well.
The last brand that will be using Blu-Ray technology is Panasonic. This will also be in conjunction with Panasonic's HDTV that is plasma like with 1080p resolution. This one will cost around $1,500 but may also come down with time as well. This one will have what is called EZ-Sync HDAV1 technology. This let's the user use multiple HDMI units with just one remote. HDMI stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface.
With all these options to choose from and the great new technology, it should be fairly easy to find one that will suit your needs and budget. With the full amount of information you should be ready to go out and take a closer look at each model. This then will allow you to get the best deal in the end.
Check out http://www.hdtvland.org/ for articles on [http://www.hdtvland.org/LCD_vs_Plasma.html]lcd vs plasma and hdtv review.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?HDTV-and-Bluray-HD-Player---Should-I-Wait-Or-Should-I-Buy?&id=317459] HDTV and Bluray HD Player - Should I Wait Or Should I Buy?
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
720p Vs 1080i HDTV
720p Vs 1080i HDTV
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kenny_Hemphill]Kenny Hemphill
Is 720p vs 1080i worth being concerned about? Yes and no. If you're a consumer looking for a new TV, you can happily ignore the 720p vs 1080i debate because every TV which is described as HDTV or HDTV Ready is required to support both formats.
NOTE: You should be aware though that lots of TVs which support 1080i have fewer than 1080 lines and so scale the 1080 signal down. That's not a huge issue as even scaled down 1080i is far ahead of a regular NTSC signal. It is worth bearing in mind that more expensive HDTVs tend to have better scalers than cheaper ones, and this may be an issue.
However, for broadcasters it's a live issue. Should they broadcast 1080 lines of interlaced video or 720 lines of progressive scan? They could just broadcast two signals, one in each format, but that would use up a huge chunk of bandwidth and be hugely expensive for very little gain.
To answer the question, it's important to understand the difference between 720p vs 1080i. A 720p signal is made up of 720 horizontal lines. Each frame is displayed in its entirety on-screen for 1/30th of a second. This is know as progressive scan (hence the 'p')The quality is like watching 30 photographic images a second on TV. A 1080i signal comprises 1080 horizontal lines but all the lines are not displayed on-screen simultaneously. Instead, they are interlaced (hence the 'i'), ie every other lines is displayed for 1/60th of a second and then the alternate lines are displayed for 1/60th of a second. So, the frame rate is still 30 frames per second, but each frame is split into two fields, which your brain then puts together subconsciously.
Most of the time interlacing works fine, but for fast moving images, such as sports like baseball and hockey it can cause problems which manifest themselves as a 'stepping' effect on-screen. Progressive scan signals don't have this problem and so are better suited to sports.
ESPN puts it like this: 'Progressive scan technology produces better images for the fast moving orientation of sports television. Simply put, with 104 mph fastballs in baseball and 120 mph shots on goal in hockey, the line-by-line basis of progressive scan technology better captures the inherent fast action of sports. For ESPN, progressive scan technology makes perfect sense.'
Bottom line? For us, as consumers 720p vs 1080i is not a debate worth worrying about, so you can relax and focus on all the other criteria on your list when you buy your next HDTV.
Kenny Hemphill runs [http://www.discountedwebhosting.net]Discounted Web Hosting and is the editor and publisher of [http://www.the-hdtv-tuner.com]The HDTV Tuner - a guide to the kit, the technology and the programming on HDTV.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?720p-Vs-1080i-HDTV&id=91443] 720p Vs 1080i HDTV
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kenny_Hemphill]Kenny Hemphill
Is 720p vs 1080i worth being concerned about? Yes and no. If you're a consumer looking for a new TV, you can happily ignore the 720p vs 1080i debate because every TV which is described as HDTV or HDTV Ready is required to support both formats.
NOTE: You should be aware though that lots of TVs which support 1080i have fewer than 1080 lines and so scale the 1080 signal down. That's not a huge issue as even scaled down 1080i is far ahead of a regular NTSC signal. It is worth bearing in mind that more expensive HDTVs tend to have better scalers than cheaper ones, and this may be an issue.
However, for broadcasters it's a live issue. Should they broadcast 1080 lines of interlaced video or 720 lines of progressive scan? They could just broadcast two signals, one in each format, but that would use up a huge chunk of bandwidth and be hugely expensive for very little gain.
To answer the question, it's important to understand the difference between 720p vs 1080i. A 720p signal is made up of 720 horizontal lines. Each frame is displayed in its entirety on-screen for 1/30th of a second. This is know as progressive scan (hence the 'p')The quality is like watching 30 photographic images a second on TV. A 1080i signal comprises 1080 horizontal lines but all the lines are not displayed on-screen simultaneously. Instead, they are interlaced (hence the 'i'), ie every other lines is displayed for 1/60th of a second and then the alternate lines are displayed for 1/60th of a second. So, the frame rate is still 30 frames per second, but each frame is split into two fields, which your brain then puts together subconsciously.
Most of the time interlacing works fine, but for fast moving images, such as sports like baseball and hockey it can cause problems which manifest themselves as a 'stepping' effect on-screen. Progressive scan signals don't have this problem and so are better suited to sports.
ESPN puts it like this: 'Progressive scan technology produces better images for the fast moving orientation of sports television. Simply put, with 104 mph fastballs in baseball and 120 mph shots on goal in hockey, the line-by-line basis of progressive scan technology better captures the inherent fast action of sports. For ESPN, progressive scan technology makes perfect sense.'
Bottom line? For us, as consumers 720p vs 1080i is not a debate worth worrying about, so you can relax and focus on all the other criteria on your list when you buy your next HDTV.
Kenny Hemphill runs [http://www.discountedwebhosting.net]Discounted Web Hosting and is the editor and publisher of [http://www.the-hdtv-tuner.com]The HDTV Tuner - a guide to the kit, the technology and the programming on HDTV.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?720p-Vs-1080i-HDTV&id=91443] 720p Vs 1080i HDTV
Monday, December 21, 2009
HDTV Or LCD?
HDTV Or LCD?
By Sebastian Romero
HDTV - The next generation of TV, or the next 8 track cartridge
format. That's the important question for anyone looking to
invest in a new HDTV television. There have been so many
different video, tape and sound system formats that the consumer
could be forgiven for cynicism and exercising more than a touch
of caution.
The HDTV format has been put together by an industry wide group
of US researchers and manufacturers, rather than any one
manufacturer. It should not be subject to the inter-manufacturer
squabbling that killed the 8-track cartridge or Beta format
video recording.
HDTV offers a spectacular combination of color intensity and
Dolby Digital surround sound that has impressed most reviewers.
Giving cinema-like sound and picture quality.
Gas Plasma HDTV screens offer a higher degree of contrast than
the competing LCD flat screen TVs. This means the TV has a
visible and bright picture, even in a brightly lit room, no more
closing the drapes to watch a football game in the afternoon.
The Plasma screen also has a much wider viewing angle, so the
whole family can watch from around the room. LCD screens have
improved in this regard, but are still limited. The colors on an
LCD screen change once you are not directly in front or within
10 degrees of a centre line.
If your new television screen is intended for use as a video
game screen as well, then the choice is more difficult. This is
because gas plasma screens do suffer from "Burn in". Burn in is
where an image that has been displayed for an extended period of
time leaves an after-image on the screen even after it is
removed. This can be a problem with video gamers because game
on-screen control panels tend to be static and would cause "Burn
in."
About the Author: Sebastian Romero works in the security
industry, and drives 30,000 miles a year. Find more info
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link:
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=59110&ca=Computers+and+Technology
By Sebastian Romero
HDTV - The next generation of TV, or the next 8 track cartridge
format. That's the important question for anyone looking to
invest in a new HDTV television. There have been so many
different video, tape and sound system formats that the consumer
could be forgiven for cynicism and exercising more than a touch
of caution.
The HDTV format has been put together by an industry wide group
of US researchers and manufacturers, rather than any one
manufacturer. It should not be subject to the inter-manufacturer
squabbling that killed the 8-track cartridge or Beta format
video recording.
HDTV offers a spectacular combination of color intensity and
Dolby Digital surround sound that has impressed most reviewers.
Giving cinema-like sound and picture quality.
Gas Plasma HDTV screens offer a higher degree of contrast than
the competing LCD flat screen TVs. This means the TV has a
visible and bright picture, even in a brightly lit room, no more
closing the drapes to watch a football game in the afternoon.
The Plasma screen also has a much wider viewing angle, so the
whole family can watch from around the room. LCD screens have
improved in this regard, but are still limited. The colors on an
LCD screen change once you are not directly in front or within
10 degrees of a centre line.
If your new television screen is intended for use as a video
game screen as well, then the choice is more difficult. This is
because gas plasma screens do suffer from "Burn in". Burn in is
where an image that has been displayed for an extended period of
time leaves an after-image on the screen even after it is
removed. This can be a problem with video gamers because game
on-screen control panels tend to be static and would cause "Burn
in."
About the Author: Sebastian Romero works in the security
industry, and drives 30,000 miles a year. Find more info
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link:
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=59110&ca=Computers+and+Technology
Sunday, December 20, 2009
HDTV Comparison - What You Need To Know When Buying A Top 10 HDTV
HDTV Comparison - What You Need To Know When Buying A Top 10
HDTV
By Jason D Adams
Some common questions that people have when conducting their
own HDTV comparison is what is the best? or whether they should
buy a 720p/1080i or 1080p set. What should I look for when
comparing HDTV displays? What screen size should one buy? One
should really understand one of the most important factors in
HDTV technology and what most people care about: the quality of
the picture. People really want the best picture quality that
their money can buy.
When buying your HDTV you may want to decide on the optimum
screen size that would benefit the room size you have available
to you. Here are some recommended viewing distances. (please
note that ideal distances will depend on many different factors
including signal quality)
30 inches - recommended distance of 3.75 - 6.25 feet
42 inches - recommended distance of 5.25 - 8.75 feet
50 inches - recommended distance of 6.25 - 10.5 feet
62 inches - recommended distance of 7.75 - 13 feet
70 inches - recommended distance of 8.75 - 14.75 feet
Another factor to look for in your HDTV comparison shopping is
to be aware of the resolution the display is capable of
producing. What you want to watch for is the native resolution.
The minimum native resolution you should consider is 720p which
is 1280x768. That is 1280 pixels horizontal and 768 pixels
vertical. If you are really wanting the best picture quality you
should look at resolutions of 1080p which is a native resolution
of 1920x1080 pixels.
How does the HDTV display standard definition? Standard
definition (non high definition) sources include regular cable
signals, DVDs, some satellite signals (satellite also provides
high definition content). Some HDTV displays will produce a
great high definition picture but will display a poor picture
when connected to a standard definition signal.
The best tool you can use when conducting your HDTV comparison
is use your eyes. If possible take your favorite movie, DVD, or
even ask the store clerk to show you some high definition
content, preferably the type of content you plan on watching on
the HDTV display. Will the HDTV be used mainly for watching
movies? what type of movies? action, documentary, animation,
computer generated graphics sports, or standard definition?. One
thing you should take note of is that HDTVs are not calibrated
for the best possible picture at the most stores, they are
usually displayed with their "out of the box" default settings.
Other factors you may want to take note of is the lighting of
the room you plan on watching the HDTV display in verses the
lighting inside the store.
Many HDTVs are available online and you are not really able to
see the picture quality in person. One solution is to read the
user reviews, these reviews are comments from individuals who
already own the HDTV in question and have seen the picture
quality in person. Some of the comments can be very useful.
There are many other factors to consider such as video
processor or the microchip that the HDTV uses to process
incoming signals and other more complicated factors that the
normal shopper can ignore unless you are a hard core enthusiast.
The bottom line for most is the best band for the buck and most
shoppers can decide based on the factors mentioned in this
article and from their research on the internet.
About the Author: Need help buying an HDTV? Want to know what
the top 10 HDTV displays for 2007? Check out some of the highest
rated HDTV displays based on user reviews and top HDTV experts
at http://hdtvratings.weebly.com
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link:
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=200483&ca=Computers+and+Technology
HDTV
By Jason D Adams
Some common questions that people have when conducting their
own HDTV comparison is what is the best? or whether they should
buy a 720p/1080i or 1080p set. What should I look for when
comparing HDTV displays? What screen size should one buy? One
should really understand one of the most important factors in
HDTV technology and what most people care about: the quality of
the picture. People really want the best picture quality that
their money can buy.
When buying your HDTV you may want to decide on the optimum
screen size that would benefit the room size you have available
to you. Here are some recommended viewing distances. (please
note that ideal distances will depend on many different factors
including signal quality)
30 inches - recommended distance of 3.75 - 6.25 feet
42 inches - recommended distance of 5.25 - 8.75 feet
50 inches - recommended distance of 6.25 - 10.5 feet
62 inches - recommended distance of 7.75 - 13 feet
70 inches - recommended distance of 8.75 - 14.75 feet
Another factor to look for in your HDTV comparison shopping is
to be aware of the resolution the display is capable of
producing. What you want to watch for is the native resolution.
The minimum native resolution you should consider is 720p which
is 1280x768. That is 1280 pixels horizontal and 768 pixels
vertical. If you are really wanting the best picture quality you
should look at resolutions of 1080p which is a native resolution
of 1920x1080 pixels.
How does the HDTV display standard definition? Standard
definition (non high definition) sources include regular cable
signals, DVDs, some satellite signals (satellite also provides
high definition content). Some HDTV displays will produce a
great high definition picture but will display a poor picture
when connected to a standard definition signal.
The best tool you can use when conducting your HDTV comparison
is use your eyes. If possible take your favorite movie, DVD, or
even ask the store clerk to show you some high definition
content, preferably the type of content you plan on watching on
the HDTV display. Will the HDTV be used mainly for watching
movies? what type of movies? action, documentary, animation,
computer generated graphics sports, or standard definition?. One
thing you should take note of is that HDTVs are not calibrated
for the best possible picture at the most stores, they are
usually displayed with their "out of the box" default settings.
Other factors you may want to take note of is the lighting of
the room you plan on watching the HDTV display in verses the
lighting inside the store.
Many HDTVs are available online and you are not really able to
see the picture quality in person. One solution is to read the
user reviews, these reviews are comments from individuals who
already own the HDTV in question and have seen the picture
quality in person. Some of the comments can be very useful.
There are many other factors to consider such as video
processor or the microchip that the HDTV uses to process
incoming signals and other more complicated factors that the
normal shopper can ignore unless you are a hard core enthusiast.
The bottom line for most is the best band for the buck and most
shoppers can decide based on the factors mentioned in this
article and from their research on the internet.
About the Author: Need help buying an HDTV? Want to know what
the top 10 HDTV displays for 2007? Check out some of the highest
rated HDTV displays based on user reviews and top HDTV experts
at http://hdtvratings.weebly.com
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link:
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=200483&ca=Computers+and+Technology
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