Recommended Posts

Are people buying HDTV and not hooking it up to HD sources? What's with the grouchy, "I can't see any difference!" crowd here? The clarity is obvious if you have both... I have 150 SD channels and 40 HD channels on my cable network, I rarely watch any of the SD anymore, the HD is so much better that if nothing is on I just turn the TV off or turn on the PS3.
Well we got the HD cable box from Rogers a few days after buying the HDTV. I did notice that anything SD on the HDTV looked pixelated (before using the HD cable box) but I have to imagine it was due to it being stretched. Frankly, I would assume the difference I've seen is based on the fact it's a new tv compared to the older one it replaced. It looks brighter, more vivid and stuff (this is on SD too). My brother claims it must be set up wrong and he says I'm blind because he tried showing me the difference on his (which he said is setup right) and I couldn't see it (I had my contact lenses in). To my eyes there is very little difference, definitely not worth the extra money it cost for the damn thing. The reason we bought a new one is to take up less space.
Are people buying HDTV and not hooking it up to HD sources? What's with the grouchy, "I can't see any difference!" crowd here? The clarity is obvious if you have both... I have 150 SD channels and 40 HD channels on my cable network, I rarely watch any of the SD anymore, the HD is so much better that if nothing is on I just turn the TV off or turn on the PS3.

Because the difference isn't that great for us to jump up and jack up the credit card bill for. I've seen HDTVs in stores. Yes, they're clearer, but it's not really that much clearer. I'm not impressed.

Because the difference isn't that great for us to jump up and jack up the credit card bill for. I've seen HDTVs in stores. Yes, they're clearer, but it's not really that much clearer. I'm not impressed.

The problem with your argument is that you're sitting here trying to convince us there's little to no difference. I own a 20" RCA tube from 1998, but I'm well aware of the difference between HD and SD. You can sit and say it's not a difference that you feel is personally worth it and we can't say anything, but to claim that the difference doesn't exist is silly.

As for the darkness of the image or motion blur, that's down to the technology of the TV and not the HD signal. For a guy who seems to love SD CRT's, a plasma would be right up your alley since the technology really is a cousin, of sorts, to CRT technology.

Well, you're talking about a speed difference. Watching on an HDTV is not going to make anything run faster.

It is essentially the same idea. HDTV gives you a better picture, a cutting-edge processor gives you more speed. Neither one is necessary, but they're both nice to have. It's as simple as that.

The problem with your argument is that you're sitting here trying to convince us there's little to no difference. I own a 20" RCA tube from 1998, but I'm well aware of the difference between HD and SD. You can sit and say it's not a difference that you feel is personally worth it and we can't say anything, but to claim that the difference doesn't exist is silly.

As for the darkness of the image or motion blur, that's down to the technology of the TV and not the HD signal. For a guy who seems to love SD CRT's, a plasma would be right up your alley since the technology really is a cousin, of sorts, to CRT technology.

There is a difference, but you said it. It's a difference that I feel is not worth it. And like I said, I hate the motion blur and darkness. And plasmas get burn in and are a huge rip-off.

There is a difference, but you said it. It's a difference that I feel is not worth it. And like I said, I hate the motion blur and darkness. And plasmas get burn in and are a huge rip-off.

once again you have no idea what you are taking about. Plasmas have become cheaper than lcd's in most cases now. and the burn in problems have been fixed on decent brand televisions.

Don't feed me lies. I've been to stores and checked. Plasmas are twice the price of LCDs.

If you compare a 50 inch plasma to a 32 inch lcd then yes you are correct. a 50 inch 120hz lcd will in most cases cost more than a 50 inch plasma tv.

If you compare a 50 inch plasma to a 32 inch lcd then yes you are correct. a 50 inch 120hz lcd will in most cases cost more than a 50 inch plasma tv.

Yeah, and I'm not interested in a 52" TV. And don't get me started on these large TVs. I don't understand why people buy TVs that are so big, ie 50"+. TVs that big just look fuzzy in picture.

So you don't like HDTV. Great. So you started this thread why? Especially if you are just going to argue mute points.

HDTV is worth it for my 360 alone. If you don't think so, cool, thats your opinion.

I'd recommend this thread gets closed. The OP obviously isnt here for help and is just trying to stir up trouble

Yeah, and I'm not interested in a 52" TV. And don't get me started on these large TVs. I don't understand why people buy TVs that are so big, ie 50"+. TVs that big just look fuzzy in picture.

:|

:o

:laugh:

That is why HD exists my friend....

*sigh*

As for people buying TV's that big, maybe they just want a bigger picture? The bigger the screen, the more cinema like the experience.

Yeah, and I'm not interested in a 52" TV. And don't get me started on these large TVs. I don't understand why people buy TVs that are so big, ie 50"+. TVs that big just look fuzzy in picture.

50 inch HD televisions are not fuzzy at all.

So you don't like HDTV. Great. So you started this thread why? Especially if you are just going to argue mute points.

HDTV is worth it for my 360 alone. If you don't think so, cool, thats your opinion.

I'd recommend this thread gets closed. The OP obviously isnt here for help and is just trying to stir up trouble

Fine, close it. Because I didn't realize this thread would cause so much trouble. But apparently it is and that wasn't my intent. I started this thread to ask people why they like HDTVs because I don't get what's so great about it. Rather, people just insult me and call me blind for not being impressed by its "amazing picture."

Don't feed me lies. I've been to stores and checked. Plasmas are twice the price of LCDs.

Now all your credibility is shot... where are you shopping??? Because plasmas are for sure lower priced than a comparable lcd. You can get a 720p 50 inch plasma around 1200-1500 bucks... a 52 inch LCD (abit 1080p) can start from 2200 and go up from there. A 1080p 50" plasma is about 1700.

Not to mention decent brand plasmas like panasonic and samsung don't really burn in any more (see pixel shift/orbiter)... and pioneer blows almost any lcd away.

Plasma is far superior to LCD except for energy usage and screen glare which really isn't that bad. Calibrations can also reduce the energy usage. A lot.

LCD Pros - No glass screen (but when light does shine on it... good luck seeing anything decent) less energy usage.

LCD Cons - Motion blur (even on 120hz), greys instead of pure blacks

Plasma Pros - Deep Vivid Color, Pure Blacks, Virtually no motion blur, Best picture out of tubes, dlps, lcds, cheaper

Plasma Cons - Higher Power Consumption, Glare occasionally

Edited by shockz
Now all your credbility is shot... where are you shopping??? Because plasmas are for sure lower priced than a comparable lcd. You can get a 720p 50 inch plasma around 1200-1500 bucks... a 52 inch (abit 1080p) can start from 2200 and go up from there. A 1080p 50" plasma is about 1700.

All those plamas you mentioned are all over $1,000. I've seen LCDs for less than $1,000 but have yet to see a plasma that is. That's where the problem is. Plasmas only come in big sizes, hence the larger price tags. 32" is the perfect size TV for me, but there's no plasma TV at that size.

I've always wondering how when you see a commercial and they show you the difference between HD and SD content, how the hell can you see a difference if you don't have HD? You're watching it on SD therefore the HD shouldn't be visible.

lol Yeah I've always thought that, too.

That's marketing for ya.

WHO ARE THE AD WIZARDS THAT CAME UP WITH THIS ONE?

All those plamas you mentioned are all over $1,000. I've seen LCDs for less than $1,000 but have yet to see a plasma that is. That's where the problem is. Plasmas only come in big sizes, hence the larger price tags. 32" is the perfect size TV for me, but there's no plasma TV at that size.

Plasma's really don't go below 40"... You quoted some best buy prices before... if you search again... look for a LG 42" Plasma... I think its 996??? I haven't worked in a few days. Granted LG isn't the best... and its only 720p. But thats a decent deal. The 1080p LG 42" i think is 1499.

There is also a 42" LG/Insignia (it's seriously the same... we have the old version set up on a demo display with the LG logo on it still)... is also 799 i think.

Good to hear that it's so simple. The main point of this thread was to find out what the fuss is about.

BTW, no one here failed to mention the problems HDTVs have. My uncle bought one 5 months ago and ever since then, he's had nothing but problems. Sometimes, he gets picture with no sound or sound with no picture. And very frequently, his HD cable freezes. He's been whining about the hassle for so long. Looks to me like a lot of trouble.

Those are problems with his actual cable company...not his TV.

Fine, close it. Because I didn't realize this thread would cause so much trouble. But apparently it is and that wasn't my intent. I started this thread to ask people why they like HDTVs because I don't get what's so great about it. Rather, people just insult me and call me blind for not being impressed by its "amazing picture."

I'm not seeing very many insults... You are the one that simply refuses to give any ground. You asked us our opinions, we gave them to you, and you continue to act as though we're completely incorrect. The fact of the matter is that the picture looks better and it's worth it to many of us. If it isn't worth it to you, that's fine, but you have to respect that there is a difference in opinion and not everybody is going to agree with you. That doesn't mean that we have any less sense than you, either.

HDTV is worth it for my 360 alone. If you don't think so, cool, thats your opinion.
Even that wasn't a much noticeable difference but definitely more so than tv programming. Is it because I'm using composite cables and not HDMI? Is there really much difference? It was my understanding that you're to use HDMI for "true" HD experience, so maybe that's the problem.

My parents got their 50" plasma HDTV on Dec 30th, 2007.

IMO, it's much better than the 36-inch CRT-style from 2000-2001.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • Samsung announces Galaxy A27 5G with 120Hz AMOLED display, expanded AI features, and more by Fiza Ali Samsung has announced the Galaxy A27 5G, its latest mid-range smartphone, bringing a handful of upgrades over last year's Galaxy A26 5G. While the changes aren't dramatic, they touch several areas that people tend to notice most in day-to-day use, including the display, performance, and software support. One of the more noticeable updates is the screen. The Galaxy A27 5G comes with a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display that now supports a 120Hz refresh rate, making scrolling and animations appear smoother. Samsung has also switched to an Infinity-O punch-hole camera design, which leaves more room for the display and gives the phone a cleaner look from the front. Under the hood, the Galaxy A27 5G is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor. The company says the new chip brings improved responsiveness in multitasking, gaming, and media consumption. The company also highlights GPU performance improvements and faster memory technology, which should contribute to smoother graphics rendering, quicker data handling, and improved power efficiency. Furthermore, Samsung has equipped the Galaxy A27 5G with a 12-megapixel selfie camera that is capable of capturing a wider dynamic range and more accurate colours. Like many smartphones launched recently, the Galaxy A27 5G also places a strong focus on AI features. Circle to Search with Google now supports multi-object recognition, making it easier to search for different products or items at the same time. The tech giant says the feature can also support virtual outfit try-ons directly from compatible search results. Photo editing tools are getting some attention as well, with Object Eraser updated to deliver cleaner edits when removing unwanted objects or people from images. Meanwhile, the Voice Recorder app can now transcribe and translate speech simultaneously in one of the 22 supported languages, which could be useful for meetings, lectures, or interviews. Samsung is also expanding AI assistant options on the device, with support for Google Gemini and Perplexity alongside Bixby. The company says these assistants will work more closely with Galaxy apps, including Gallery, to simplify common tasks. Samsung continues to strengthen its long-term software support policy with the Galaxy A27 5G. The smartphone will receive up to six generations of Android OS and One UI updates, along with six years of security patches from its initial global launch. In terms of security, the device includes Samsung Knox and Knox Vault, which are designed to help protect sensitive information stored on the phone. On the flip side, while the company is positioning the Galaxy A27 5G as a step forward from its predecessor, not every change is necessarily an upgrade. One of the first things buyers may notice is the higher price tag. The device launches at $349, making it $50 more expensive than the Galaxy A26 5G's $299 starting price. The selfie camera has also been reduced from 13MP to 12MP, while the ultrawide camera drops from 8MP to 5MP. Samsung has further downgraded the phone's dust and water resistance rating from IP67 to IP64. The Galaxy A27 5G is also marginally thicker at 7.8mm. The Galaxy A27 5G will be available in select markets starting July 3 and will come in four colour options, including Black, Blue, Light Green, and Light Pink. The company will also offer Samsung Care+ coverage plans for customers seeking additional device protection.
    • Doogee and Ulefone regularly release phones with 10k-25k mAh batteries, but those are bricks. I don't understand how they could make it only weigh 220 grams with a battery that size.
    • Windows 10 quietly gets one more year of support and updates by Taras Buria Windows 10 reached its end of life at the end of 2025. Microsoft kicked off the Extended Security Updates program, aimed at giving regular consumers one more year of security-only updates. By doing so, Microsoft gave users more time and money to update their computers to a newer operating system or compatible hardware. Now, with the end of the Extended Security Updates program quickly approaching, Microsoft is making an important adjustment. Users discovered that the official support article for the program now lists a new end-of-support date: The Extended Security Updates program is not a new concept. It has been an official way for business consumers to continue receiving critical updates for unsupported Microsoft products for many years. However, all this time, it was a business-only, paid feature. With Windows 10, Microsoft brought ESU to regular consumers, allowing them to get security updates for Windows 10 past October 2025 essentially for free. When Windows 10 was approaching the end of support, many guessed that Microsoft might adjust its support timelines, and this is exactly what seems to be happening. Of course, Microsoft would love everyone to switch to new computers, such as its latest Surface devices, but in the days of ever-growing hardware prices, not everyone is lucky enough to have money for a new PC. Leaving hundreds of millions of customers with a Windows version that no longer receives security updates is a major risk that Microsoft is not willing to take. If you have a Windows 10 PC to enroll in the Extended Security Updates program, check out this guide to learn how to do so.
    • Sony announces Bungie layoffs that will affect "significant number of employees" by Pulasthi Ariyasinghe Sony today announced that major layoffs are happening at its first-party studio Bungie, the developer that has spawned series like Halo, Destiny, and Marathon over the past decades. The news arrives just weeks after Bungie delivered the final update to Destiny 2, and it's that team being hit with the layoffs the most. CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment Hermen Hulst revealed the staff reduction today, calling it "painful news." "Over the past several months, together with Bungie leadership, we reviewed the studio’s long-term direction, development priorities, resource needs, and role within our broader portfolio strategy," said Hulst, explaining the decision. "We explored multiple alternatives before concluding that a reduction was necessary to align the studio’s resources with its current priorities and long-term goals." The layoffs will be hitting "a significant number of employees" across most of the Destiny franchise development team. It doesn't look like Sony is planning to continue the series following Destiny 2's sunsetting update. The studio is said to be in early stages of looking at other projects to pivot to, but it's said that keeping the size of the team at current levels is no longer feasible. "We know this decision has a profound impact on the people affected, their families, friends, and teammates," said Bungie leadership in a separate message on social media. "While these changes are necessary to best position the studio now and for the future, that does not lessen the difficulty of this moment or the impact it has on those affected." At the same time, "some" of the Marathon development team are also affected by the layoffs. The recently released multiplayer-only extraction shooter title hasn't seen a big boom of players either, but the company is reportedly hoping that the live service experience will pick up players with future updates.
    • Microsoft adds reusable skills and finance data connectors to Copilot in Excel by Karthik Mudaliar Microsoft is giving Copilot in Excel a collection of new features aimed squarely at finance teams. The update introduces reusable instructions for common tasks, connections to services such as FactSet and Morningstar, and a better way to review what Copilot intends to do before it starts changing a workbook. The most interesting addition is 'Skills' finally coming to Copilot in Excel. Skills let companies teach Copilot how to handle a recurring process, so employees do not need to write the same detailed prompt every month. Users can create skills that can specify the steps Copilot should follow, along with the required layout, formulas, and formatting. Microsoft says users can create their own skills by saving a SKILL.md file in OneDrive. The file is written using Markdown and tells Copilot when and how to perform the task. Once it is available, a user can select the skill in the Copilot pane or mention it in a prompt using the @ symbol. There is also a library of prebuilt finance skills for customers who do not want to create their own. Microsoft plans to let developers distribute additional skills through the Microsoft Marketplace and the Microsoft 365 Admin Center, with LSEG, Ramp, Rogo, samaya.ai, Velixo, and Vena among the first partners involved. The company says that it is also expanding the external data that Copilot can access from inside Excel. New connectors are being added for CB Insights, Daloopa, FactSet, Morningstar, PitchBook, and S&P Global data through technology developed by Kensho. There is a catch, however. Accessing these services may require a separate subscription from the relevant data provider, so a Microsoft 365 Copilot licence will not necessarily unlock all of them. FactSet is also only available in preview for now, with general availability planned for July. Microsoft is also trying to make Copilot’s workbook edits easier to inspect. Users can switch to a planning mode that shows which sheets, cell ranges, formulas, and assumptions Copilot intends to work with before it begins making changes. Once the work is complete, the Show Changes pane can distinguish edits made by Copilot from those made by human collaborators. The update continues Microsoft’s push to turn Excel Copilot from a chatbot into an agent that can carry out longer tasks. The company previously added an Agent Mode capable of planning and completing multi-step Excel work. Microsoft also recently acquired financial AI startup Fintool, another indication that finance is becoming a key target for its Excel AI strategy. Prebuilt skills, personalization, workbook rules, external connectors, planning mode, and Copilot attribution in Show Changes are generally available to Microsoft 365 Copilot customers using Excel on the web, Windows, and macOS. Custom skills are initially available to Microsoft 365 Insiders on Windows and Mac starting today. Microsoft plans to make them generally available across Windows, Mac, and the web over the next month. Partner-built skills are expected during the third quarter of the year. Availability may still differ depending on region and licensing.
  • Recent Achievements

    • First Post
      kinowa earned a badge
      First Post
    • Rookie
      krychek57 went up a rank
      Rookie
    • Grand Master
      Jaybonaut went up a rank
      Grand Master
    • One Year In
      Philsl earned a badge
      One Year In
    • Dedicated
      Scoobystu earned a badge
      Dedicated
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      438
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      169
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      134
    4. 4
      Xenon
      77
    5. 5
      Michael Scrip
      75
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!