to HDTV or not to HDTV?!?!

[g0at]

I got a problem here...

I'm trying to find a nice component-in tv with support for 1080i so I can play Halo in high res. What I'm wondering is, what's the difference between HDTV ready and HDTV compatible? And whats the difference between plasma and LCD?

and models reccomended? low to mid-range prices guys :D

any relevant info is appreciated

thanks in advance :cool:

[gravioli]

Originally posted by madthumbs
Plasma is much more expensive than LCD. Plasma should have a brighter more colorful display especially at off angles. I believe both are prone to dead pixels, and slow pixel refresh rates (blurring in fast motions).

Actually based on size, Plasma is cheaper than LCD. A typical 22 inch LCD television will cost you ~$2000, whereas a 42 inch Plasma television can be had for ~$4000, but nets you more than double the viewing area. Also, Plasma televisions have higher contrast ratios, which results in better picture quality and the viewing angle is much larger on Plasma televisions. One of the downsides to Plasma televisions is that they have lower screen resolutions than LCDs, but if you are just watching DVDs, playing the XBOX, and viewing HDTV programming, this isn't a big deal.

[VeritechK7]

My dad loves his 57" Hitachi Widescreen. I love it too when I'm in the right angle. That's the only thing i don't like about projection .. lack of viewing angle. and gotta be a good distanc to see good color quality

[DaveW]

Projection TVs tend to produce a picture which is brighter in the middle of the screen that towards the edges which I don't like. I also heard that the bulb has to be replaced and the lens cleaned every few months. I know a family that has had a projection TV for about 5 years (they are stinking rich). The TV hasn't been serviced since they got it and the visual quality is now very dull, dark and ugly.

LCD TVs are bound to have dead pixels. You are very lucky to buy a 19 inch LCD monitor with no dead/stuck pixels. A 57 inch TV would have 3 - 4 times the surface area. LCDs also degrade over time. Usually what happens is their color saturation increases and increases until its a blurry mess.

We have 60 inch widescreen plasma monitors at work. Very nice, but very expensive.

I would watch out for the terms "ready" and "compatible". I had a pair of rabbit ears that said "satellite TV compatible" on the box. It doesn't mean they pick up a satellite TV signal, just that they won't cause interference if you pass your satellite TV cable through it. I had a car stereo was "CD ready", but it had no CD slot, all the term meant was that there was an aux in on the back that you could hook an external CD player too. Same applies to surround sound receivers. Those receiver+speaker kits in Walmart that are "dolby digital 5.1 ready" can't do dolby digital 5.1 unless you buy a seperate 5.1 receiver and hook it up to it.

What you want it a TV that has ~1000 lines resolution and states on the specs that it "supports" HDTV formats.

[woz_mann]

I would recommand getting a sony 36" (CRT) HDTV. This IS not projection, so it produces BRILLIANT color and image sharpness.

The diff between HDTV ready and compatible, is that the Ready comes with the tuner already....however will cost more due to that fact. With a HDTV compatible, u will have to buy/lease/rent a turner. However i believe that cable/stailite companies will provide one and the do with digital Cable