Saturday, May 11, 2013

How much do hdtv prices drop over a years time?

Q. Hello, I'm planning on saving up for a Samsung LED HDTV. I'd like it to be 55 inches or more, I don't really care to have smart technology, and I'd love for it to be one of the ultra slim ones. It seems for 55 inches I'll be paying about 1100 dollars, for 60 inches its 1300 dollars, and any more than that, they automatically add the smart technology so its 2,500 or above. But I was just wondering how much a tv's price may drop in about a year from now. I've seen that 55 inch LED's used to be 2200 dollars but now they are 800-1200. How much do these prices usually drop in about a year with the new technology?

This is the tv I plan on buying:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Samsung+-+60%26%2334%3B+Class+-+LED+-+1080p+-+120Hz+-+HDTV/6847446.p?id=1218809261672&skuId=6847446

A. It's a tough thing to figure.

A particular model that you like may have a limited shelf-life. Manufacturers tend to make new models in order to keep prices up. Though the price of model 55-123LED (making this model number up) may be $1500 right now...conventional wisdom means that this model should be cheaper next year. The problem is that the manufacturer stops making this model and replaces it with the 55-321LED. Though it is completely identical to the old one...it is a 2013 model and therefore will still be worth the $1500 as a 'current' model.

The best time to purchase last years model is just before/just after the new ones hit the shelves. Stores will cut prices to make room for the new ones. If you wait to long though...you will find last years models hard to find.

A couple of tips for you:
A Good sale can happen anytime. It doesn't have to be Black Friday, Columbus Day, etc. Keep an eye on weekly ads from the major retailers in your area...as well as the online shops. With Price-Matching (which most major retailers offer)...anyone's sale could be a sale for your local store.

Don;t be afraid to ask for a discount. You have to believe that EVERYTHING is negotiable. You don;t have to be rude about it...just a simple "Is there any other way to save money on this TV?" I got 5% off my TV at Fry's Electronics simply by calling the manager over and asking if they're was any way he could save a few bucks (told him I was just a bit short on covering the full cost + taxes). Salesman/managers may know of coupons, etc that can save a few bucks.


What does a TV resolution of 1080P mean compared to 1375 x 785?
Q. I am looking at two TVs:

Pioneer KURO PDP-6010FD 60" 1080p Plasma HDTV

Pioneer PDP-6070HD 60" PureVision Plasma HDTV

The second one is 1375 x 785 and I would like to know the perceivable difference in picture quality between the two. Thanks.

A. If you are watching Blu-Ray or HD-DVD, then, maybe then, you will see a better picture on the 1080p.
If you're watching regular cable or satellite HD channels, you won't notice a difference.
Until 1080p sources are more common, you can save some money.
Google search interlaced, progressive, frames per second, for more info.


I'm getting a home theater system and I want the best possible sound and picture?
Q. I'm getting a new home theater system to go with my new HDTV. I want to have the best possible audio and video. I know for the best picture I'm gunna get an HDMI cable for audio and video. And I know for the best sound I would need to get a digital optical audio cable. But if the HDMI cable carries audio and video, is the digital optical audio cable necessary? Would it make it sound even better? Thanks ahead of time.

A. No, the HDMI carries digital audio and is capable of performance equal to or exceeding other digital audio connections.

Save your money on cables too. The cheap HDMI cables are as good as the $60 ones from Monster or other high-enders.





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How come my HDTV went mute all of a sudden?

Q. Ever since i bought an Xbox 360 Elite and connected it with a HDMI cable,i tried watching tv after i stopped playing but its mute. I checked all the cables but nothing seems wrong. I also need to add that i have DirectTV cable if that even matters. I even reseted it and it is still mute. I have not changed the settings or anyhing so IDK what the F is the problem. So best answer gets 10 points.

A. hmm I don't have a newer 360 with HDMI, but I am assuming that you are sending the audio over the HDMI cable? It does sound like a glitch with your tv however you might be able to fool it. I don't know what options the 360 gives you for audio when connected via HDMI, but I am assuming that when you go back to the 360 that you get sound again? Can you then tell the xbox to output Stereo sound rather then Dolby Digital? Try it and then switch back to tv and see if you get sound. Also just try unplugging the HDMI cable. Also look through the audio setup menus for your tv. Hmm you could also check for a firmware update for your tv. There are a lot of possibilities so exhaust them all, including the setup menu for your DirectTV (which I assume you have also connected via HDMI?).


Are OLED HDTVs basically going to be vaporware, never to be released as viable products?
Q. I seriously doubt these things will ever see the light of day. I have been hearing that once manufacturing processes have been perfected, these things will be released, but I have been hearing this for years.

Should I hold my breath waiting for these things?
It's not a hard question, I'm asking for your opinion!

If it takes so long, there's a good chance it's not realistic. That's the motto I live by.

A. If you want to buy a reasonably priced typically sized TV in the next few years, do not count on OLEDs being a viable selection then.

They need to work on several aspects of manufacturing.

1. Getting a large display element, with low dead pixel count.

2. Getting a large display element cheap enough to economically compete with technologies on the market.

3. Making them keep their brightness longer, as in a few years.


Is it cheaper and/or beneficial to buy a plasma HDTV monitor VS a regular plasma HDTV, if i have a cable box?
Q. I currently have a 50" rear projection HDTV monitor I connect to my cabe box and use a a television. I haven't bought a TV for years becuase I have utilized the signal processor in the cable box. With the new technology, is there really any benefit of buying a TV opposed to a monitor if I have an HDTV cable box?

A. A monitor is a little cheaper than a tv, but one advantage of having a tv is that you can us an antenna if your cable ever goes out..... nice to have in case of an emergency (tornado, hurricane, wild fires) or you can purchase a set top box that is a tuner.





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How to install INDIVIDUAL windows live essentials 2011 programs?

Q. I have windows live messenger 9.0 and I like it A LOT more compared to the 2011 version..
But I LOVE the photo gallery and movie maker in 2011..
How can I individually download and install those programs.. WITHOUT updating messenger to 2011?

Download links will help a lot if you can provide them?
Just so long as it doesn't update my messenger... But the other programs..
Thanks in advance!

A. Aunsoft Video Converter helps you convert between various formats. It is the must-have conversion tool for video lovers, and enables you to enjoy movies on computer, to further edit video for creation, to present video on HDTV, and to publish video online in web-friendly format. You can control your video and music on popular portable devices including iPad, Nexus One, HTC Hero, Zune, iPod, PSP, Apple TV, iPhone anytime anywhere.

With this powerful converter, you can also convert videos for video editing software like Adobe Premiere, Windows Movie Maker, Sony Vegas, and upload video to YouTube and MySpace to share videos.


How can I connect my MacBook air to my HDTV?
Q. I have a Sony HDTV and a late 2011 MacBook Air.

A. if you are gonna connect it with an RGB cable you will need a converter from the Apple store.


What is an ATSC/NTSC tuner and does it receive HDTV signals? What portable HDTVs are available?
Q. What is an ATSC/NTSC tuner and does it receive HDTV signals? What portable HDTVs are available?

A. NTSC is the older analog TV signal we have had since the 1930s in North America. NTSC is used for analog Over The Air and analog cable transmission.

ATSC is the new digital standard for Over The Air signals in the North America. ATSC digital transmissions do include HD (High Definition) signals as well as SD (Standard Definition). The US will be exclusively ATSC on February 17, 2009, Canada on August 31, 2011 and Mexico no later than December 31, 2021.

QAM is the new standard for digital cable transmissions.

There are some battery operated portable ATSC sets reaching the market now. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8870046&type=product&id=1210377520598
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2855063&cp=&sr=1&kw=portable+tv&origkw=portable+TV&parentPage=search

I hope this helps. Please return and select a Best Answer from all of those submitted.





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How to make speakers on a tv louder?

Q. They're external speakers. They're little logitech ones and at the end of their cord it one has a red amd the other has a white. I just bought a JVC 32" HDTV 720p tv today for my room. And i just plugged in these speakers and when i do i can hear the sound coming out but its very low...is there anyway i can make them louder? I just plugged them into the back where it said "audio" L (white) R (red). How can i make the speakers louder?

A. In your tv's audio settings, you should be able to set it to surround sound. This could be your problem. If this doesn't solve your problem, the speakers will not get any louder. You need to plug them into a surround sound type DVD player. It will have its own power to supply the speakers. Your TV probably just doesn't have the power to put out.


What sequence settings do I use in adobe premiere for the JVC GZ HD30 camcorder?
Q. Or can you tell me how to figure it out?
it shoots in 1080p

A. Aunsoft Video Converter helps you convert between various formats. It is the must-have conversion tool for video lovers, and enables you to enjoy movies on computer, to further edit video for creation, to present video on HDTV, and to publish video online in web-friendly format. You can control your video and music on popular portable devices including iPad, Nexus One, HTC Hero, Zune, iPod, PSP, Apple TV, iPhone anytime anywhere.

With this powerful converter, you can also convert videos for video editing software like Adobe Premiere, Windows Movie Maker, Sony Vegas, and upload video to YouTube and MySpace to share videos

http://www.aunsoft.com/video-converter/


How to connect DVI output from PC to Component input in HDTV with dip switch adapter?
Q. I have a new Dell PC with an ATI Radeon X1300 video card, and am trying to connect it to my JVC HD-ILA Television through my receiver (which has component in and out). Basically, I purchased a DVI to Component adapter, which has several dip switches on it, and I am not getting a picture on my TV when I boot up. Sometimes I will see a second or two of video garbage but then the screen is blank. I feel like I've tried all of the different combinations of dip switch settings (16:9, 1080i, 720p, 480p, 480i). I guess my last resort is to just buy a DVI to HDMI and plug it right into my TV, but I wouldn't be able to use my receiver like I'd prefer to do for simplicity. Has anyone encountered this problem or have a suggestion on how to view my PC on my HDTV through my receiver? Thank you!

A. Very good choice on your TV, that and the 42" Toshiba DLP
would have been my choice, DVI (out) from the computer to the Component (in) should work, im sure you did, but you changed your TV's input to component1 or 2 right? You may have to downgrade to the AV cables which the card should have a Video out plug. Or if your in the market, upgrade your TV and go flat panel. The bad thing about that is a decent 42" LCD is a small fortune. I wouldnt go plasma if your goin to use it for a computer but the back of most flat panels have a serial connection to use it as a monitor. I know I havent really answered your question but i wouldnt bother with the HDMI, youll get the same results. all the DVI to Component adapter does is dumb down the picture and allow a different interface. The HDMI runs both picture and sound in HD where as the DVI only does video so its kind of a waste. not to mention the price of the HDMI cable and adapter. Best bet is call a Best Buy and talk to the home theatre department.





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Can you watch stereoscopic 3D without a 3d TV?

Q. There is a Xbox Live Arcade game called .. I think.. The Invisible Tiger. This game allows you to switch on Stereoscopic 3d if you have glasses. I also just read that there is a Game of the Year edition of Batman: Arkham Asylum that offers 3D gameplay with HDTV and Standard TV.

Is it possible to play games in stereoscopic 3d with glasses without buying a 3D ready TV?

A. Your tv must have the hardware to display 3d images. The only universal 3d format is anaglyph that uses those glasses with two colors like red and cyan(a green-blue). That 3d format can be done on any color television because the right or left eye movie is tinted red and the the other movie tinted cyan. Then with the red and cayn glasses they block the color of the movie meant for the other eye. With the other two main 3d formats polarized and frame sequential your tv must be made to do them.

If you have tinted glasses that don't require batteries those are polarized 3d glasses. The 2d movie only for the left eye must have counter clockwise polarized light waves, and the movie for the right eye must have clockwise polarized light waves. Then each lens of the glasses only lets the light wave through for that eye. To do this on a monitor screen all the even numbered horizontal row of pixels have to put out one polarized light wave, and all the odd numbered row of pixels sandwiched in between those have to put out the other polarized light wave. Then you just send each 2d movie to the correct lines. Youtube now has 3d options on some 3d videos. You just click on the tab below the video and you get different options like red and cyan, green and magenta for anaglyph glasses. Then there is row interleave which is the polarized format for 3d acer computers. Meaning the horizontal rows for left and right movies are interlaced or sandwiched in between each other. This one has two options in case you need the right eye movie to go to the odd or even numbered rows. I'll put a link to a 3d youtube video that has the options and on interleave you can see how each movie is sent to every other horizontal line.

For frame sequential the right lens opens while the left lens closes and they do this back and forth very fast. Then when one lens is open the movie for that eye flashes on screen. You tv or monitor must have the hardware to switch between movies.


Is it possible for me to watch 3D effect even without using a 3D Blu-Ray player?
Q. I desire to buy a LG 3D HDTV and the Blu-ray player at once but due to the limited cash found on me, I’m wondering if I can watch 3D effect with using the a 3D BLU-ray player? Help please.

A. Sure! In fact, the LG Cinema 3D and the LG LW series types have a 2D to 3D conversion. As a matter of fact, they all look pretty wonderful. Nevertheless, if you’re interested in a 1080p 3D, then you will have to settle for a Blu-ray player.


How do i set up 3d on my tv and ps3?
Q. I have a Mitsubishi 3d ready dlp what stuff will i need to get 3d working on the tv and ps3. Overall what are the accessories i need to buy and where should i buy them. Please no silly remarks.

A. by 3-D ready do you mean it's got the active shutter glasses and is able to broadcast in stereoscopic 3-D , or that the tv can - with additional components use 3-D ?
there's a huge difference , read your tv manual to see if it's 3-D capable already or requires additional components , then if necessary you'd have to buy though components from the manufacturer or the store it was purchased at , although with some older tv's the parts aren't available anymore ( especially if the tv is over 3 or 4 yrs old )
older 3-D ready HDTV's need you to buy a separate sensor unit and glasses and they are not cheap or easy to find these parts , different tv's need their own parts and the manual will tell you whatever you need . without them you can't use 3-D on it .

if it's got everything you need including the glasses you just plug in your ps3 via an hdmi v. 1.4 cable to the correct input and that's it , set up the 3-D according to the tv manual and when you have a 3-D capable game or blu-ray playing and turn on the glasses or 3-D mode on the tv it automatically goes into 3-D .

an example of a tv that requires extra components is the samsung 3-D ready plasma they sold in 2008 , it need a separate sensor unit , glasses and a special cable that you needed to have connected to a particular hdmi input , this part is not available anymore so essentially if you didn't but it at the same time as the tv or can't find it online you won't get 3-D on this model tv , plus it was over $600 extra to buy the 3-D components so most buyers probably did not buy it making it hard to find ( this information is from an online source )





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over-the-air hdtv channel for ABC?

Q. Channel ABC does not show up on my HDTV TV when it does an over-the-air search. All other Network channels show up fine (eg, CBS, NBC). ABC seems to have disappeared ever since the analog-to-digital mandate kicked in - I was able to receive it before then. Has anyone else had the same problem? I live in central New Jersey and get all the HD channels from NY. Thanks.

A. It could be that they changed to VHF and your antenna cannot get that channel.





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How do I change the Hz on Vizio TV?

Q. I have a 47 inch 3D HDTV Vizio TV, and I need to know how to change the refresh rate (hz) from 120 to 60. How can I do that? I've tried looking in the settings but I can't seem to find it.

A. You can't change Hz or resolution on tvs. They are set. The tvs take any signals they receive and convert them to their native numbers.


What are good specs to look for on a HDTV?
Q. I need a new tv. I'm trying to stay under 1K$. I'm gonna be getting like a 47 inch, unless I just find like a great deal. But I found a good LG. Its 47", 120 hz, 1080p. Its under 900$ I believe. Are those good things? And whats a good contrast ratio, thats about the only thing I dont know about?

A. Plasma made by panasonic or even samsung have 600hz
and have 20 times better contrasts than LCD's maybe you
should look into a panasonic plasma, great refresh rates,
great contrasts, all out the box. For LCD you need to pay
more just to get the 120hz or 240hz refresh rates, and to get
really good contrasts from a LCD, you need to get a LED LCD
which also will cost way more, but the plasma is cheaper and'
has all those features built in and still has the better
picture than the best LCD's. A panasonic plasma won best
picture for 2010's line up of 3D and HDTV's. Don't listen
to myths about plasma.


How can I fix the lag on my wii?
Q. Ive had my Wii ever since they came out and Ive been playing it on an old box tv. I recently bought a 47 inch Vizio & I went to play the Wii and there is a lag that makes it difficult to play the game. Not just one game, its all my games. How can I fix this?

A. Most HDTVs have a dedicated Game mode. This reduces lag when playing games. But if your Wii still lags, it's probably because of the standard composite cables. If you were to get component cables or a Wii U, the lag will definitely be reduced.





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Friday, May 10, 2013

How necessary are HDMI gold tipped cables from the converter box to the HDTV?

Q. Are the standard cables that Comcast supplies for their HDTV converter boxes good enough instead of investing in gold tipped cables? Which cables are best for quality and price?

A. The premium cable market is somewhat a scam and in most all cases, you will probably be fine without the high priced ones.


If you have an HD Antenna, do you need an HDTV Converter box?
Q. I bought my family converter boxes, they think you have to have an HD Antenna to go to the boxes and they think that their analog Tv will come in more clearer with an HD Antenna going into the HDTV Converter Boxes. They have over the air waves broadcasting. Anyway, I thought if they had an HD Antenna, then they didn't need the boxes? Can anyone help me on this? what do you all think? Thanks in advance for any help and it is appreciated.

A. If you go antenna shopping, you will find that they all say "HD", "Digital", or "HDTV". It's all marketing BS; the fact is that in North America, all TV antennas can receive both analog and digital TV broadcasts, even 30 year old antennas.

Most people can just connect their converter box between their existing antenna & TV and do just fine. If you get a stable digital picture without breakups, no antenna is going to give you a "better" (digital) picture.

If you end up needing better antennas to prevent picture breakups, the one thing that is absolutely useless in picking a better antenna is whether the package has "HD" (or "Digital", "HDTV" ....) on it.

What constitutes a good antenna is very location dependent. If you ask about this, include at least your zip code and experience with analog TV quality with the old antenna (describe) at the same location.

You need to be connected to a antenna, just like analog TVs. They "convert" the digital TV signal that the antenna picks up into an old style analog signal that your TV can understand.


What is the best low price tv antenna?
Q. I installed a HDTV converter for my aunt. She has some old rabbits ears. They pick up all the channels but two very well. Those two come in sometimes with a great picture and other times we get a message that the signal is not sufficient. One of the two is VHF and the other UHF. I think if we got a better antenna it would be fine.

A. John,

There are a lot of very good antennas out there. You might take a look at http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx and put in the details of the antenna location, etc. and this will suggest some info on the type of antenna you need. Also, for digital TV, it might be that you just need an amplified set of rabbit ears. Best Buy has them.





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Some computer experts say that the graphical quality of video games has reached a plateau?

Q. e.g., look how good the graphics are for a game like Crysis 2. These are rendered on hardware that was nearly outdated in 2005. You could imagine the potential of similar hardware in 2011. Or would it even make a difference?

What will make the next generation of gaming distinctive from the current?

In the past, the answer to this question was easy: GRAPHICS.

A. PC graphics can continue to march forward with ever more impressive hardware optimizations, higher resolutions, better physics, etc. However consoles are going to have a much tougher time of it. Sure with this generation we saw the jump to HD, or at least 720p@30fps. However the next batch of consoles should have no problem with 1080p@60fps which is the maximum any HDTV is capable of producing. Even 3D won't be a problem for these consoles - if they decide to support it.

Really the only direction left is better physics, and better textures. However these are going to seem more like minor bumps vs. the huge leaps we've been used to. It might also mean consoles will come out less frequently - no need to upgrade as frequently.

The 360, for instance, will turn 7 later this year and while Microsoft is working on a new console we probably won't see it on shelves until 2013 at the earliest - nearly 9 years after the 360 came out.


How to attach subtitles to a downloaded movie permanently?
Q. I downloaded a movie that comes in episodes and the subtitles but separately. It is a VLC (.mkv) movie file if that helps and the subtitles are .srt files. I do not want to watch on my computer but on my TV. So is there an easy way to attach subtitles to the movie after I transfer it on the portable drive?

A. I download and watch mkv's with srt files on my hdtv all the time via usb! The only thing you need to do is : Put the mkv with the srt of the same folder and give them the same title! If they have the same title every time you open the mkv it will have subtitles on.!! You just do it once and its forever! ex.. you download the movie: THE HOST 2013 720P(.MKV) on the same folder you put the srt file and you copy paste the same title you have on the mkv , THE HOST 2013 720P(.SRT) Thats the easiest way ! So you just transfer to your portable hdd the folder with THE HOST 2013 720P(.MKV)
THE HOST 2013 720P(.SRT)


What will come after the Xbox360, Wii, PS3?
Q. I only own a regular Xbox, and am planning to buy a new console.

My question is this: Am I too late in buying gaming console? Should I wait until something else comes out? WILL something come out in the near future?
Anyone have any information or opinions?

A. Nobody knows what the next generation will look like or when it will be released. Anyone who says they know is a big fat LIAR cause they haven't even been designed.

In fact, the technology doesn't even exist yet to make them. Look at the number of cores in xbox360 and ps3: 3 and 8. Each on a 3.2ghz clock cycle. The last couple years have seen the death of Moore's law, which predicted the number of transistors on an IC would double every 18 months. They can't do it anymore because there's a heat barrier, so they had to resort to making multiple cores and pretending it was one "chip." It is hard to make software for and generates even more total heat than it would if they had just stuck with single core without making it any faster. But they can't do that, because the industry expects Moore-compliant products.

Look at any pc on the market today, are there any cpu's clocked faster than 4 ghz yet? No, and they don't even sell them that fast, you have to overclock them. Every new pc is at least a dual nowadays, up to 4 and it looks like they'll be going 8 soon. About to finally catch up with the ps3 except their multithreading still isn't as advanced as the Cell's is, or as good for running 3d game engines either.

So what will they make a ps4 out of? A new Cell with 16 cores? Don't bet on developers lining up to make games for that. It would also overheat like crazy. Circuit width tech is down to 45nm now, but it took three years, since the original ps3's on 90nm. That's not a very fast increase, it would never make a 16-core console realistic. Likewise if Microsoft wanted to take xbox to the next level they'd have to release some kind of 8-core goliath, it would make the red ring of death look like an ice cream social at the south pole. The tech is not there; there is no design. Not even a concept.

Now, the Wii can and probably will upgrade, but that's not gonna make it the first of the next generation. It will make it the last of the current generation, just as Wii is the last of the last generation. The only next gen part of Wii is the controller, and that is an accessory. The console is a 700mhz single-core putz. It is no more powerful than your original xbox. It can't output HD, it has no web browser, it is limited in a zillion ways. If they redesign it to have a dual-core at the standard 2 to 3ghz, then it will outperform the old wii by leaps and bounds. But it will only be a current-gen console. I don't expect them to upgrade the cpu though, only the graphics chip to make it HD capable. Because Nintendo has long feared the US digital transition when suddenly zillions of people will have new HDTV's and realize standard def really kind of sucks.

The console that will last the longest is the ps3, because it has the most advanced cpu and also the best gpu of the bunch. (400gflops compared to 240gflops for xbox's gpu). They're wasting their time on motion sensing right now, which the ps3 has done since it was released and also with the playstation eye, and xbox knows it can't make a better console yet either so it's trying to get your grandmother to play too. Motion sensing control is a joke.

There will not be any real current gen consoles released before the year 2013. Only portables.





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can i sell my old 40 inch mitsubishi hdtv?

Q. I have an older 40 inch Mitsubishi HDTV (not sure which model). It works great but I would like to get a thinner TV to have more space in my house. How much do you think I can sell this for?

A. Probably about £300/£600, depending on it's age, and you might find it a little hard to sell because of the rather unknown brand.


Will the game slows down if I connect my computer to a 37 inch hdtv?
Q. I have a very good gaming video card and 2 gb of ram. Anyways my computer is already connected with 22 inch hdtv. And i want to disconnect it and connect to my other T.V which is 40 inch hdtv. If i play games with that 37 inch hdtv. Will my games slow down? How much would it affect it? Will it be good enough to play games?

A. That depends partly on how good the 40" HDTV is. The larger the screen size the higher the refresh rate you want. The standard refresh rate for LCD screens is 60Hz. If the other HDTV you have is 120Hz, or even 240Hz, then it should be alright. Also, if it has a Gaming Mode, then that will help reduce any "stuttering" so you don't have any delayed reaction between joystick and game movement.


What Hdtv should I buy for a ps3 and for Comcast digital cable?
Q. I have a ps3 with a hd cord and i want to buy an HDtv for a game room. My price range is up to 450 dollars. I am looking for a 32 to 40 inch. I would like 1080p but i don't know what to get for Hz. Can you tell me what tv to get for a ps3 and comcast digital cable in hd. It will be in my basement.

A. You probably won't be able to notice the difference between 720p and 1080p in that size range. However you will be stuck getting an LCD, so get one with the highest refresh rate possible, especially if you plan on getting one towards the larger end of that spectrum. 120 Hz is much better than 60 Hz when it comes to playing back movies, but such LCDs will still not be perfect in response time; for that, keep your old CRT or get a plasma.
Some good brands of LCD in that range include Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, LG, Toshiba, and Sharp.





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How to calibrate an HDTV?

Q. I know there are programs you can get and install on a laptop, then connect it to the HDTV and calibrate the picture to the best it can be. Does anyone know where I can get one of these programs? I kind of want to do it the best way possible instead of using the DVD's that help you do it. Thanks.

A. Though there may be other display ‘calibration’ software, the only stand-alone display calibration/optimization software for end users, of which I’m familiar, is the following:

     DisplayMate for Windows Video Edition
     http://www.displaymate.com/infodmwv.html
     Complete DisplayMate Product Line
     http://www.displaymate.com/complete.html

At best software such as DisplayMate (or even a ‘calibration’ DVD,) without the use of precision test and measurement equipment, will be limited to the task of evaluating and optimizing the picture settings of your display(s). There will be little or no difference in the results whether you use DisplayMate for Windows Video Edition software or either of the popular ‘calibration’ DVDs. It’s also important to keep in mind that you will not be able to effectively calibrate your display’s grayscale to D65 (or D55 for graphic arts applications) without proper instrumentation.

Software and/or ‘calibration’ DVDs alone are far from the “best way” to ‘calibrate’ and optimize a display, however if you’re like the majority of people, and you’re using a relatively new, good quality fixed-pixel display, then such products should easily help you achieve more-than-adequate results without breaking the bank.

######## RESOURCES ########

CNET’s Quick Guide to TV Calibration
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6463_7-5085739-1.html
Video: How to Calibrate Your TV
http://reviews.cnet.com/Calibrate_your_TV/4660-12443_7-6534987.html

Imaging Science Theatre 2000 Special Edition
http://www.widescreenreview.com/wsr_issue_ist.php

Sound and Vision Magazine
TV Tweaks - Part One House Calls
http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/article.asp?section_id=82&article_id=233&page_number=1&print_page=y

AWH - How to Calibrate a Television FAQ
http://myweb.accessus.net/~090/how2adj.html

Grayscale Calibration of Home Theater Televisions
http://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/calibrate-your-system/grayscale-calibration-of-home-theater-televisions

Learn to Calibrate your LCD Television
http://www.lcdtvbuyingguide.com/lcdtv/lcd-tv-calibration.html

Calibration 101
http://www.proavmagazine.com/industry-news-print.asp?sectionID=0&articleID=599522
Hitting The Mark
http://www.proavmagazine.com/industry-news-print.asp?sectionID=0&articleID=601342
Running The Gamut(s)
http://www.proavmagazine.com/industry-news-print.asp?sectionID=0&articleID=599512
Selling Calibration Services
http://www.proavmagazine.com/industry-news-print.asp?sectionID=0&articleID=601343

Video Display Calibration
http://www.sencore.com/products/AVRFCalibration.htm
Adjusting Five User Controls on a Display
to Maximize Performance
http://www.sencore.com/newsletter/VP300.html
Calibration – What Is Wrong with This Picture?
http://www.sencore.com/newsletter/July05/WhatIsWrong.htm
Index of Articles Related to Display Calibration
http://www.sencore.com/newsletter/archivedarticles.htm#colorprocolor

Michael TLV Tips
http://www.keohi.com/keohihdtv/experttips/michaeltlv/michaeltlv_tips.html
Keohi HDTV - Expert Tips - Panel of Experts
http://www.keohi.com/keohihdtv/experttips/panelofexperts.html

Digital Video Essentials Questions and Answers
http://www.videoessentials.com/DVEQ&A.php
Joe Kane Productions - Glossary
http://www.videoessentials.com/glossary.php

ISF Calibration Discussion and Information
http://www.avforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=311
Display Calibration - AVS Forum
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=139

######## DIY EQUIPMENT ########

GretagMacbeth Eye-One Display 2 Colorimeter
http://usa.gretagmacbethstore.com/index.cfm/act/catalog.cfm/subcategory/Eye-One%20Solutions/category/Eye-One/browse/null/MenuGroup/__Menu%20USA%20New.htm

Datacolor Spyder3Elite™, Spyder3Pro™, or Spyder2PRO™ Colorimeters
http://www.colorvision.com/products.php
 


do plasma tvs have the soap opera effect even though they are not lcds?
Q. i notice plasmas as having great picture but displaying images smoother at 600hz than they were meant to be from most video sources(24-60hz) in use today can they still have soap opera effect even though people say they don't

A. Be careful here. There are 2 major problems with LCD panels and neither of them are the "Soap Opera" effect.

The over-lit, high-contrast picture is caused by SOFTWARE inside the HDTV trying to enhance the picture. It basically look for dim areas and brightens them, then looks for tiny details and increases the contrast around them so they 'pop' out.

This makes the screen look like a overly-lit scene from a soap-opera giving the name.

You can usually turn off these effects in the TV setup menu. Since Samsung makes both LCD and Plasma televisions with similar software, I suspect you can find a Samsung plasma that will show the soap opera effect.

I have only seen this on a huge LCD panel at a Magnolia store inside a BestBuy. I was in shock. The picture WAS enhanced, but looked so artificial. I called over a salesperson and asked why the huge screen near the entrance was rigged to give such a horrible image. The answer was that it was done deliberately so customers could compare to the other televisions that had been calibrated by the Geek Squad and have a better picture.

Now the soap-opera effect has nothing to do with Calibration. But they probably spend 10 seconds turning it off during a calibration visit so... technically not faud, but misleading.


i just got my panasonic HDTV calibrated from best buy do i need to change any of the settings like color etc.?
Q. all of the settings are back to what i believe is factory default, i shouldnt need to change any of it should i?!

A. It sounds to me like you were not given a satisfactory explanation of the complete display calibration process, which wouldn’t really surprise me coming from a “big-box” retailer such as Best Buy.

A professional display calibration includes a precision instrument-based calibration of the white-point across the display’s entire gray-scale, setting the Inverse Gamma Correction to its proper value, AND optimization of the user-accessible picture settings, i.e., the black level (Brightness), peak white level (Contrast or Picture), chroma saturation (Color), chroma hue (Tint), and luma signal frequency peaking (Sharpness) settings, among others. The entire process is performed using the highest performance, color-accurate picture mode of the display device. If you wish to enjoy the full benefit of your professional display calibration and optimization you must use the picture mode for which your TV was calibrated.

As I stated earlier, the user-accessible picture controls should have been optimized for your viewing environment. (It is possible with some displays, depending on the specific brand and model, to optimize the picture controls separately for both day and night viewing conditions and store them in the display’s non-volatile memory.) That said you are free to alter the picture controls to your liking though you really defeat much of the purpose of a professional display calibration at that point.

If your display is (re)set to factory default then that is usually an indication that you are NOT currently using the proper ‘calibrated’ picture mode…or that you somehow inadvertently reset the settings on your display thereby erasing the ‘calibrated’ settings. In either case you should call the Best Buy service department that serviced your display to find out which picture mode was calibrated or read through the pre-post display calibration report that they should have provided you.

######################## RESOURCES ########################

“Ten Steps to Set Up Your New HDTV without a Calibration”
http://www.hdtvexpert.com/?p=259

“Greyscale & Colour Calibration for Dummies”
http://www.curtpalme.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10457

Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity
– “CalMAN Calibration Bootcamp: A Crash Course in the Science of Calibration”
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/technical-articles/898-spectracal-calibration-bootcamp-a-crash-course-in-the-science-of-calibration.html
– “Professional Display Calibration: What It Is and What It Means to Your Home Theater Experience”
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/technical-articles/488-a-secrets-technical-article.html
– “DIY HDTV Calibration Software Overview: A Comparison of ColorHCFR, ChromaPure, and CalMAN”
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/diy/813-diy-calibration-overview.html

“Picture Perfect: TV Calibration Demystified”
http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/features/2007/01/picture-perfect-tv-calibration-demystified

Yahoo! Answers
– Is it really important to have calibration on an LCD television?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080513224233AAhUvQ0
– I purchased a Sony 52” XBR4 LCD TV on Best Buy?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080314095743AAGGb8x
– Calibration LCD TV?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080323143544AAD8R2e
– Is D6487K too low of a color temperature for an LCD TV?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080324173810AAHkg1g
– How to calibrate an HDTV?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080222220308AAW29iP
– Is it necessary to calibrate an LCD flat screen TV?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080804114715AAutmDe
– *Plasma TV calibration - peoples opinions?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100904022244AAzqYgz

Display Calibration Resources
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dhpmqnbb_4g8mtjzdf
 





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How to hook up a surround sound system which has vga connections to hdmi?

Q. I would like to buy an HDMI switcher to connect my Laptop,HDTV,HDPVR and surround sound system. My problem is my Sony DAV-DZ120 surround sound system doesn't have an HDMI port - it has RCA connections. At present only my HDTV plays through the surround sound system. I have my laptop hooked into my HDTV via HDMI port but I have to use external speakers to listen to laptop sound. I would like to be able to have laptop sound come through my surround sound system. I would totally appreciate anyone's advice.

A. Use an 1/8" to stereo rca cable to connect the laptop's headphone jack to the rca inputs on the surround sound.


Why is a computer monitor that is capable of displaying cable tv cheaper than a regular tv?
Q. I am looking into purchasing a new flat screen tv and I've found that the Samsung 22" HDTV Monitor is much cheaper than the Samsung 22" LCD TV. It seems to me that they both do the same thing, only I assume the sound is better on the actual tv, which is ok because I'll just use external speakers. Any ideas?

Thanks!

A. Computer monitors are simply a video display. Add a tuner, speakers, license for Dolby technology, etc. to that and you have a TV which makes the TV more expensive because there is more stuff. BTW, a computer monitor can't display cable TV on it's own. You need a tuner for that, too.


How do you hook up speakers, through a reciever, to an HDTV?
Q. I have an older, but very high quality, Yamaha receiver that I want to run my Paradigm speakers through, to get them to work with my Samsung PN51D450 HDTV. The Yamaha receiver doesn't have HDMI inputs, unfortunately, so I can't hook up my things through it. Can I hook up the speakers through the receiver, but keep my inputs directly in the TV? Will audio still run through the external speakers, anyway?

A. Run all of your video sources to your HDTV. Run all of your audio sources to your Yamaha receiver. Why not run all HDMI to your tv and then use the digital audio output of the tv to your receiver? Because of this note in your owner's manual. Page 10.


When the receiver (amplifier or DVD home theater) is set to on, you can hear sound output from the TV’s optical jack. When the TV is receiving a DTV signal, the TV will send 5.1 CH sound to the amplifier or DVD home theater. When the source is a digital component such as a DVD player / Blu-ray player / cable box / STB (Set-Top-Box) satellite receiver and you connection it to the TV via HDMI, you will only 2 CH audio from the amplifier or DVD home theater. If you want to hear 5.1 CH audio, connect the digital audio out jack from your DVD / Blu-ray player / cable box / STB satellite receiver directly to an amplifier or home theater

What does this note mean in plain English? If you want surround sound and you use HDMI, hook up the the receiver directly. The TV will only output surround sound via digital audio when using the digital tuner.

Almost ALL HDTV's are like this but most people don't know this. This is why you get answers that say use the digital audio output of your HDTV.





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How often should a 50 inch plasma TV be calibrated?

Q. TV is 4 years old & was calibrated 2 yrs ago. Is the color supposed to be calibrated every couple years? Our TV salesperson says after a couple years, it doesn't make much difference & I don't know why he'd think that considering they charge $300!
It is flat screen not rear projection. My husband swears they need to be calibrated every couple years and we don't know how to do it ourselves.

A. Back when CRT-based TV’s, monitors, and projectors were the only game in town—and consumer display calibration was beginning to take roots within a niche market comprised primarily of videophiles and ardent video enthusiasts—it was recommended that such displays be recalibrated annually for those that wanted to maintain the highest level of color accuracy possible. But that was back when the overwhelming majority of consumer electronics manufacturers universally dismissed or ignored color accuracy…regularly producing TV’s and RPTV’s pre-set from the factory to produce a noticeably bluer gray-scale, which is typically perceived as brighter and more vivid.

Once more and more consumers were exposed to greater color accuracy and improved picture fidelity, thanks in large part to the efforts of Joe Kane and the Imaging Science Foundation, and further promoted by the media, most manufacturers of today’s consumer display devices now regularly provide one or more factory settings in addition to a variety of user-accessible picture controls that offer substantially better color accuracy and image fidelity directly out of the box. Without question, professional display calibration is far from a necessity for most consumers; only die-hard enthusiasts and videophiles (and opportunistic big-box consumer electronics retailers) believe/claim display “calibration” is a necessity.

From an earlier post* of mine: “I also encourage you to read the online Peter Putnam article, the Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity articles, and several of the other applicable resources to which I have provided a links below. In the end you may find that the optimization process is more than sufficient.” If you really feel the need for regular instrument-based professional display calibrations then you should strongly consider purchasing your own tristimulus colorimeter—some selling for roughly the same price as a single display calibration from Best Buy’s Geek Squad—and performing your own display “calibrations” at your leisure.

The bottom line is this: without a precision calibrated color reference display, placed side-by-side with your display, it is extremely unlikely that you—not unlike the majority of people with normal color vision—will be able to notice if the color accuracy (or gray-scale tracking) of your television is out of tolerance by a small to moderate amount. Quite often careful display configuration and optimization is all one needs to enjoy a sufficiently accurate color picture. And if you still feel the need to pay for a third-party professional display calibration then you should at least receive a significant discount for regular periodic ‘maintenance’ calibrations.

######################## RESOURCES ########################

“Ten Steps to Set Up Your New HDTV Without a Calibration”
http://www.hdtvexpert.com/?p=259

Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity
– “CalMAN Calibration Bootcamp: A Crash Course in the Science of Calibration”
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/technical-articles/898-spectracal-calibration-bootcamp-a-crash-course-in-the-science-of-calibration.html
– “Professional Display Calibration: What It Is and What It Means to Your Home Theater Experience”
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/technical-articles/488-a-secrets-technical-article.html
– “DIY HDTV Calibration Software Overview: A Comparison of ColorHCFR, ChromaPure, and CalMAN”
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/diy/813-diy-calibration-overview.html

“Picture Perfect: TV Calibration Demystified”
http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/features/2007/01/picture-perfect-tv-calibration-demystified

Yahoo! Answers
– Is it really important to have calibration on an LCD television?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080513224233AAhUvQ0
– I purchased a Sony 52" XBR4 LCD TV on Best Buy?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080314095743AAGGb8x
– Calibration LCD TV?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080323143544AAD8R2e
– Is D6487K too low of a color temperature for an LCD TV?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080324173810AAHkg1g
– How to calibrate an HDTV?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080222220308AAW29iP
– Is it necessary to calibrate an LCD flat screen TV?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080804114715AAutmDe
– *Plasma TV calibration - peoples opinions?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100904022244AAzqYgz

Display Calibration Resources
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dhpmqnbb_4g8mtjzdf
 


Is it possible to use a digital camera to calibrate the color balance of a TV?
Q. If I color balance the digital camera at daylight (6500K) will that allow me to properly calibrate my TV's color balance by taking pictures of a shade of gray on the TV screen using the digital camera?

A. Using a digital camera in place of a proper color measurement instrument will not work when it comes to any aspect of instrument-based display calibration. Instrument-based display calibration is intended to precisely set the colorimetric white-point at multiple—typically predetermined—gray-scale levels. The standard white-point reference target for a video display device is CIE D65 (which correlates to a color temperature of 6504 K,) within a margin of error—or CIELUV delta E (dE or ∆E)—of 6 or less across a range of gray-scale levels spanning from 20 IRE to 90 IRE and a ∆E of no more than 10 at the gray-scale extremes. (Note: some techs prefer to report ∆u´v´ color difference values in addition to or as an alternative to ∆E. Also, some calibration techs prefer to use much tighter margins of error.) A digital camera simply cannot accomplish this fundamental measurement necessary to calibrate a display device.

Proper colorimetric measurement devices can be obtained at a reasonable price. A very effective tristimulus colorimeter, which performs as well as some professional devices that cost several orders of magnitude more, is the i1Display 2 from X-Rite (formerly GretagMacbeth.)

________________________


CIE Standard Illuminant D65 is the accepted worldwide industry standard white point reference for video displays including HDTVs. (Note: a CCT of 5400 K is the accepted industry standard for displays used in graphic arts applications.) For motion picture and video applications D65 should ALWAYS be the target calibration reference point to ensure accurate color reproduction not the derived CCT value of 6500 K.

In the field of colorimetry and color science 6500 K is referred to as a “Correlated Color Temperature” and is represented in two-dimensional color space, aka a CIE chromaticity diagram, by a straight LINE—specifically an “isotemperature line”—that transversally passes through a point on the Planckian (aka blackbody) locus. Any pair of chromaticity coordinates lying along the 6500 K isotemperature line, no matter their visual difference, will produce a corresponding CCT of approximately 6500 K (though only one pair of coordinates will be closest to the ideal D65 source point.)

D65, being a specific reference point and not a line, is a substantially more precise target—and is therefore preferred—for precision display calibration as opposed to a potentially infinite number coordinates along a line. Do-it-yourselfers and knowledgeable, well-trained display calibration technicians should be well aware of this very important fact.

######################## RESOURCES ########################

[PDF] Calibration – What Is WRONG With This Picture?
http://www.sencore.com/uploads/files/WhatIsWrong.pdf

“Picture Perfect: TV Calibration Demystified”
http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/features/2007/01/picture-perfect-tv-calibration-demystified

“Ten Steps to Set Up Your New HDTV Without a Calibration”
http://www.hdtvexpert.com/?p=259

Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity
– “CalMAN Calibration Bootcamp: A Crash Course in the Science of Calibration”
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/technical-articles/898-spectracal-calibration-bootcamp-a-crash-course-in-the-science-of-calibration.html
– “Professional Display Calibration: What It Is and What It Means to Your Home Theater Experience”
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/technical-articles/488-a-secrets-technical-article.html
– “DIY HDTV Calibration Software Overview: A Comparison of ColorHCFR, ChromaPure, and CalMAN”
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/diy/813-diy-calibration-overview.html

CNET Video: “How to Calibrate Your TV”
http://reviews.cnet.com/Calibrate_your_TV/4660-12443_7-6534987.html

“How to Calibrate your HDTV with Avia-Digital Video Essentials and DVE”
http://www.ramelectronics.net/Video-calibration.ep

Avical’s DVE User-Level Video Calibration Tutorial
http://www.avical.com/articles/avicals_dve_user-level_video_calibration_tutorial.html

AWH - How to Calibrate a Television FAQ
http://myweb.accessus.net/~090/how2adj.html

Is D6487K too low of a color temperature for an LCD TV?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080324173810AAHkg1g

AV Science (AVS) Forum
– Display Calibration
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=139
– Display Calibration Archive (2005-01-01 through 2006-12-31)
http://archive2.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=139
– ISF Calibration Discussion and Information
http://www.avforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=311
– Basic Guide to Color Calibration using a CMS (updated and enhanced)
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=852536&pp=60

Display Calibration Resources
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dhpmqnbb_4g8mtjzdf

TweakTV - Tutorials
http://www.tweaktv.com/tutorials/index.php

________________________


Spears & Munsil
– High Definition Benchmark Blu-ray Edition
http://www.spearsandmunsil.com
– [PDF] High Definition Benchmark Blu-ray Edition User’s Guide
http://www.spearsandmunsil.com/pdf/UG_SM_HD_Benchmark.pdf

Joe Kane Productions
– Digital Video Essentials: HD Basics
http://www.videoessentials.com/DVE_HDBasics.php
– DVE Program Notes
http://www.videoessentials.com/program_notes.php

GetGray - Digital Video Calibration DVD Software (donationware)
http://www.calibrate.tv

AV Science (AVS) Forum
– New Calibration Disc (GetGray)
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=586139&pp=60
– Calibration Meter Shootout
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=958099&pp=60

X-Rite
– X-Rite Products
http://www.xrite.com/top_products.aspx
– [PDF] X-Rite i1 Monitor Solutions
http://www.xrite.com/documents/literature/en/985629_i1_Monitor_Solutions_en.pdf
 


Cannot adjust the poor picture quality on Samsung HDTV well?
Q. Samsung 55" 1080 LED, 120Hz Model No UN55EH6000

What do I need to know in order to adjust the poor picture quality of my Samsung HDTV? It is very difficult to adjust. Either it's is too bright, highlights are too bright, colors to vivid, picture has green blotches on it when it comes to the faces of white people.

Also the settings are too detailed. A person can adjust the gamma ray settings which I don't know anything about.

We just bought this TV a week ago

A. There is sometimes software in the new televisions like "MotionFlow" that try to enhance details, but this sometimes cause the "Soap Opera" effect - every scene looks like a overly lit soap opera.

Try to turn these enhancements off.

As Tex said - you need to be feeding that television a HD signal.

You should also do a rough calibration on any new television (They are set at the factory to ultra-bright Torch mode to be eye-catching if the unit is used for a floor display).

Get a Pixar movie on BluRay and go to the disk setup menu. You will find test-patterns and instructions on how to use each to set the basic brightness, contrast and color.

Do the calibration at the time of day you would normally watch TV. Calibrating on a bright weekend, but mainly watching things after 8 pm mid week may not give you the proper results.

ONE IMPORTANT POINT

We sometimes get complaints about video or audio quality - then we learn it is all based on watching crappy, pirated videos gotten from some Torrent site, or the person is still using standard def, or worse: a VCR which is 280 lines of video.

A good display looks great with high-quality HD video. But it exposes grain, noise, washed out colors, etc that we have been stuck with since 1948 if you play streaming, standard def, or a cable/sat channel where they up-converted an old TV show.

Make sure you are watching a high-quality source. Even a HD cable or sat box has a huge variable as each show is created with different quality gear. Trust the prime-time shows on the major networks (ABC, CBS, NBC) as being decent quality or a BluRay player. If these do not look good - it could be a HDTV problem. If these look good, but other things look bad, then we have to suspect the source is not great and the new HDTV now lets you see that it is poor quality.





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How much do hdtv prices drop over a years time?

Q. Hello, I'm planning on saving up for a Samsung LED HDTV. I'd like it to be 55 inches or more, I don't really care to have smart technology, and I'd love for it to be one of the ultra slim ones. It seems for 55 inches I'll be paying about 1100 dollars, for 60 inches its 1300 dollars, and any more than that, they automatically add the smart technology so its 2,500 or above. But I was just wondering how much a tv's price may drop in about a year from now. I've seen that 55 inch LED's used to be 2200 dollars but now they are 800-1200. How much do these prices usually drop in about a year with the new technology?

This is the tv I plan on buying:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Samsung+-+60%26%2334%3B+Class+-+LED+-+1080p+-+120Hz+-+HDTV/6847446.p?id=1218809261672&skuId=6847446

A. It's a tough thing to figure.

A particular model that you like may have a limited shelf-life. Manufacturers tend to make new models in order to keep prices up. Though the price of model 55-123LED (making this model number up) may be $1500 right now...conventional wisdom means that this model should be cheaper next year. The problem is that the manufacturer stops making this model and replaces it with the 55-321LED. Though it is completely identical to the old one...it is a 2013 model and therefore will still be worth the $1500 as a 'current' model.

The best time to purchase last years model is just before/just after the new ones hit the shelves. Stores will cut prices to make room for the new ones. If you wait to long though...you will find last years models hard to find.

A couple of tips for you:
A Good sale can happen anytime. It doesn't have to be Black Friday, Columbus Day, etc. Keep an eye on weekly ads from the major retailers in your area...as well as the online shops. With Price-Matching (which most major retailers offer)...anyone's sale could be a sale for your local store.

Don;t be afraid to ask for a discount. You have to believe that EVERYTHING is negotiable. You don;t have to be rude about it...just a simple "Is there any other way to save money on this TV?" I got 5% off my TV at Fry's Electronics simply by calling the manager over and asking if they're was any way he could save a few bucks (told him I was just a bit short on covering the full cost + taxes). Salesman/managers may know of coupons, etc that can save a few bucks.


What form of blu ray player should i get?
Q. I just bought a 55" HDTV 1080p 120HZ LED tv and now want blu ray. I have it next to my desktop tower. If I get an internal blu ray drive player in my desktop tower and my monitor comes with a HDMI port which i can connect to the tv will the quality of picture be different? Or would a regular blu ray player be better?

A. You can go either way (assuming your computer is capable of handling blu-ray ... check the requirements ... the graphic card must be fast enough, for example). However if you go with the built in computer drive note you can't expect to "connect (the monitor) to the TV". Why? The TV and the monitor are display devices. The blu-ray player is a source device. You can only connect a display to a source.

A stand alone player will offer other capability beside just playing Blu-ray disks (e.g. Picassa, Netflix or other services, USB playback of Jpeg and video, decoding of HD audio from the Blu-ray disk. On the other hand, a computer drive allows you to (potentially ... you have to buy capable software as well as the drive) rip Blu-ray disks to the computer for conversion or use as in media centre mode. Which fits your needs better depends on your needs.

I think you will find by the time you pay for the drive and software (and maybe to get a faster graphics card or upgrade the computer RAM) a stand alone player may look pretty good. Note that even basic players handle Blu-ray essentially identically to premium players (the extra $$ primarily buys better build quality, extra features and better DVD performance).


What is the Largest LED monitor in the Market today ?
Q. I am looking for a 50" or Larger LED monitor. What is the Largest Available in the Market today
I was asking about a monitor. Not a TV,

A. http://www.walmart.com/ip/LG-47LE5400/13904856 LG 47" and proscan http://www.walmart.com/ip/ProScan-47LED55SA/14066612

vizio http://www.walmart.com/ip/Vizio-SV472XVT/13812465

better lg 55" http://www.walmart.com/ip/LG-32-55-LED-HDTV-1080p-120Hz-Internet-Ready/14224084 best





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Thursday, May 9, 2013

Does anyone have any information about an online electronics store in Montana called Vans?

Q. I'm looking at buying an HDTV(On Line) from a company called Vans. I don't trust the customer ratings listed in Yahoo shopping. Does anyone have any good or bad experiances with this company? Thanks!

A. Van's has been around for over 40 years. While I have never dealt with them the Net is full of references to people who have got great prices/service from the firm. See the link for some ratings. I would have no hesitation dealing with them if I were in the US. But if you have any doubts ask for references.


What kind of DVI cord do I need to buy to hook up my pc to HDTV?
Q. I messed up my computer screen and I want to hookup my computer to my HDTV. Both my computer and my tv have DVI hook ups. What kind of DVI cable do I need to buy? How do I get it to work?

A. Get a DVI-I cable and you should be good to go for any set of combinations you encounter. Though I would imagine both are DVI-D, so a DVI-D cable should also work equally well. Its the DVI-A cable that you probably want to avoid, as I don't imagine either of your DVI hook-ups are analog ones.

But I guess consult your TV manual and perhaps look up your video card online. Just confirm that both are DVI-D. If one side is analog (DVI-A), then look to a DVI-I cable (as it can deal with the digital on one end and analogy on the other). If both sides are DVI-A, then track down a DVI-A cable (but again, I doubt this is the case). DVI-I or DVI-D will both work fine if both ends of the equation are DVI-D.

The rest is software settings on the computer. Figure out what resolutions the TV can support over the DVI port. Then make sure you setup the computer to a compatible resolution.


How much would you pay for a Sharp LC 46D82U or a Panasonic Viera TH-42PZ80U 42" Plasma HDTV?
Q. These are brand new televisions that I posted online for sale and I am wondering how much would the typical buyer is willing to purchase this item. I tried to sale the items a few dollars cheaper but still, no real results. Can someone that has experience on websites such as craigslist help me out.

A. If you are selling them online you must post them much lower than retail price, because its easier for somebody to walk into a store and purchase the product from a trustworthy retailer, than to deal with someone over the internet. I would try to sell it for at least 20% below retail to start with. Even if it is new, it has decreased value because the buyer will have to pick it up or pay to have it shipped.





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So here is the deal, I am planning on buying a 32inch lcd hdtv, my budget is between 4-6k. Any suggestinons?

Q. So here is the deal, I am planning on buying a 32inch lcd hdtv, my budget is between 4-6k. Any suggestinons??? I am sick of searching for reviewss help pleasee!!

A. You really only need $600 to $800 for 32" LCD, unless you mean something not $.


For a 46" LCD HDTV, what is more important - contrast ratio or resolution?
Q. I am planning to buy a 46" LCD HDTV. My budget only allows a choice of a tv with contrast ratio of 800:1 & resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 or a tv with contrast ratio of 10,000:1 & resolution of 1,366 x 768. So which one is preferable, solely on this basis?

A. Please make sure that it has ATSC.


What is the best HDTV that costs under 400 dollars?
Q. I'm thinking of purchasing a value HDTV soon, one that's preferably between a 20-30 inch, and I'm looking for mostly the best picture quality for the price. I get very excited about some HDTVs, only to find out they come out grainy or choppy in quality. Any ideas? Thanks!

A. I agree with the previous poster. $400 is below the crap they sell at Wallmart and wont work well (unless you are buying used).

"grainy or choppy" - this is usually because this is how standard def looks on any HDTV. In your budget you must upgrade your service to include high def channels. (Many people dont realize this and have 'buyers remorse' when they bring their new TV home and plug it into their basic cable service.)

Check into how much it will cost to upgrade your service so you are not shocked. Then save your money and go for a name brand. I would even include 'Vizio' as decent (but they have runs of poor quality control).

Or check your local CraigsList and perhaps find someones used TV (no sales tax).

Good Luck.





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What is the difference between these television formats?

Q. What is the difference between 1080i, 1080p, 720p, 720i, HDTV, HR HDTV, and Blu-Ray Disc. If these are formats at all. Thanks.

A. 1) Resolution: How much information the TV is capable of displaying on the screen. The number is the amount of horizontal lines in total. I stands for interlaced, P stands for progressive. So a TV that can display 1080p can show you 1080 lines all at the same time (currently the highest resolution available to the public), a TV that can display 1080i also uses 1080 lines, but being interlaced- only shows roughly 1/2 of them at a time. Technically, a 1080p TV is showing twice as much info at any given time- although you'll notice that this does NOT mean the picture is twice as good...

2) HD Ready or Capable vs. HDTV or HD integrated: If a TV is labeled HDTV or HD integrated, this means the TV is not only capable of at least 720p in a 16:9 format- but it also has a HD tuner on board (this part only matters if you will be receiving your signal off of antenna though). If a TV is labeled HD ready or capable- this means it too can produce a 720p or better picture in it's 16:9 format, but the TV does not have a HD tuner built-in. If you will be getting your TV signal through cable or satellite- this will mean nothing to you...

3) HD-DVD and Blu-Ray: These are competing formats (remember VHS and Beta?) in the 720p or higher DVD format. These happen to be DVD's that show a higher resolution. Putting the answer from the 1st item into use- A normal DVD is encoded mpeg2. A normal DVD player will send this signal out to the TV either 480i or 480p depending on your player, cableing, and TV. A Blu-Ray or HD-DVD will send out a 1080p signal (again depending on your set up). These require a HD-DVD and/or Blu-ray player- not a normal DVD player, and to take advantage of the picture quality, need to be connected to a TV that can display a 1080p picture via a HDMI connection.

If you are behind in the "technology" realm- I would highly suggest going to your local home theater store (no I do not mean Best Buy or Tweeter, or Circut City- I mean go find a real home theater store) and tell a real a/v saleman what you are looking for. The knowledge and expertise a good a/v person will offer you is better than the $50 you'll save by trying to do this yourself down at CostCo...


whats the difference betweene 1080 i and 1080 p hdtvs?
Q. looking to buy a 22inch hdtv. but some are 720 and some are 1080 i. i know the big screens are 1080 p . please help.

A. 1080i means that the signal is interlaced, that means all the "odd numbered lines" info are sent first (line 1 3 5 7 9...) then they send all the 'even numbered lines" (2 4 6 8 10...)
That was an old technique used to save half of the very limited bandwidth back then. Because of the technology, LCD and Plasma are inherently progressive (P, that means lines are sent 1 2 3 4 5...)
All HDTVs contain a deinterlacing system to change I into P, but some works better than others. On some TVs you will see weird scan lines.

There is a 1080p 22", for example there's a 1080p 22" Vizio selling in costco called VO22LF. But then, I don't think you can tell the difference between 720p (720 lines on a screen) and 1080p on a 22" without staring at it for an hour. It matters when you want the TV to double as your monitor though.

Be careful , some 22" are made to monitor specs and are not 16:9 but 16:10, when you watch TV the images will look slightly stretched vertically.


Where is the best place to buy a HDTV?
Q. I plan on buying a ps3 and i am looking for a HDTV that has up to 1080p. I stay on campus and don't need anything larger than 23". I am not looking to spend more than $375. Am I asking for too much?
i was thinking about

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Polaroid-19-LCD-HDTV-1911-TLXB/sem/rpsm/oid/180272/catOid/-12869/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

A. no that is a perfect amount i suggest going to costco





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Is a 40 inch HDTV large enough to get the full benefit of 1080p?

Q. I see a lot of expert reviewer sites like CNet saying that you need 50+ inch HDTVs to get the full benefit of 1080p in your experience is this true? Should I just skip the 40inch 1080p and get a smaller 720p and save some money?

A. I think the answer depends on how close you are to the TV, and how good your vision is. The further away you are (or the less well you can see), the less 1080p vs. 720p matters.

I have a 1080p 40" TV, which replaced a 720p 37" TV. I sit about 8" away and I can't see the resolution difference, although the new TV's picture is a bit better overall for other reasons (color, contrast and such).


What is the best 32inch HdTv or brand?
Q. im getting a 32inch HdTv for my 14 year old son, for his room, and i want to get him a good tv for gaming and just watching his favorite shows. i dont know if this helps but we have directtv. also, we want to mount it on the wall if that info helps.
thank you!

A. There is no one best brand of TV, but you can do yourself a lot of good
by purchasing one made by a respectable manufacturer such as
Sony, Toshiba, Samsung, etc.

Read product reviews at cnet.com and other review sites,
and use them to eliminate undesirable models.

Any 32" or larger set can be mounted on a wall
with an appropriate optional bracket.

Personally, I don't have children, but if I did, I wouldn't
allow them to have their own TV set(s) -- there would
be only one TV in the house, and all use of it
would be directly controlled by ... me.


I've got a bonus check coming to me next week and want to buy a good HDTV, any suggestions?
Q. I'm looking to spend no more than $1300, and no bigger than 42inches. I definitely want an LCD. This tv would be used for normal television shows, sporting events, and Playstation 3 games and movies. I've never boughten a HDTV before, so I'm needing some advice before I walk into the store and get taken advantage of. Should I buy the extended warranty on it? What about getting the HDMI cables versus the regular cables? Any advice would be appreciated.

A. First, get the March edition of Consumer Reports from your library. They review a large number of sets. If you don't want to go through a lot of research, get a Sony. You can't go wrong if you do.If you shop around, you should be able to find a 40" in your price range.
1080P-at 40", you don't need a 1080P set. At that size, unless you're going to sit three feet away from the set, 720P is fine.
Get a set that will accept a full range of input signals up to and including 1080P.
SD performance of HDTVs varies from poor to terrible. A lot of what you will be viewing will be SD-there's still not a lot of HD around-that's why it's important to get a professional review of sets, including SD performance.
With these sets, you generally get what you pay for.
The lower tier sets like Vizio, Olevia, Insignia, Polaroid Etc. generally have poorer performance, but worse still, they have poor warranties, and no after warranty repair services. Polaroid is known as the disposable TV, because if it fails after the warranty is over, you toss it.
The salesman will try to sell you a pile of stuff to "improve your HDTV experience":
HDMI cables-he'll want you to buy a $100 cable. See link below for reasonably priced cables. If you have cable service, your cable company will probably supply you with an HDMI or component cable set. So, you may nor even need any cable at all! As far as HDMI vs component cables is concerned, if you're talking about a six foot cable, it doesn't matter which one you use. If someday you buy an upconverting DVD player, or a Bly-ray High Def DVD player, then you'll want an HDMI cable, not for performance reasons, but because those players want to see HDMI for anti-copying protection reasons.
Extended warranty-Consumer Reports recommends against buying one. Their assessment of the reliability of these sets is that it's unlikely you will have a problem during your coverage. If, for peace of mind, you still want one, shop around. For example, sony offers a good extended warranty on their sets-just go to their website.
Cleaning kit-they'll try to sell you an overpriced one. These screens are very easily damaged. Until you read your manual, you won't know what your manufacturer recommends you use.
Surge protector-don't buy the eighty dollar one they'll try to sell you. You can buy a decent one for thirty dollars or less. Don't buy the crap that the eighty dollar one will improve your picture by "cleaning up your voltage".
It's best to walk in and refuse to buy anything except the set.
PC input-if you have any intention to hook-up to your PC, make sure your TV has a PC (VGA) input.
If you want details on a set you're considering, download the manual from the manufacturer's site-that's how to find out the details of what the set can, and can't do.

Good luck!

http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240


http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6449_7-6810011-1.html?tag=nl.e501

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/resource-center/buying-a-tv-206/tv-types/index.htm

http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/34579/122868.html





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Wednesday, May 8, 2013

How do you think you would react if we were supposedly?

Q. visited or invaded by aliens? A type II or III on the Kardashev Civilization Scale? If they say things like they created us, manipulated our DNA, gave us technology slowly, watch us, control us, experiment on us, do planetary exchange programs, and control us? Many people seem to want to believe in aliens more than God Himself. I'm afraid many would be decieved and fall for it while laughing at the religious at the same time. I wouldn't fall for it. Do you think people would still believe when others like me are telling them in advance right now?
Have you seen Reagan's speech he gave to the UN about this? http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ag44dRO8LEA
I mean look at all the 'alien' stuff lately in the last 60 years. It's like they are conditioning us for some thing. When you even talk about it people say "tin foil hat conspiracy theorist" as a response in those almost exact words. Where did we learn all this from? Hollywood?
Would this scare you?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZqSQLZScRDw
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kardashev_scale

A. MANBIRD's CGI is great, but...
This is not a joke and it will be on our doorsteps very soon as the 2012 prophecies of the Sumerians, Babylonians, the Hopi, the Cherokee, Chinese (I-Ching), Egyptians, Mayans, Jews, Muslims, and Christians become unveiled. If you don’t want people you care about to fall for it then tell them Yeshua foretold it in Matthew 24.
Anyways, what would your leaders be doing acting like goofballs in the woods right now worshipping giant owls if real ‘intelligent aliens from other worlds’ were on their way here now?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=TrZ1B38TH6k
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohemian_Grove
http://youtube.com/watch?v=pRjKyUYKfG4&feature=related
http://massengale.typepad.com/venustas/images/egyptianworship.jpg
http://youtube.com/watch?v=k2r5eGjYZA0

Why did Reagan give that crazy speech to the UN you mentioned?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ag44dRO8LEA

Why did we have to dig them up?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=hbONIQfQmDU&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=wZMJnFsx0Yo
Just replace ‘alien’ with ‘demon’!

Are you familiar with Project Bluebeam?:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=KXJGldPkgpM
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8A_X7fGC2D8&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=86q6863ptu0
http://youtube.com/watch?v=oBqgn2ZzhwE
http://members.aol.com/phmikas/infos/blue_.htm
http://educate-yourself.org/cn/projectbluebeamrelatedA01feb99.shtml

What do you know of Iron Mountain?:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2aou6c2MOmg
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6745627342652553091&q=iron+mountain&total=786&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

Besides what would ‘intelligent aliens’ think of this guy?
http://mujca.com/images/Bush-phone.png

Who were those crazy, satanic 'magicians' that cofounded JPL:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Parsons

[Remember that H.G. Wells not only wrote ‘War of the Worlds’ but “New World Order” as well.]

They are our own craft blended with holography. Google and youtube things like:TR-3B, Vril Society, Haunebu, Thule Society, mercury plasma magnetic vortex, Nazi Bell, Kaluza-Klein theory, electrogravitics, Thomas Townsend Brown, MK-Ultra, Vimanas, etc...

You all must be wary of the blend of HDTV and the holographic technology we already have. For instance:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=qf5esT95Glw

ALL CHRISTIANS MUST BE READY FOR THIS GRAND DELUSION NOW!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4YMDXRarh8
Unfortunately, many will be decieved! They will say the aliens created us not God. They will show us a new form religious thought. Wait how can we know all this in advance???
Spread this news and spread the gospel. Put faith in God not science. Go save many souls for we are near the end of all things and Yeshua Ha’Mashiach comes very soon! God bless and keep all of you!
And for your immortal soul's own sake, don't let them implant you with an RFID Verichip ('Mark of the Beast'-Revelation 13:6-18): http://www.verichipcorp.com/

[And all of this coincidentally just right before 2012... Hmmmm.... Especially after the Vatican has now 'sanctioned' our 'alien brethren'.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7399661.stm
Remember that we have talked about all this beforehand so you won't be fooled... Wake up people!]


Which Mac should I get?
Q. ! am buying a new Mac this summer so I have a question.

I already have a 13" Mac book Pro (low end default) late 2011 and Ipad 2.

(Don't mention rumors to me) If some of the items are renewed, the price probably would not wander do different from now.

Can someone tell me what to you think is the best choice and why.

I have a $8000 budget so money is not a problem.

1. Macbook Pro 15"

i7 quad core 2.5 GHZ
AMD 1 GB Graphic Processer
8 GB of Ram
128 GB SSD
Hi Res Glossy Screen (I like Glossy)

with a Thunderport Display (I would like to know the max. numbers of TB displays the MBP 15" can handle.)

2.

Mac Mini

i5 duo core 2.7 GHZ
8 GB of Ram
256 GB SSD
AMD 6630m

Hook it up to my 42" HDTV

and

Macbook Air 11"

i5 duo core 1.6 GHZ (Saves battery power)
4 GB of Ram
64 GB

3.

Imac 27"

i7 quad core 3.4 GHZ
16 GB of Ram
AMD 2 GB Graphic Processor
750 HDD 7200 RPM ( I am considering ssd)

4.

Imac 21"

i7 quad core 2.8 GHZ
16 GB of Ram
AMD 1 GB Graphic Processor
750 HDD 7200 RPM

and

13" Macbook Pro (I will be a 2012 model) (Ha Ha)

Or

13" (Prehaps 11") Macbook Air
Both at low end default setting

5.

Tell me what you would buy!

Of course I will tell you what I do with my computers.

I work heavy on RAM. I had 12 MB of Ram left this morning. (My MBP 13" has 4GB of ram)

My MBP uses around 30% of my CPU in my normal day. ( iMovie pushs it to 60%)

My normal gaming is Lego Star Wars 3 (Yes, I am a star wars fan). This makes my MBP very loud (Fan noise). The CPU is probaly not 100% (It is full screen so there is no way in monitoring the CPU) but the GPU works very hard to keep the game going (The games is I rated 85-90%) Frames are pretty fast and It has never dragged.

Storage is not a problem because I am a huge fan of External storage. (I also planning on investing in a thunderbort storage system)

As far as speakers, I have a Bose Companion 20 so that is not a big problem either.

I would also love for you to give me some advice on choice between SSD and HDD. I am sort of lost in the SSD vs HDD.

As Battery is a concern for many, I really do not travel a lot but I do move homes a lot!

I really need some detailed advice!!

A. Option 3 is good choice if money isn't much of an issue. You don't need another laptop because you said you have a 13" macbook pro (low end) and an ipad 2.


How will the 2009 fcc digital compliance effect my life or save me money?
Q. I have recently cancelled my sallelite service which is in all digital.My service went from being $40 to almost $60 in a few short months. I have decided to get basic cable only which is only $35. In 2009 what will happen if I don't have an HDTV and do not rent the digital box? It will 10.50 per box. I hear they have digital converter boxes but there is not a firm price on those yet. The government is offering $40 coupons but that must mean the boxes are probably around $100. I heard they were going to be about $200? I need some good web sites on this. I am trying to figure how does this make my life better and how will it save me money? (or will it cost me more money?)
Also where can I find an inexpensive hand held hdtv for under $100? I just bought a hand held a year a go so I am really angry that I will have to buy another in a year or so.
I just get very scared when there are severe storms and toronados so I need to make sure I have acess to tv. I am going to keep up on the latest info regarding the digital switch over. I am going to buy a hand held that is digital compatible and will probably get basic cable. Basic cable though does not provide digital cable. I guess I will have to spend about $140 on this. I hate parting with my money unless it is something that I want not forced on me.

A. 1) The cable companies must continue to carry analog versions of the locally available Over The Air TV until 2012 or provide converters for analog sets. There's no telling what the cable companies swill do regarding the anaslog channels in their standard package that aren't covered because they aren't available OTA. They will probably try to push customers to upgrade to digital boxes, but you don't have to. The converter boxes you are talking about are for OTA digital signals from an antenna. The coupons are for $40 off a box that will cost aroiund $60. There is one converter available now, but you should wait until the coupons become available in January. If you stick with cable, you can't use/don't need the converter.


See this FCC site for more details.
http://www.dtv.gov/

Update
There are no small HDTVs available, let alone a handheld.
As time goes on, there probably will be DTV handhelds. I don't understand why you're talking about getting cable.
If you can get TV on a handheld, you should be able to get TV on your present sets using the converters and an antenna, or from basic cable without any converter. Basic cable will still be analog until at least 2012, or the cable company will supply you a converter. As far as storm warnings are concerned-get a radio with the weather service station.





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