Comments on: I got an HDTV for Christmas, did you? http://inluminent.com/2006/12/31/i-got-an-hdtv-for-christmas-did-you/ my comments on business, marketing, advertising, email, CAN-SPAM, selling as a profession, photography, computers and other stuff... Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:16:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Jeremy http://inluminent.com/2006/12/31/i-got-an-hdtv-for-christmas-did-you/#comment-150621 Jeremy Tue, 29 Jan 2008 06:03:31 +0000 http://inluminent.com/2006/12/31/i-got-an-hdtv-for-christmas-did-you/#comment-150621 I have had a JVC 61" HD-ILA TV for a little over 6 months now, and just got my Grande HD cable installed today after suffering through SD TV on this thing since day one. The picture was grainy and gross to the point I got used to it. I too am disappointed by Grande's HD lineup, but true HD broadcasts are stunning. Worth checking out - make sure you have your HD receiver's output set to the highest possible setting your TV will accept. Dig through the menus for HDTV settings. The Grande guy left mine at 480p, and I was disgusted until I found this. I changed it to 1080i (maximum on the receiver) and it looks magnitudes better. Be aware also that the Wii outputs 480i over RCA, and if you buy the optional component cables can only get 480p. Not really HD. On my TV the XBOX 360 goes up to 1080p with the VGA or HDMI cable, and 1080i over component. I'm over component at the moment at 1080i, and it looks great. My understanding is that all of the games are still only being published at 720p, being upscaled to 1080i. I feel pretty future-proofed now, and have been enjoying many 720p movie rentals from the XBOX Live Marketplace. Now we just need to see the Blu-ray/HD-DVD battle settled :) JL! I have had a JVC 61″ HD-ILA TV for a little over 6 months now, and just got my Grande HD cable installed today after suffering through SD TV on this thing since day one. The picture was grainy and gross to the point I got used to it. I too am disappointed by Grande’s HD lineup, but true HD broadcasts are stunning.

Worth checking out - make sure you have your HD receiver’s output set to the highest possible setting your TV will accept. Dig through the menus for HDTV settings. The Grande guy left mine at 480p, and I was disgusted until I found this. I changed it to 1080i (maximum on the receiver) and it looks magnitudes better.

Be aware also that the Wii outputs 480i over RCA, and if you buy the optional component cables can only get 480p. Not really HD.

On my TV the XBOX 360 goes up to 1080p with the VGA or HDMI cable, and 1080i over component. I’m over component at the moment at 1080i, and it looks great. My understanding is that all of the games are still only being published at 720p, being upscaled to 1080i.

I feel pretty future-proofed now, and have been enjoying many 720p movie rentals from the XBOX Live Marketplace. Now we just need to see the Blu-ray/HD-DVD battle settled :)

JL!

]]> By: Brian http://inluminent.com/2006/12/31/i-got-an-hdtv-for-christmas-did-you/#comment-89476 Brian Mon, 14 May 2007 19:07:55 +0000 http://inluminent.com/2006/12/31/i-got-an-hdtv-for-christmas-did-you/#comment-89476 Alot of people seem to be getting off on the wrong track when venturing into HD media. I took a completely different approach... one that future proofs the investment. Its best to imagine your setup as an oversized computer...and your display is just that, a display... not built in speakers, tuners etc. All these features inflate the price of your display and make it appear less slick in the process. The westinghouse 37" 1080P display can now be purchased for under $1200.. add logitech 5.1 THX surround sound for $250 more, and control the system from an xbox 360 with VGA cable and optical out... add HDDVD player add on for true 1080P source output and you will see what real HD is all about. If you have and HDTV... the only way to go is to have the xbox 360 control all scaling and become your media hub, or spend lots of money on a high powered media PC to do similiar tasks. Cable / Sat will not be broadcasting 1080P anytime soon. Alot of people seem to be getting off on the wrong track when venturing into HD media. I took a completely different approach… one that future proofs the investment. Its best to imagine your setup as an oversized computer…and your display is just that, a display… not built in speakers, tuners etc. All these features inflate the price of your display and make it appear less slick in the process.

The westinghouse 37″ 1080P display can now be purchased for under $1200.. add logitech 5.1 THX surround sound for $250 more, and control the system from an xbox 360 with VGA cable and optical out… add HDDVD player add on for true 1080P source output and you will see what real HD is all about.

If you have and HDTV… the only way to go is to have the xbox 360 control all scaling and become your media hub, or spend lots of money on a high powered media PC to do similiar tasks.

Cable / Sat will not be broadcasting 1080P anytime soon.

]]> By: Christian http://inluminent.com/2006/12/31/i-got-an-hdtv-for-christmas-did-you/#comment-46603 Christian Tue, 09 Jan 2007 05:23:59 +0000 http://inluminent.com/2006/12/31/i-got-an-hdtv-for-christmas-did-you/#comment-46603 Thanks for the insight .... I've been thinking I want the HDTV ... almost to the NEED an HDTV stage ... but not quite. And, as my kids play games, I've been eyeing that Wii as well. They got DS's for Christmas, so they are content for the minute, but ... Zelda is calling me ... :-) Thanks for the insight …. I’ve been thinking I want the HDTV … almost to the NEED an HDTV stage … but not quite.

And, as my kids play games, I’ve been eyeing that Wii as well. They got DS’s for Christmas, so they are content for the minute, but … Zelda is calling me … :-)

]]> By: John http://inluminent.com/2006/12/31/i-got-an-hdtv-for-christmas-did-you/#comment-41195 John Mon, 01 Jan 2007 21:35:21 +0000 http://inluminent.com/2006/12/31/i-got-an-hdtv-for-christmas-did-you/#comment-41195 Actually, I bought World of Warcraft and played it online for about 6 months when my first son was born... stayed up late playing, made lots of 'friends' online, even ran a pretty decent sized guild on my server... then I realized I needed to spend more time with my son. Now that I have two, there's no way I'll start playing online games again for a while... too much of a commitment. Actually, I bought World of Warcraft and played it online for about 6 months when my first son was born… stayed up late playing, made lots of ‘friends’ online, even ran a pretty decent sized guild on my server… then I realized I needed to spend more time with my son. Now that I have two, there’s no way I’ll start playing online games again for a while… too much of a commitment.

]]> By: Mr. Nosuch http://inluminent.com/2006/12/31/i-got-an-hdtv-for-christmas-did-you/#comment-41187 Mr. Nosuch Mon, 01 Jan 2007 19:30:48 +0000 http://inluminent.com/2006/12/31/i-got-an-hdtv-for-christmas-did-you/#comment-41187 No, no, you NEED an Xbox 360. Live play makes it a social experience. A Wii is fun if you can pack a few friends over to play on it, but the 360 has the networking angle. But, my friends are scattered around the country, so that's my bias. It allows us to spend time together having fun while still all being hundreds of miles apart. And believe it or not, we mostly play cooperative games. And, from a selfish angle I'm always looking for more people to add to that circle. :) No, no, you NEED an Xbox 360. Live play makes it a social experience. A Wii is fun if you can pack a few friends over to play on it, but the 360 has the networking angle.

But, my friends are scattered around the country, so that’s my bias. It allows us to spend time together having fun while still all being hundreds of miles apart. And believe it or not, we mostly play cooperative games.

And, from a selfish angle I’m always looking for more people to add to that circle. :)

]]> By: John http://inluminent.com/2006/12/31/i-got-an-hdtv-for-christmas-did-you/#comment-40334 John Mon, 01 Jan 2007 03:51:40 +0000 http://inluminent.com/2006/12/31/i-got-an-hdtv-for-christmas-did-you/#comment-40334 I don't know that I <em>need</em> an XBox 360, I have a PS2 and a Nintendo CameCube... maybe a Wii is in my future ;) I don’t know that I need an XBox 360, I have a PS2 and a Nintendo CameCube… maybe a Wii is in my future ;)

]]> By: Mr. Nosuch http://inluminent.com/2006/12/31/i-got-an-hdtv-for-christmas-did-you/#comment-40000 Mr. Nosuch Sun, 31 Dec 2006 22:32:47 +0000 http://inluminent.com/2006/12/31/i-got-an-hdtv-for-christmas-did-you/#comment-40000 Now you just need an Xbox 360. :) The primary reason I went with an HDTV was video games and DVDs (which really only need 480p). The resolution wasn't such a factor as was progressive 16:9 display at a big size. Sorting out the wiring and the audio and all that nonsense is a non-trivial exercise, and I think a strong barrier for adoption for most people. I've helped several friends get set up (mostly because they are gamers too) and it's intimidating for mere non-techgeek mortals. I do feel bad for people who walk into a store without any prep. Glad you did well. Now you just need an Xbox 360. :)
The primary reason I went with an HDTV was video games and DVDs (which really only need 480p). The resolution wasn’t such a factor as was progressive 16:9 display at a big size.

Sorting out the wiring and the audio and all that nonsense is a non-trivial exercise, and I think a strong barrier for adoption for most people. I’ve helped several friends get set up (mostly because they are gamers too) and it’s intimidating for mere non-techgeek mortals.

I do feel bad for people who walk into a store without any prep. Glad you did well.

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