geoss Sony Fan Joined: Jan 06, 2005
Posts: 7
From: N. America
Posted: 2005-01-10 16:37
Hi, I have kind of a panic question..................concerning HDTV. If I get a 36HS420 t.v., if I get HDTV through the cable company will there be the 2 vertical lines down the sides in HDTV mode. A salesman told me today that in the regular tv's you'll always have the 2 vertical lines down each side of the set in HD mode. Thanks George
andyross Sony Legend Joined: Mar 09, 2004
Posts: 1093
From: Schaumburg, IL
Posted: 2005-01-10 17:12
It depends. The 36" is a standard 4:3 screen. Watching non-HD, you will get a normal picture. For DVD's, it depends on if it's anamorphic or not.
HD is more of a problem. A Sony TV will LOCK into 16:9 mode, giving letterboxing on the top and bottom. Further, when 4:3 material is aired on HDTV signals, it is usually letterboxed AT THE SOURCE. This means your 36" TV will be more like a 20". Some cable or satellite boxes can zoom or stretch to fill the sides, but you will still have the letterbox on top and bottom.
If you want to go HDTV, I STRONGLY recommend getting a widescreen TV. Yes, 4:3 material will be smaller (34" widescreen is about 28" in 4:3 mode), but 16:9, anamorphic DVD's, and HDTV material will be BIGGER than your 36". Over time, 16:9 will become more and more common. ----------------- Sony KDL-46EX700, Onkyo TX-NR609, Sony BDP-S370, WDTV Live Streaming, Motorola DCT-6412, RCA RCRP05B.
geoss Sony Fan Joined: Jan 06, 2005
Posts: 7
From: N. America
Posted: 2005-01-10 17:19
geez, I am mixed up now..........how much hdtv will I be watching> ?Are you saying that a widescreen will be really small in an analog, regular signal? George
Toli Sony Master Joined: Oct 20, 2003
Posts: 8509
From: Winthrop Harbor, IL USA
Posted: 2005-01-10 17:56 geoss- What andyross is saying is that standard 4:3 programming on a 16:9 TV will make the TV's viewing area smaller, because the same size 16:9 TV's screen is not as tall, although it's wider*. Click on this link here it compares 4:3 TV screen sizes to 16:9 TV screen sizes, it should clear things up a bit.
*But these 16:9 TVs will stretch a 4:3 picture to fit the 16:9 screen, and my TV doesn't do a bad job of it.
geoss Sony Fan Joined: Jan 06, 2005
Posts: 7
From: N. America
Posted: 2005-01-10 20:02
Thanks.interesting. You really seem to lose alot in the 16:9 tv., when watching regular programming. I guess the bigger the wide screen you get, the bigger the "regular" signal picture will be...........any opinions for the "best" compromise. AND how long before everything becomes HDTV signal> Thanks.sorry for being such a newbie with my questions, but I love learning. George
jttar Sony Master Joined: Feb 28, 2003
Posts: 9156
From: Chicago,IL, USA
Posted: 2005-01-10 21:39
geoss,
Greetings and welcome. I don't think that anyone knows when all programing will be in HD but it won't be soon enough for any of us. By sometime in the year 2006 all stations are supposed to broadcast in digital but that doesn't mean that they will be in HD. There are more and more stations that are broadcasting in HD and as more people purchase HD or HD ready televisions it's popularity and thus broadcasting will increase.
Joe
geoss Sony Fan Joined: Jan 06, 2005
Posts: 7
From: N. America
Posted: 2005-01-11 11:09
Hi, Thanks, Then I guess it is safe to say that if I'd be mostly watchingn digital cable or satellite, with possible HDTV on air, but mostly digital 4:3 broadcasts, the Sony 36HS420 would be great??? Thanks George
stomper Sony Enthusiant Joined: Dec 29, 2004
Posts: 42
From: Portland, ME
Posted: 2005-01-11 11:25
_________________________________________________________ You really seem to lose alot in the 16:9 tv., when watching regular programming. I guess the bigger the wide screen you get, the bigger the "regular" signal picture will be........... _________________________________________________________
geoss,
I'm not sure what you mean by the above. When watching a 4:3 program in widescreen the image is stretched to fit the wider format. You really shouldn't be loosing anything.
As for HDTV - more and more channels are becoming available, both through sat and cable. You also have the option of receiving the networks HD signals over the air. An HD signal on widescreen is amazing.
If purchasing a 4:3 television, be aware that over time more and more programming will be in widescreen. If you are buying a TV to use for a couple of years than that shouldn't be a problem for you. If you are purchasing a TV that you want to keep for the next 10 years, you will probably regret not going with widescreen. Just wanted to give you something else to think about. Either way, enjoy your new TV.
geoss Sony Fan Joined: Jan 06, 2005
Posts: 7
From: N. America
Posted: 2005-01-11 14:28
Hi, More to think about..........I love it. I always seemed to like the Sony 42" LCD....It is hard to find in the stores what a digital cable signal would look like on this t.v..........any opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks George
stomper Sony Enthusiant Joined: Dec 29, 2004
Posts: 42
From: Portland, ME
Posted: 2005-01-11 16:38
geoss,
It's hard to say what a digital cable signal will look like. I have the KDF-42WE655 and absolutly love it, but at the beginning I was disapointed. When watching cable, I was very disapointed in the picture. What looked good on an old 27" screen didn't look so good on a 42" screen made for HD. After about a month of playing around with the settings and adding a cable booster, the picture looks great. No matter what TV you get you will probably have to fiddle around with it to get the best picture for your room.
Also, I upgraded to digital cable when I got my TV and saw no improvment in the picture. I have since gotten rid of it and save about $25 per month. I have standard cable now and the picture looks great. And, because I have the TV that I have, I still get HD channels without the digital cable box because the TV has an HD converter in it. HD looks better through the TVs HD converter than it did through the cable box HD converter.
ripcurl Sony Fan Joined: Jan 12, 2005
Posts: 4
From:
Posted: 2005-01-12 17:43
Just to add my two cents here, I recently read a story which stated that the conversion to digital broadcasting is well behind schedule. They are now stating a hopeful completion date of late 2007, but are also saying it probably won't be fully implemented until 2010. The fact that there is a federal mandate for completion by 2006 , i guess, doesn't mean much.
Also, I wanted to say, that calculator rocks, and confirmed what I had believed, I had a choice of a sony 30 widescreen hdtv or a 32 4:3 hdtv today, with the 32 being $50 more. The 32 , when viewing 16:9 mode is virtually the same as the 30, but in the mean time, I'll be able to have a full view of current broadcasts. Whereas if I had purchased the 30, I would have to either watch a very small 4:3 image, or a stretched image, which I couldn't stand to watch while I was in the store.
[ This message was edited by: ripcurl on 2005-01-12 17:54 ]
jttar Sony Master Joined: Feb 28, 2003
Posts: 9156
From: Chicago,IL, USA
Posted: 2005-01-12 20:58
On 2005-01-12 17:43, ripcurl wrote: Just to add my two cents here, I recently read a story which stated that the conversion to digital broadcasting is well behind schedule. They are now stating a hopeful completion date of late 2007, but are also saying it probably won't be fully implemented until 2010. The fact that there is a federal mandate for completion by 2006 , i guess, doesn't mean much.
ripcurl,
Say it isn't so! I remember when all the stations were going to be digital by 2004, and then 2006. I hate to hear that they are going to string us out till 2010. Do you possibly remember what the source was where you read this bad news?
Joe
ripcurl Sony Fan Joined: Jan 12, 2005
Posts: 4
From:
"Consumers are moving to HD-ready large-screen sets and projectors in unprecedented numbers, almost as fast as DVD players replaced the VCR and videotape. Large-screen rear-projection TVs and direct-view HD-ready sets and flat-panel displays are the fastest-growing sales category in electronics stores and chains. The transition to full digital HDTV throughout North America likely won't be complete until 2010 or so, so you still have plenty of time to chew over which type and how big an HD display to buy, as well as whether you want to stick with the familiar old 4:3 screen shape or go for the widescreen 16:9 sets." http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/34579/109436.html
Also, there seems to be confusion , because the government's law was vague and is not directing the efforts very well. Seems as though now, the new standard may be 1080p.
Current federal law requires a transition to digital broadcasts by the end of 2006, but only if 85 percent of homes can view digital programming.
Looks like a wait and see thing again. sigh.
andyross Sony Legend Joined: Mar 09, 2004
Posts: 1093
From: Schaumburg, IL
Posted: 2005-01-13 17:38
The digital changeover is just that, digital. Broadcasters are free to use their 'new' spectrum any way they want. There is no law saying they must air HD material. Many just multi-cast 6+ SD channels instead of any HD. WalMart is working with some company to have cable networks broacast, encrypted, on unused bandwidth for a subscription service. ----------------- Sony KDL-46EX700, Onkyo TX-NR609, Sony BDP-S370, WDTV Live Streaming, Motorola DCT-6412, RCA RCRP05B.
jttar Sony Master Joined: Feb 28, 2003
Posts: 9156
From: Chicago,IL, USA
Posted: 2005-01-13 22:47
On 2005-01-12 23:26, ripcurl wrote:
Current federal law requires a transition to digital broadcasts by the end of 2006, but only if 85 percent of homes can view digital programming.
Looks like a wait and see thing again. sigh.
ripcurl,
Thanks for the links. I cannot remember the source but I recently read that only 6% of households have HD. We could be in for a long wait.
Joe
All logos and information in this site are property of their respective owner. The
comments are property of their posters.
This website www.agoraquest.com, Claudio Meira and Agoraquest, LLC is not tided in any form to the Sony Corporation
(www.sony.com). This unoffical website is just place where Sony products are reviewed among the general public. Sony is a registered
of Sony, Inc. "PlayStation", "PlayStation2", the PlayStation "PS" logo, and all associated logos/graphics.
"Agoraquest, LLC" and "agoraquest.com" are associated exclusively with agoraquest.com, and are NOT associated in ANY way with Sony
Electronics, Inc. To view the privacy policy, please click here and to view the terms of use,
please click here. If you have any further questions, please contact using our online form.
Posted: 2005-01-10 16:37 
Posted: 2005-01-11 11:25 