1-HDTV.Net

Welcome to 1-HDTV.Net

I Hdtv Article

Does It Pay to Wait Going the Way of the HDTV Now or Later


The best way of gaining knowledge about hdtv is by reading as much about it as possible. This can be best done through the Internet.

Most consumers are still relatively uneducated when it comes to HDTV. In fact, according to Rick Chessen, the associate chief and chairman of the FCC, American consumers need to realize that “analog sets will have limited capabilities in their future.” But, is it really important to make the switch to HDTV now. Or should you wait till later?

Program Offerings

The answer to this question lies mostly in personal opinion and individual situations. Currently, television channels are not HDTV. Those that do offer HDTV are: ABC, CBS, Cinemax, Encore, ESPN, ESPN 2, Fox, Fox Sports, HBO, HDNet, The Movie Channel, NBC, PBS, Showtime, and Starz, Universal. With the exception of the broadcast networks of ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, and PBS, each of these channels requires cable or satellite service to receive.

Therefore, a person who doesn't watch any of these channels often might not need to run out and buy a HDTV at the moment. By the end of 2006, however, the FCC has dictated that every channel must broadcast in only digital format. Digital format is not the same as HDTV, but HDTV needs digital format in order to run. If the FCC gets its way, analog televisions will be nothing more than oversized paperweights, unless the owner purchases a special digital-to-analog converter. In this case, the television will be able to show programming, but it still won’t be of the higher quality received by those who own televisions with digital receivers.

No Avoiding the Inevitable

Of course, most people who watch television watch at least one of the channels that currently broadcast in HDTV. So, the question still remains: Should the HDTV be bought now, or should the consumer wait?

With the FCC's regulations, coupled with the ever-increasing popularity of HDTV, there is no avoiding the fact that HDTV is in the future of all Americans. But, for the true television connoisseur, there doesn't appear to be much advantage to either waiting to buy an HDTV or purchasing one now.

True, the price of HDTV televisions has fallen since they were first introduced. And, they are likely to continue to fall. But for the person who is passionate about television, it almost seems foolish to wait to purchase an HDTV because it is simply putting off the inevitable. There are no current HDTV breakthroughs on the horizon, so waiting to purchase an HDTV won't increase the chances of having the latest and greatest technology, which technology has already arrived.

For someone who is, however, an infrequent viewer of television or who doesn't relish the television viewing experience, it might be a good idea to simply wait. When the time comes that all broadcasters are forced to switch to digital broadcasting, it will come time for these consumers to make a decision. They can either purchase an HDTV television, or they can buy a digital-to-analog converter.

If the current analog television still produces an acceptable picture and is still in good working order, purchasing a digital-to-analog is likely the best choice for people in this category. Most experts believe these will only cost about $50-100 at the time the switchover takes place, which makes buying one of the converters quite affordable, particularly when compared to paying hundreds, maybe thousands, of dollars for a HDTV television.

In fact, there has been talk within the government about assisting low-income families in purchasing digital-to-analog converters. This discussion has mostly taken place because it is likely to be low-income families who are most affected by the FCC's mandate for all broadcasters to switch to digital. The current Bush administration, however, is not in favor of this suggestion.

No matter a person's level of television passion, a person in the market to purchase a new television in order to replace a new one should seriously consider purchasing an HDTV television instead of an analog television. If a consumer does purchase an analog television, it will soon be obsolete and will require additional money to enjoy television programming. It is worthwhile to save the time and worries and spend a little extra cash on the HDTV now, rather than spend extra money down the road on a television that doesn't provide the extra perks supplied by HDTV.

I Hdtv Best products

I Hdtv News

Trading in Old Games for the Holiday - Seattle Post Intelligencer Blogs

I made my Christmas shopping list of gifts that I am going to give. This year everyone is either getting a gift purchased from Pink Godzilla games in Seattle, Powells books in Portland (ordered online) or something sentimental made by hand. My two ...

Six Common HDTV Showroom Pitfalls - PC World

With the long-awaited transition to digital broadcasting just around the corner (February 17), many shoppers will take the HDTV plunge during the holidays and beyond--and stores eagerly await them. Even if you plan to buy online, it's smart to ...

HDTV bargains abound; here’s a buying guide - Atlanta Journal Constitution

Many of you will make 2009 a picture-perfect year with a new television. Two forces — the gift-giving season and the switch to digital for broadcast television — mean some holdouts will finally move to HDTV. Both the retailers’ need to goose ...

The Digital Home - CNET News

After reading through the comments on yesterday's column discussing why Sony and Microsoft should view Nintendo as a competitor , I came across an interesting post by one reader who told us to "get rid" of our gaming consoles and go outside. The ...

What Joel is thankful for - Tvsquad.com

Filed under: Other Comedy Shows , OpEd , Saturday Night Live , The Daily Show , How I Met Your Mother , The Office , 30 Rock , Reality-Free , The Big Bang Theory As I think about the past year, in both my life and in the world of TV, there's plenty I ...

Get Your Cheat Sheet For DTV - News 4

DENVER (CBS4) ― OK troops, let's get right to the point. You want to be prepared for the change to digital TV in February. Maybe you're going to the store to buy what you need; or you have taken it upon yourself to get Grandma squared away because ...