You Don't Need To Spend A Fortune For A Digital TV
Three of the most prevalent misconceptions about digital TV is that all digital TVs are high definition, large and expensive. None of these statements are correct. Sure, the newspaper flyers and TV commercials are want to show large flat screen TVs the size of city buses with more features then a Swiss Army knife. After all, the mark up on a $2000 TV is much greater than the profit on a $120 TV.
Currently in most homes you will find several TVs of all “flavors.” Some are large screen models in a family room or a home theatre environment. Others are tucked under cabinets in the kitchen or on a table in the bedroom or workshop. There is no reason to believe that this will change once we convert to all digital broadcasting. For sure you may want a large screen TV on which you can watch sporting events or movies with surround sound audio and high definition clarity. For that set up you will pay thousands of dollars. At the same time, if you are in the kitchen watching the evening news or playing along the current “Jeopardy” champ, a smaller TV will do just fine.
I have found new digital TVs in stores for a little as $114. WalMart has a digital set retailing for $129. As the we get closer to the analog shut off date in February, you are certain to see even more small TVs with digital tuners. These may be LCD or small picture tube models. Some will have wide screens some will have a 4 x 3 screen ratio. The important thing is they all will have digital tuners. In fact, for more than one year, it has been against the law to sell a new TV that did not have a digital tuner unless you had a very prominent label indicating that the TV will be obsolete in February 2009.
You may wish to keep this in mind as you decide whether to buy a set top digital converter. If you are planning to connect it to a 10 year old 13” TV that you use in the kitchen, it might be better to just buy a new inexpensive TV.
I have received several letters about battery powered digital TVs. There are some on the market but they are very expensive. I suggest that you wait. They will eventually be in stores after the analog cut off.
Currently in most homes you will find several TVs of all “flavors.” Some are large screen models in a family room or a home theatre environment. Others are tucked under cabinets in the kitchen or on a table in the bedroom or workshop. There is no reason to believe that this will change once we convert to all digital broadcasting. For sure you may want a large screen TV on which you can watch sporting events or movies with surround sound audio and high definition clarity. For that set up you will pay thousands of dollars. At the same time, if you are in the kitchen watching the evening news or playing along the current “Jeopardy” champ, a smaller TV will do just fine.
I have found new digital TVs in stores for a little as $114. WalMart has a digital set retailing for $129. As the we get closer to the analog shut off date in February, you are certain to see even more small TVs with digital tuners. These may be LCD or small picture tube models. Some will have wide screens some will have a 4 x 3 screen ratio. The important thing is they all will have digital tuners. In fact, for more than one year, it has been against the law to sell a new TV that did not have a digital tuner unless you had a very prominent label indicating that the TV will be obsolete in February 2009.
You may wish to keep this in mind as you decide whether to buy a set top digital converter. If you are planning to connect it to a 10 year old 13” TV that you use in the kitchen, it might be better to just buy a new inexpensive TV.
I have received several letters about battery powered digital TVs. There are some on the market but they are very expensive. I suggest that you wait. They will eventually be in stores after the analog cut off.
Labels: DTV Set Top Box, HDTV
posted by Jack Dominic at 6:40 AM
2 Comments:
yeah thats right, a huge misconception is that all TVs wont work unless its digital and of course they don't like to advertise CRTs as digital when a lot of them are. Regardless CRTs are cheap and some are digital and will remain cheap.
Actually some of the LCD TVs are less expensive than CRTs. There are VERY few manufacturing plants worldwide still making CRTs.
A good CRT set up correctly will give very good... some would say better ... results than either a plasma or LCD screen.
Post a Comment
<< Home