HDTV sucks

[NickD 202]

Sure its great if you have a 16:9 brand new HDTV signal, but about 99% of what is on TV is still using that old 4:3 ratio and fitting a 4:3 ratio into a 16:9 screen essentially translates into making a 60" diagonal screen more like the size of a 32" screen.

With that 16:9 ratio, whatever idiot selected that, not even compatible with the old cinema ratio, watching a Blu-ray movie, vertical height of the screen on our 60" is 8" shorter. The remote does have a ratio button with twenty different ratio selections that can drive you crazy, not one of them is correct!

With my old 4:3 ratio projector and a ten foot screen, didn't have that problem, standard ratio would fill the entire screen, HDTV transmissions would have black bars on the top and the bottom, a little wider watching a Blu-ray, but still a lot of vertical height on a ten foot screen, so didn't mind it.

What's really bad is watching a movie that was reformatted to fit you screen on HDTV, need a microscope to view the picture.

Maybe in ten-twenty years from now with plenty of HDTV material, this won't be bad. But you can bet your bottom dollar that some idiot will change that ratio again.

Also with digital transmission, don't watch a slightly faded picture with some minor ghost in it, that is still watchable. See a blue screen instead.

Black Friday was terrible this year with 50% off of HDTV's on full page ads, darn stores only had one of none of those in stock with no rain checks. Two weeks later, Bestbuy sent me an e-mail with 50% a 60" LG and free home delivery, so I fell for it and plasma was my choice for the sharpest picture and refresh rate. Energy is only a couple of bucks cheaper for an slow LED per year that cost over twice as much.

Now they are sending me emails telling me I probably noticed not getting the same picture this set had in there stores, so come back in and we will sell you a bunch of stuff to correct that. But none of that stuff is an HDTV signal, and that is exactly what you need to watch HDTV the way it was indented.

[bigdog 376]

We went with a Visio LED and DTV.

[scotinmass 588]

Sure its great if you have a 16:9 brand new HDTV signal, but about 99% of what is on TV is still using that old 4:3 ratio and fitting a 4:3 ratio into a 16:9 screen essentially translates into making a 60" diagonal screen more like the size of a 32" screen.

With that 16:9 ratio, whatever idiot selected that, not even compatible with the old cinema ratio, watching a Blu-ray movie, vertical height of the screen on our 60" is 8" shorter. The remote does have a ratio button with twenty different ratio selections that can drive you crazy, not one of them is correct!

With my old 4:3 ratio projector and a ten foot screen, didn't have that problem, standard ratio would fill the entire screen, HDTV transmissions would have black bars on the top and the bottom, a little wider watching a Blu-ray, but still a lot of vertical height on a ten foot screen, so didn't mind it.

What's really bad is watching a movie that was reformatted to fit you screen on HDTV, need a microscope to view the picture.

Maybe in ten-twenty years from now with plenty of HDTV material, this won't be bad. But you can bet your bottom dollar that some idiot will change that ratio again.

Also with digital transmission, don't watch a slightly faded picture with some minor ghost in it, that is still watchable. See a blue screen instead.

Black Friday was terrible this year with 50% off of HDTV's on full page ads, darn stores only had one of none of those in stock with no rain checks. Two weeks later, Bestbuy sent me an e-mail with 50% a 60" LG and free home delivery, so I fell for it and plasma was my choice for the sharpest picture and refresh rate. Energy is only a couple of bucks cheaper for an slow LED per year that cost over twice as much.

Now they are sending me emails telling me I probably noticed not getting the same picture this set had in there stores, so come back in and we will sell you a bunch of stuff to correct that. But none of that stuff is an HDTV signal, and that is exactly what you need to watch HDTV the way it was indented.

Yeah why the hell do we have nice wide tvs that still letterbox movies? If they were starting from scratch with a new ratio why not make it the right one?

[photomile 101]

Don't forget that US HD spec, is NOT HD by current standards. Most channels are adapting to the 720 and 1080 standards, but for a long time the USA has been 520p and in many cases, analogue that has been interpolated and expanded to fit 720

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

Plasma is the BetaMax of HD in that it lost the format wars just like HD DVD before it. IIRC there only a single OEM manufacturing source for Plasma screens and they will discontinue production this year.

I've had my Sony LCD HD TVs for almost 5 years and can't complain. The channels broadcast in HD are good, most channels current programming is available in HD, it's just older programs which are given the sidebars on HD channels.

While my Blu-Rays rock on the HD I don't have any problem with my DVDs either and the letter box effect doesn't bother me, I'm watching the image not the bars.

What is your source for your HD channels?

[photomile 101]

indeed! Up until recently, HD DVD was the only format with HD Audio

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I just leave mine set on full screen. I enjoy everybody walking around looking like munchkins.

[Darnell 8,478]

i love the way the skinnies buttocks have grown, on the 4:3 stuff on my hd tv.

It's nice.

[웃 910]

You are about 3 or 4 remote control clicks away from adjusting your settings.

I have ATT Uverse and my HD channels start at 1000 and go to about 2000 - I only watch HD channels...

Edited January 16, 2012 by ☠

[spookyturtle 9,465]

I'd like to check out some 3D porn.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I'd like to check out some 3D porn.

Try a threesome. Smell-A-Vision!!!

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Try a threesome. Smell-A-Vision!!!

I was think more like Feel Around.

[Darnell 8,478]

Spooky, what you doing with them old 4:3 Sheep Shagging Vids?? Those ewes be much wider on the big screen.

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

Sure its great if you have a 16:9 brand new HDTV signal, but about 99% of what is on TV is still using that old 4:3 ratio and fitting a 4:3 ratio into a 16:9 screen essentially translates into making a 60" diagonal screen more like the size of a 32" screen.

Virtually Everything new worth watching is in 16:9.. 16:9 is closer to how human sight is perceived so this gives a better experience. All that old stuff was shot for TVs that maxed out at about 25 inches so you are still seeing it larger than anyone originally viewed it at so be happy.

With that 16:9 ratio, whatever idiot selected that, not even compatible with the old cinema ratio, watching a Blu-ray movie, vertical height of the screen on our 60" is 8" shorter. The remote does have a ratio button with twenty different ratio selections that can drive you crazy, not one of them is correct!

With my old 4:3 ratio projector and a ten foot screen, didn't have that problem, standard ratio would fill the entire screen, HDTV transmissions would have black bars on the top and the bottom, a little wider watching a Blu-ray, but still a lot of vertical height on a ten foot screen, so didn't mind it.

There is no "cinema ratio" - movies come in a myriad of screen ratios. There is no setting that would eliminate all black lines. Movies at one point used 4:3 but adopted wide screen to differentiate from that new fangled television.

Maybe in ten-twenty years from now with plenty of HDTV material, this won't be bad. But you can bet your bottom dollar that some idiot will change that ratio again.

Other than the Colombian RCN Daily news I can't remember the last non-HD show I saw.. I can't even watch sports in normal definition anymore... and I got rid of any DVDs I had that were formatted for 4:3.

Also with digital transmission, don't watch a slightly faded picture with some minor ghost in it, that is still watchable. See a blue screen instead.

Black Friday was terrible this year with 50% off of HDTV's on full page ads, darn stores only had one of none of those in stock with no rain checks. Two weeks later, Bestbuy sent me an e-mail with 50% a 60" LG and free home delivery, so I fell for it and plasma was my choice for the sharpest picture and refresh rate. Energy is only a couple of bucks cheaper for an slow LED per year that cost over twice as much.

Now they are sending me emails telling me I probably noticed not getting the same picture this set had in there stores, so come back in and we will sell you a bunch of stuff to correct that. But none of that stuff is an HDTV signal, and that is exactly what you need to watch HDTV the way it was indented.

Its like complaining about TV going "color" when all the old good stuff is Black and White or bitching about them going to Stereo Sound when Mono was just fine.. Yes when they show the old stuff your TV does not take full advantage of what it is capable..

I'm still waiting on full immersion virtual reality so I can go swimming with Brooke in the blue lagoon.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I'm still waiting on full immersion virtual reality so I can go swimming with Brooke in the blue lagoon.

You do know she was a minor at the time.