Do you really watch TV and is it worth it to get one?

[angelwing]

I saw the poll about which channel to watch an it got me thinking if I should go back to watching TV, I haven't watched it in ages and I do have a dinky 5 inch black & white tv buried in the closet (only comes out for the World Series), so if I get another TV, not sure what kind to get. I hope this doesn't sound stupid, but since I've been out of it for a while, is it really worth it to spend all the $$$ to get a HDTV or just don't even bother.

Sometimes I really feel lost when I read all the comments here on different tv shows and have no clue what you guys are talking about so really wondering if I should get one.

[Miss Mary]

Brent must be still asleep otherwise I know he'd have an opinion on this topic!

Angelwing - it's purely a personal choice. The people that I have met along the way who have pretty much banned TV are few and far between. But they seem more in touch with other things - nature perhaps, crafts, time with family, volunteering, etc. My SIL has never had cable. They can afford it and also can afford the highest tier, a TV in every room in the house, they've raised 4 boys and prefer to encourage camping, fishing, hiking, etc. She reads a lot of books too. So consequently they watch very little TV. Definitely the opposite of us, they don't have a regular show they watch each week. They might turn it on but just watch a rerun or something. And then it's off. I think they own one TV and it's housed in an entertainment center with doors that close it off. The doors are mostly closed. In our house, those doors would be mostly open!

That said, I think we have too many TV shows on a weekly basis. And I've been known to say, "I can't take on another show!". I am also very loyal to my shows. Too loyal my family says. I've watched ER since day one and it's in its 13th Season. So that might tell you something about me. I watched Dallas and Knots Landing the same way - the world stopped for those shows just about. LOL! Same with Friends.....now it's Lost, The Office, Survivor, Studio 60, How I Met Your Mother for my top must-see-shows for the week. With more added in there but those are my top 5.

Brent will say he has a Top 20 or something......LOL

Good topic. You're not missing anything to give up TV. Sure I love all "my shows" but life would go on without them. It would be different but I'd survive. LOL

Mary

[JenBayles]

Angel - IMHO you haven't missed much as far as network programming goes. However, there is so much choice offered through satellite and digital cable now, you might actually find something you're interested in. Check out the offerings in your area to see what may pique your interest. Maybe Animal Planet, Learning Channel, Discovery Channel, Food Network would be more to your liking. Don't know if you have kids or not, but you can password protect those channels you don't want them to see.

As for what unit to purchase, take a stroll through Best Buy or something similar and see what catches your eye. There are so many choices and price ranges out there you really need to take a hands-on approach.

By the way, congrats on living without the tube for so long! Mine is on mostly for background sound in the house, and I don't follow any of the shows any more. Given a choice between the crud on TV and a good book, I'll take the book every time.

[angelwing]

I've heard a lot about DIY and have been to the web page and the crafts have me highly interested (watch out Miss Mary, lol)so that would be one to watch. My day job has CNN on all the time in the waiting area for the patients and I do glance at it from time to time but it doesn't tickle my fancy.

I'll keep thinking about it, thanks!

[Brent]

I don't have HDTV yet(mainly because the TV's are way too expensive, mine works perfectly fine, and only a very few channels even offer HDTV now), but when the time comes, I will defintely go for it. I can't live without TV. I am sad. I'll probably go for a flat screen or something when the one I have now(it's about 7 years old) goes out.

[Miss Mary]

I can't live without TV.

Brent, I knew your response would not disappoint! Too funny....and very true (as in our case as well).

Mary

[coriolis]

We get about 100-some channels and there's usually nothing to watch. You're not missing much.

[southerngale]

My opinion about HDTV...

I have a big-screen HDTV and when I first got satellite (see Linda's DirecTV thread), they offered an HD receiver and 6 months of HD programming for free, so I tried it. I wasn't awed by the difference, but I guess it was clearer than regular satellite. I would switch back and forth between Discovery and DiscoveryHD to try and see the difference, if that tells you anything. The programming offered in HD is very limited at this time and I hardly ever watched anything in HD. I had a DVR receiver in my room, enjoyed that a lot more, so when my 6 months were up, I replaced the HD receiver with another DVR receiver. Couldn't be happier!

BUT...since I think everything will eventually be HD, I think I'd get at least an HD-ready TV. Perhaps it was just me who didn't see a HUGE improvement with HD. Apparently, it's all the rage.

[Miss Mary]

Well, here's a newsflash. I can't tell the difference! Of course my eyes are past that 40 yr mark....lol We have one HDTV receiver. My hubby is always proudly switching back and forth, asking if I can see the difference.....

Let me get my trusty flashlight.....lol Maybe then I could see it! Oh to have my old, younger eyes back.

Okay back to the discussion at hand. lol

[southerngale]

It's not your eyes, Miss Mary. My eyes are fine...it's just not that much better!

[NEWeatherguy]

I used to watch TV a lot, especially during my elementary through high school years. Now, I am more inclined to listen to the radio and watch DVDs/VHS. About the only thing I watch anymore are sitcoms, movies of interest and news.

[Brent]

My opinion about HDTV...

I have a big-screen HDTV and when I first got satellite (see Linda's DirecTV thread), they offered an HD receiver and 6 months of HD programming for free, so I tried it. I wasn't awed by the difference, but I guess it was clearer than regular satellite. I would switch back and forth between Discovery and DiscoveryHD to try and see the difference, if that tells you anything. The programming offered in HD is very limited at this time and I hardly ever watched anything in HD. I had a DVR receiver in my room, enjoyed that a lot more, so when my 6 months were up, I replaced the HD receiver with another DVR receiver. Couldn't be happier!

BUT...since I think everything will eventually be HD, I think I'd get at least an HD-ready TV. Perhaps it was just me who didn't see a HUGE improvement with HD. Apparently, it's all the rage.

Yeah, everything is supposed to be in HD by 2009, but initially it was going to be by the start of 2007, so I dunno. Eventually, yes. I don't think HD is really much better than analog though overall.

[NEWeatherguy]

Actually, HD and digital TV are two different animals. It is a common misconception. HD (high definition) is when your screen is at a 16:9 (?) ratio like a movie theater screen. This is NOT a requirement by the FCC as far as I know. THe 2009 changeover relates to DIGITAL transmission of the current TV signals and can be viewed on a standard-size TV that can receive digital signals or has a converter attached. This is an FCC mandate.

[x-y-no]

It's not your eyes, Miss Mary. My eyes are fine...it's just not that much better!

I think the big part of this is that a fair amount of what gets broadcast in HD now wasn't really filmed at full HD resolution.

For certain programming, it makes a huge difference - particularly football games, you can really see much more detail of what's going on. Also channel 2, our local PBS affiliate, offers three HD broadcasts and they have some truly spectacular nature programming filmed for HD.


To angelwing, I'd say if you're happy without TV now, no real reason to change things. Think of all the stuff you do now that you wouldn't have time for ...

[angelwing]

Thank you all Think what'll I'll do is just get a TV card for the hubby, he's home 24/7 and get cable for him, I work 2 jobs so I'm never home but we've been talking about it. I'll leave buying the TV idea alone for now, we need a new bed, I could get a decent bedroom set for the price of one of those HDTV's.

Thanks again!

[Stratosphere747]

For those of you with the DVR receiver, you may have it set incorrectly. Your TV most likely is either 1080i or 720p. Having it on the wrong setting makes a big difference.

Also if you have a HDTV -- set up a good, and I mean good outside antenna, and you will be able to pick up the local TV stations in HD for free.

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/featur ... e-air.html

[NEWeatherguy]

For those of you with the DVR receiver, you may have it set incorrectly. Your TV most likely is either 1080i or 720p. Having it on the wrong setting makes a big difference.

Also if you have a HDTV -- set up a good, and I mean good outside antenna, and you will be able to pick up the local TV stations in HD for free.

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/featur ... e-air.html

Place the other-the-air attenna on the roof and you might pick up more stations you did not even know were there.

[senorpepr]

My opinion about HDTV...

I have a big-screen HDTV and when I first got satellite (see Linda's DirecTV thread), they offered an HD receiver and 6 months of HD programming for free, so I tried it. I wasn't awed by the difference, but I guess it was clearer than regular satellite. I would switch back and forth between Discovery and DiscoveryHD to try and see the difference, if that tells you anything. The programming offered in HD is very limited at this time and I hardly ever watched anything in HD. I had a DVR receiver in my room, enjoyed that a lot more, so when my 6 months were up, I replaced the HD receiver with another DVR receiver. Couldn't be happier!

BUT...since I think everything will eventually be HD, I think I'd get at least an HD-ready TV. Perhaps it was just me who didn't see a HUGE improvement with HD. Apparently, it's all the rage.

Interesting...

I have HDTV and I'll put my standard TV next to it. The difference is HUGE. It's the best for sports, but other programming that offers HD is easily better than standard def.

The down side to HDTV... some of your favorite celebs end up looking ugly. HD brings out a lot of their true apparency. You can also see all the make up and junk on their face.

[senorpepr]

For those of you with the DVR receiver, you may have it set incorrectly. Your TV most likely is either 1080i or 720p. Having it on the wrong setting makes a big difference.

Also if you have a HDTV -- set up a good, and I mean good outside antenna, and you will be able to pick up the local TV stations in HD for free.

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/featur ... e-air.html

You know, I think you're on to something. I know a few folks around here that had their DVRs set on 480 rather than 720p or 1080i. Once I told them how to properly set up their DVR, and they jumped on the 1080i-bandwagon, they were star-struck.

[senorpepr]

I saw the poll about which channel to watch an it got me thinking if I should go back to watching TV, I haven't watched it in ages and I do have a dinky 5 inch black & white tv buried in the closet (only comes out for the World Series), so if I get another TV, not sure what kind to get. I hope this doesn't sound stupid, but since I've been out of it for a while, is it really worth it to spend all the $$$ to get a HDTV or just don't even bother.

Sometimes I really feel lost when I read all the comments here on different tv shows and have no clue what you guys are talking about so really wondering if I should get one.

To be quite honest with you, while HDTV is wonderful in my opinion, if you're use to not watching TV, there is no reason to purchase one. Although, keep in mind that the FCC mandate will require all TV to be broadcast in digital. You're black and white TV is analog (most likely) and will not work in a few years (for future World Series games )

As mentioned above, there is a difference between HD and digital TV. HD is the quality--how many lines are on your TV (the resolution).

Here's a Wikipedia blurb about Digital TV: DTV is a telecommunication system for broadcasting and receiving moving pictures and sound by means of digital signals, in contrast to analog signals in analog (traditional) T.V. It uses digital modulation data, which is digitally compressed and requires decoding by a specially designed television set or a standard receiver with a set-top box.

Digital television has several advantages over traditional T.V., the most significant being the use of a smaller channel bandwidth. This frees up space for more digital channels, other non-television services such as pay-multimedia services and the generation of revenue from the sales of frequency spectrum taken by analogue T.V. There are also special services such as multicasting (more than one program on the same channel), electronic program guides and interactivity.

Digital television often has a superior image, audio quality and better reception than analog. However, digital television picture technology is still in its early stages and there are many advances yet to be made in eliminating picture defects not present on analogue television or motion picture cinema. This is due to present-day limitations of bandwidth and the compression algorithms commonly used, such as MPEG2, the effects of which are not immediately apparent unless compared side by side with the original program source, such as a 16/35mm motion picture film print.