HDTV, a MUST by 2007

[azsnowman]

I was reading an article in this months Readers Digest and it made me do a double take, by the year 2007, all TV'S MUST be of the HD format, if not, you will not receive the signal. NOW.....who in world can afford a HD tv right now?? I don't watch that much tv to begin with and now they are going to FORCE you into buying one ~OR~ buy a BOX to convert your old set.........I don't know about the rest of you but that's TOTAL Road Apples I know Wal Mart is behind this move "LOL!"

Dennis

[ColdFront77]

Interesting information. I haven't heard that HDTV's are a must yet. It should be something reported in the very much soon... just over 1,600 days until January 1st, 2007 to nearly 2,000 days until December of that year.

[azsnowman]

I know Tom, that's why I was so surprised to read that! The article stated that about 75% of the signals are already being broadcast is HD......I don't get it, if indeed they are then how the heck are we picking them up now???

Dennis

[coriolis]

Technology marches on. Ka-ching, two, three, four Ka-ching, two, three, four. Hopefully as the technology becomes more available, the price will come down.

[chadtm80]

It is my understanding that the cable boxes will convert the signal and that you will not have to pay for a special box, it will be the standard cable box... But i could be wrong..

[azsnowman]

That's what the article stated, a box must be used for the older tv sets but from what I gathered, the box is also a little on the pricey side too, let me see if I can find the article on line, if so, I'll post it.

Dennis

[azskyman]

HDTV prices ARE coming down, but they are still too high. That report is probably accurate. Several TV stations here in Phoenix are now broadcasting in HDTV already. And Cox cable is charging extra if you want HBO and some movie channels in HDTV right now.

My TV sets generally last between 15-20 years. The one we have now is 13 years old, so we'll see what happens by 2007.

Let's see Dennis, I'll be 61 in 2007 and the clarity of the picture on the screen will be the least of my issues. I'll probably no longer be able to hear in stereo and I'll be wearing coke bottles for glasses. Not only that, but if reality TV continues to be the best they can show, I'll be spending all that money on an HDTV just so I can watch reruns of shows from the 60's anyway.

Unless of course, Kathy and I are already hooked on Jeapordy, Hollywood Squares, and Wheel of Fortune.

It's hard to imagine a good reason why I would want to add much more clarity to a picture of Pat Sajak and Vanna White at that stage in their careers!

[azsnowman]

ROFLMAO Steve, thanks, I needed a good belly laugh this early a.m.

Dennis

[chadtm80]

So true skyman.. LOL

[southerngale]

ROFLOL Steve

I've been knowing for a while that this day was coming but I didn't know they had set a specific date...2007.

When my sister and her family were buying a big screen about 1-2 years ago, she did a ton of research on everything. (big purchase ya know?)
She ended up getting a great deal on a great Hitachi TV and she did buy one that was HDTV ready so she's set.

Just before Christmas, my hubby insisted on a big screen as well and he was in a position at work to get one REMARKABLE deal...an offer even I couldn't refuse. I had been saying that we should just get a 32" or so to replace our old one but he had his eye on a Toshiba widescreen that was one heck of a deal. We love it and now we're HDTV ready...at least in the living room. Our bedroom sets are not HDTV ready and I have no plans to replace them anytime soon unless they bite the dust!

[MScoast]

personally, I don't think that the cost of HDTV is worth it. Now ask my husband and he'll give you a answer completely opposite of mine. About a month ago he purchased a HDTV receiver from DTV. I was FUMING to say the least. He spent over $600 on this crazy thing to pick up 4 HD channels. Now if there were more channels it might have been less of a problem for me....then again, once there are more channels, the price of the receiver will most likely go down.

[southerngale]

I agree MScoast...I don't really think it's worth it either. I don't need flawless clarity myself but in our case, we were buying a new TV anyway so we got one that was HDTV ready.
I think it's ridiculous that we are being forced to have HDTV though. Everyone can't replace their TV's!!

[JQ Public]

Yep, I used to go to this Explorer Post program at a local TV station and they told us how our tv's would be obsolete. The main reason is because some coutnries like Japan have been in the HD format for a good 10 years and we still aren't. Its not necessarily about us getting a better picture, but the tv stations are moving up in technology and we need to as well or we can view what they show. I know WRAL our local station was the first one in the nation to go HD. Its just gonna be as normal as getting color tv instead of black and white or a dvd instead of a video tape. The prices will come down though.

[azsnowman]

How times have changed, remember going to the hardware store and testing the *tubes* on the old tv's?? Sheeeesh!

Dennis

[JQ Public]

actually...(showing my age)...i don't hahaha

[wx247]

Chad... that smiley is scary! :o

It is just one of those things I guess that we will have to do. By about December of 2006, they should be good and cheap, don't you suspect?