Hey Scott:
What is your opinion on DLP TVs and 1080p Hi Def, if you have one? I know that the only way to get 1080p today is via HD-DVD or BlueRay, as nobody is currently broadcasting at that resolution. Any tech info or opinions?

Bob

Well, Bob, some say 1080p vs 720p is hard to tell apart. It depends a lot on viewing distance.

You might have the tv for 5-10 years, so get a good one. The tv should be able to upsample well from any lower res.

The prices have come down a ton – a year ago I’d have said wait but now I think the prices are more realistic. I’d think the really high quality tvs, good brand, are really worth it. They do use better components and have better software doing the processing, from what I understand.

When you see a price that is too good to be true, don’t go for it. All of this is relatively new technology, so when problems crop up in a particular model, you can expect to see a big discount.

If you’re shopping at a big box retailer, check the model number, it will often be unique to that chain of stores (Costco, for example). Why would they would make a separate model number for that discount store? Is everything exactly the same? Can you tell? What does a manufacturer do with its “grade C” components? I don’t know, but you must compare apples to apples.

Make sure the TV you want has everything the videophiles tell you it shoud have. TVs have been evolving very quickly, and standards have been evolving. There are sets from a few years ago that will likely not be able to play some content at all, ever, due to some standards and DRM changes. HDCP compliance is one of those things. I believe most of this is settled now, but it’s no longer the 1950’s where the FCC dictates everything so that every TV is always compatible. There are probably still TVs out there on the market that lack things that you actually will need.

You might jump at an under-$2000 price without agonizing over every detail. But you need to consider the pain of switching out a TV, trying to fit it into your built-in cabinet, hooking up wires, and teaching your family how to use the new remote control. You don’t want to have to go through that again in a month, so research the TV like you’d research a car.

More importantly, you’ll probably be looking at this equipment every day for a few years. Will you get a warm fuzzy feeling when you sit down to relax with your favorite show, or will you be thinking “I should have spent a few hundred more bucks!”

But yeah, my gut says 720p is for chumps, and that there’s no excuse for 1080i. Get yourself the best 1080p that fits in your budget. Bigger is not better – get the right size for the room.

Oh, and I like DLP if the thickness works for you.
Thanks for writing,

Scott