HDTV Buying Guide

**penguinz** · 02-01-2007, 02:06 PM

This was on CNNMoney.com

**Donger** · 02-01-2007, 02:09 PM

I've a question. I have Dish Network, bur I don't have an HD receiver or programming. Hows does standard defintion TV look on one of these? And, as I understand it, most (all?) SDTV broadcasts are 16:9, right? So, how do they show up on a 16:9 monitor?

**noa** · 02-01-2007, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

I've a question. I have Dish Network, bur I don't have an HD receiver or programming. Hows does standard defintion TV look on one of these? And, as I understand it, most (all?) SDTV broadcasts are 16:9, right? So, how do they show up on a 16:9 monitor?

Eh, its not really worth it unless you're going to get HD programming. You can fit the picture to a widescreen, but it stretches the images. If you have HD programming, it fits the screen perfectly. I've also noticed that some standard def. programs look more pixelated on a HDTV than on a normal TV.

htismaqe · 02-01-2007, 02:12 PM

SDTV broadcasts are 4:3. Most 16:9 sets have sidebars, so you can view them as 4:3 images, or you can use a stretch mode that fills the screen. I've used stretch mode for so long that everything on normal TV looks rail thin.

For picture quality, SDTV looks like SDTV. The big thing is going to be the size of your TV - the bigger you get, the farther away from the TV you have to be in order to not notice the pixelization.

**Donger** · 02-01-2007, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noa949

Eh, its not really worth it unless you're going to get HD programming. You can fit the picture to a widescreen, but it stretches the images. If you have HD programming, it fits the screen perfectly. I've also noticed that some standard def. programs look more pixelated on a HDTV than on a normal TV.

Oh. That's what I thought, the stretching part, I mean. No thanks.

But, can't you get an external antenna and at least pick up the local HD programming over the air?

02-01-2007, 02:06 PM
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02-01-2007, 02:09 PM	#2
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $10259900 VARSITY	I've a question. I have Dish Network, bur I don't have an HD receiver or programming. Hows does standard defintion TV look on one of these? And, as I understand it, most (all?) SDTV broadcasts are 16:9, right? So, how do they show up on a 16:9 monitor? __________________ I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you?
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02-01-2007, 02:12 PM	#4
htismaqe 'Tis my eye! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Chiefsplanet Casino cash: $10269900	SDTV broadcasts are 4:3. Most 16:9 sets have sidebars, so you can view them as 4:3 images, or you can use a stretch mode that fills the screen. I've used stretch mode for so long that everything on normal TV looks rail thin. For picture quality, SDTV looks like SDTV. The big thing is going to be the size of your TV - the bigger you get, the farther away from the TV you have to be in order to not notice the pixelization.
Posts: 100,022