The HD Problem
July 10, 2006 at 10:20 PM
So after many months of pondering, pining, researching and thinking about it, I've finally settled on the TV I want.
My budget is $2K so obviously some TVs were out of the question.
Consumer Reports loves the Panasonic 42" Plasma, and after reading their review, and hundreds of user reviews all over the web, comparing it to dozens of other sets, looking at it in-store at Circuit City, talking to the folks there - it looks like the one to get. The Panasonic TH-42PX60U to be exact.
I even found the place to buy it. Free shipping, no tax for me (I'm not in NJ) and I've purchased from these guys before.
But here's the problem, and this is the dirty little HD secret.
Once I bring the TV home, I'm hosed.
First, and this is important to realize, you can only get a handful of HD channels today. If your cable provider has them, you can get your local 6-7 channels, then a few select other ones (ESPN, TNT and a few more) but that's it.
IOW, it's not like you buy a new fancy HDTV and wham - you've got HDTV. No. What you have is an HDTV, and if you pay through the nose, you can get a few channels of HDTV.
So you've got a few choices:
Comcast - they've probably got the easiest set up. Pricey - roughly $65/mo gets you a raft of channels, and the few HD channels.
Dish - similar to Comcast
DirectTV - similar to Comcast and Dish, only you can't get the local channels in HD.
And I have a rule.
I patently refuse to watch TV without my TiVo. Refuse.
I've seen others try to stray from the fold, only to be very sorry. I'm not stupid, I'm just not going there.
But TiVo doesn't do HD.
Of the 3 carriers, only DirectTV has TiVo, but it doesn't have the local channels (the ones I'd really want in HD - think: Lost, 24, The Office). Plus to get the DirectTV HD TiVo you have to cough up $300 for the privilege of starting a lease on the TiVo.
Comcast does it all, only their PVR is so horrid it's nearly unusable. I've seen the Dish DVR and it too, is an absolute mutt.
So my options, since I want local channels are: TiVo and no HD. Or Comcast/Dish with a horrid DVR.
I'm not budging on the TiVo.
So I'm hosed.
So calling it an HDTV is a misnomer... it's an HD Screen - and you can watch movies on it in HD.
Only, I seem to remember that even HD movies would cost an arm and a leg when finally released. (Warner Brothers, I think, was going to charge like $30/title for HD versions?)
So I think the moral of the story is: just get an HD for the big screen... and maybe someday (in like 10 years) you'll get what you want out of it.
Posted by: Michael K. Campbell | July 10, 2006 at 10:51 PM
I feel your pain.
I'm going on 9 months now of buyer atrophy because of programming/PVR issues.
Luckily, DirecTV has local HD channels in my area, but that still doesn't get around paying for a new tivo and ditching my beloved lifetime (of the box) subscription.
Posted by: Dean | July 12, 2006 at 08:40 AM
I just moved to town and brought my 52" DLP set with me. I'd never had hi-def before, so I figured I'd go with the Comcast intro deal while Directv and Dish battle it out over local hi-def channels. After one day, I upgraded to their HD package with the DVR. It's true, their DVR is incredibly glitchy, but I'm now hooked on hi-def. It's a beautiful thing! And the intro price makes it all worth it. Of course, once the special offer ends, I'll have to rethink everything. But the offer is still good for first-timers.
So let me recommend this: go with a DLP set. They're cheaper than plasma and have equal or better resolutions. Visit Huppins downtown (or their affiliated website, onecall.com) for a variety of sets. (No, I don't work for them.)
TiVo and HD aren't going to mesh until TiVo series 3 comes out, whenever that is, so suck it up and tolerate the Comcast DVR (it's "Microsoft Enhanced", you know). Their intro price is good til the end of the year.
Summer programming sucks, anyway, so what can you do? I'll tell you, though. Letterman in HD is just too good!
Posted by: Pete | July 13, 2006 at 11:02 PM
Carson,
I'm a huge Tivo fan (or maybe, I _was_ ... the company lost a lot of ground in the past few years) and while I certainly have no love for Comcast, their DVR isn't that bad. Specifically, I'm talking about the dual tuner model that can do HD.
If Tivo gets an 9/10, I would give Comcast a 8/10 ... there are a few minor features I miss (Wish Lists) but, on the other hand, the HD and on demand stuff is a big plus.
Posted by: Brian | July 18, 2006 at 08:54 AM
Carson,
You surely could & would feel less hosed if you pushed for digital change locally. Did you know that our local cable/digital oversight group, The Greater Spokane Cable Advisory Board gets literally NO citizen imput. Next tuesday 5:30pm downstairs at city hall you can have your pick of chairs and be first to speak up & push for change.
Bill
Posted by: Bill | July 21, 2006 at 12:53 PM
Carson,
Many our local channels out here in Utah brodcast in HD. Simply setup an inexpensive antenna in your garage or attic, run your coax into your TV receiver and you can get almost all the local channels in HD. This is perfect since there is no monthly subscription for this.
I have the Panasonic TH-42PD. I have not set this up personally yet but I'm working on getting off my lazy bum and doing it. I have friends with the same set and they're doing this. It's amazing to see the grass look like...grass!
Everything is in 1080i except for our channel 4 and 13. Those are at 720p. Kinda cool!
Check out this link for more information:
http://www.utahneighbors.com/Eagle_Mountain/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1192&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15
Posted by: Mike Crabtree | August 22, 2006 at 04:12 PM
Hi Crab - sounds great, except off-air signal can't be put on my TiVo.
Posted by: Carson | August 22, 2006 at 04:19 PM