We are FINALLY making progress on our addition so the time has come for the furnishings in our new family room. The first question is barely a question, "LCD or Plasma". We went with LCD of course due to lifespan and overall quality. (Tip number one: Choose LCD not plasma) The second question deserved much more consideration "Should we spend the additional money for 1080P?"
The question, is all about resolution. 1080p, sometimes referred to as "Ultra-HD" or "Full HD" means that the TV is capable of displaying "1920x1080 pixels. This is almost double most HD Televisions (know as 720P) which displays 1280x720 pixels. The "P" refers to progressive scan formats that portray a smoother image. The 720P HD televisions are also referred to as 1080i which has the same resolution as the 1080p but the pixels are not all displayed at the same time (They are interlaced and they can be off by 1/30 of a second). Ultimately, the 1080p does have a better picture but it also costs about 1K more than the 1080i (720p).
Digging deeper, we discovered that very little content is currently available in 1080p. DVD's display at480p, most HDTV content displays at 720p, the Sony Playstation 3 is the only 1080p content that is currently available, it hits the market next Friday for a whopping 599 bucks. The Playstation 3 does not require 1080p but the picture and gaming will be sharper on the 1080p versus the 1080i.
Long story short, we thought the smarter move was to get the (720p) Sony Bravia KDL-46S2000. This TV was discounted at Best Buy from $2800 to $2100, the Sony Bravia KDL-46S2010 is $2899 and the ONLY difference between the two TV's is that the one we chose is silver and the new model is black. It was a fantastic deal.
Remember, owning an HDTV does not necessarily mean you will get HD picture at home. If you are on Cable TV, you will need to upgrade your cable box or obtain cable cards which allow you to access HD content. Direct TV users have the most HD content available however you need the dish that receives content from 3 different satelites. (I am not sure of the model of the dish)
So, the new Bravia sits, waiting to be installed in the family room. There is one construction item to go before installation, the base boards need to get installed throughout the addition.
Next tech shopping item to discuss? The wonderful box sitting proudly above the Bravia and the wall mounting bracket.
3 comments:
Will it be ready in time for Thanksgiving? I sure hope so, and I may have to arrive early to get a good viewing spot :)
Well, I sure hope so. As far as Thanksgiving goes, come at your own risk. I have only cooked one turkey in my life and it was for the homeless. LOL.
Seriously though, we are looking forward to seeing you and Kate.
OK, how can you just let the Sony Bravia (also know as the TV for both men and women) sit in a box. Unleash the beast. While you wait for addition to be completed, go to Target and get those rabbit ears. Note: Major sporting events on cable or satellite tend to have issues while a major event is on. Hence, rabbit ears, HD over the airwaves for FREE!!!! Are you planning on running the wires down the front of the new wall?? ONE Word = U G L Y ! Remember it’s all in the details.
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