| HDTV will be a greater leap in the quality of the home | | | | recording local TV programs you will either have to |
| entertainment experience than even the change from | | | | connect a Digital to Analog TV Converter box to your |
| black-and-white TV to color, or Hi-Fi to Stereo, or AM | | | | VCR or purchase a different TV recording device that |
| to FM. HDTV, in addition to picture and sound will also | | | | has a DTV tuner built in. You'll need that to continue to |
| deliver data services, such as electronic program | | | | record programs from local TV stations after |
| guides or information related to the programs you | | | | February 17th of 2009. The advent of Tivo will |
| watch. Local broadcast stations broadcasting in HD will | | | | eventually make the VCR question irrelevant. |
| be able to broadcast one extra high quality picture, or | | | | While the prices of HDTV sets are dropping, the High |
| several separate camera angles equal to today's | | | | Definition equivalents of many of the complimentary |
| pictures. HDTV will offer the opportunity to develop | | | | technologies that we've come to expect will remain |
| sophisticated services that meet consumer demand | | | | relatively expensive, such as home recording and |
| for flexibility and convenience. | | | | storage media. The HD DVD and Blu-ray war is |
| HD will be presented in a 16:9 format and will allow | | | | another slow down in bringing High Definition |
| resolutions up to 1940x1080 plus provide you with | | | | technology into the mainstream. In reality the main |
| twice the amount of picture information both vertically | | | | distinctions between competing HD formats will be |
| and horizontally. It will not work on regular analog | | | | virtually unnoticeable unless you are viewing on a |
| televisions since these sets don't support the | | | | screen 55"+ in size. |
| interfaces required for HDTV signals. | | | | Antenna |
| After February 17th of 2009 local analog TV channels | | | | In cities across the nation stations have already begun |
| will stop transmitting, everything else connected to your | | | | broadcasting an HDTV signal, receivable with an |
| analog TV will continue to work. | | | | antenna. In order to receive over-the-air digital and HD |
| DVD | | | | signals, you need a tuner and a digital antenna. In order |
| By the time HDTV is wide spread, high-definition | | | | to watch local network affiliates, some satellite |
| movies will be on the shelves, playable on Blu-ray, HD | | | | customers may have to switch from their dish to an |
| DVD or both, depending on which way the format | | | | antenna. To receive HDTV via antenna you'll need: An |
| wars go. When you switch over to HD, you may need | | | | HDTV, HDTV tuner, HDTV antenna. Depending on |
| to connect your HD set-top box, Blu-ray or HD DVD | | | | your location you may need an antenna rotor to point |
| player to your TV using a HDMI (High-Definition | | | | the antenna to multiple broadcast towers. |
| Multimedia Interface) cable. Both Blu-ray and HD DVD | | | | A major hurdle to overcome with over-the-air HD |
| are compatible with existing standard DVD, so you can | | | | broadcasts via Antenna is, the technology has to |
| play your current discs on a next-gen player, but the | | | | overcome the 'consumers' misperceptions and long |
| two competing formats are not compatible with each | | | | held myths, combined with lack of knowledge about |
| other. It's a bit of a laugh if you are old enough to | | | | the capabilities of antennas. The solution to the |
| remember the 'Beta-Max VHS Wars', Beta you say? | | | | Antenna/Satellite conversion question may have a |
| Technology | | | | more long term effect on the consumer response than |
| What problems are facing the early adopters of this | | | | the seemingly obvious debate in other hardware. |
| new technology and what caveats remain for it to | | | | Note: HDTV tuners that come built-into many HDTVs |
| become mainstream? The people buying HDTV units | | | | are over-the-air tuners for use with an antenna and |
| today are known as "early adopters". They usually buy | | | | cannot be used as your cable HD tuner. |
| whatever is the 'Latest & Greatest' especially in the | | | | Local Response |
| Hi-Tech field. Other consumers will have to be sold on | | | | It's always a good idea to check with your local TV |
| the technology. A huge number of older television sets | | | | dealer regarding what HDTV services are available in |
| will instantly become obsolete and when their owners | | | | your area before buying. It would even be a good idea |
| make plans to replace them, newer technology like | | | | to call your local TV stations and ask for the Chief |
| HDTV as it exists at the time of the mass conversion | | | | Engineer to find out the stations' particulars. |
| will be very attractive. You can bet that there will be a | | | | The cable industry believes that HDTV will drive DTV |
| market for 'conversion hardware' to enable the use of | | | | sales up and bring prices down to a where more |
| 'analog' sets with the new HD Broadcast Technology. | | | | consumers can buy. |
| If you now record off-air local TV shows on your | | | | I'm looking at a DLP Projector System now; capable of |
| VCR you will not be able to continue doing that after | | | | displaying HD and allowing connections for an HDTV |
| February 17th of 2009 without an upgrade. To continue | | | | Tuner. Perhaps HDTV will be my next acquisition. |