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BobSutan
[H]F Junkie
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2000
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- 12,131
I did some research tonight on what's out there for HDTV and I was wondering if I've gotten all the key points. From what I've gathered, this is what I've come up with:
First off, the basics:
http://www.hdtvgalaxy.com/hdtvbasics.php
There are two prevaling versions of HDTV. 768p and 1080i. As the link above explains they are different resolutions that a TV signal can be broadcasted at. That's all there is to it. Naturally the higher the resolution the better the image (well, more or less).
Secondly, the 1080p vs 1080i debate:
http://www.hdtvexpert.com/pages_b/reality.html
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6449_7-6361600-1.html?tag=disc
Put simply 1080p is not viable due to the limited bandwidth involved with today's HDTV signals and what the content industry can distribute.
Expectations:
After all is said and done 1080i is the highest resolution you should be looking for, espcially for an LCD and Plasma HDTV. However, most presentations are done at 768p because of limited broadcasting bandwidth anyway. Therefore if you got a good old 768p HDTV you'll be good to go for 90% of the HD that's out there. Of course you could get the 1080i and future-proof yourself as most sets can display the 768p signal just fine with a good resizer/re-interlacer. Plus with the 1080i those HD-DVDs will look great once they become more widespread and affordable. Then again, the same could be said for 1080p which HD-DVDs are supposedly going to run natively. Barring the 1080p native resolution of HD-DVD, the 1080i will be worth it with the new HD-DVDs because the resolution is at least the same size, despite having a lesser smoothness. Of course if you're getting an LCD or Plasma the 1080i will get
converted to progressive scan anyway as that's how they display the picture (FYI, the "p" in 1080p stands for progressive scan). In short, until the age of HD-DVD arrives you could probably get a 768p set and not notice the difference in quality for most mainstream media (especially if you have Comcast's crappy HD that is compressed to hell and back).
Interfaces:
HDTV has sought to rely on one master interface: HDMI.
http://www.hdtvprimer.com/
HDMI is set to replace the DVI interface. DVI interfaces are most commondly found connecting PCs to LCD monitors.
Now the problems with HDTV and where this is all headed IMO:
http://www.drmblog.com/index.php?/archives/80_DTV_+_HDTV_+_HDMI_+_HDCP_+_DVI__BAD_DRM.html
To sum it all up, HDCP is a mechanism that requires all the hardware to be compliant or your HD content will be crippled. Its gonna suck to find out that after spending thousands of dollards that your movies look just as good as they did on your old set with the DVD player. And that's not even counting the myriad of restrictions that can be dicated to you after you purchaced your own copies of the media.
Who even thinks this stuff up anyway? The DRM we're already seeing today is analogous to GM shutting off your car because you didn't put in the $10/gallon gas they wanted you to buy from the dealership. That's a dumb analogy, but that's the level of stupidity that the content industry has taken things to with Digital Restrictions Management. When they say that they want to protect their rights, all that means is that they want their cake and eat it to, which is to say they want to sell you a copy and then turn around and dictate how you use it. And this is just the start. They've already said that future HD DVD standards not be copyable, even though you have the legal right to make backups of anything you buy. What DRM amounts to is this: the studio that sold you the CD or DVD will come home with you and tell you what you can and cannot do with that CD or DVD, plain and simple. Don't believe me? Next time you play a DVD ask yourself why you can't skip the FBI warning or some studios' commercials (i.e. Disney). Think about it.
My advice when it comes to any form of DRM is this: stay far, far, far away from it. DRM is essentially a version of spyway/crippleware and in some cases has included viruses and trojan horses. And NEVER put a DRM'd CD or DVD into a computer. You may end up losing the whole thing due to data corruption or infection like people did with Sony CDs a few months back.
Anyway, that's my thoughts on it. Did I get anythign off the mark? I may have strayed off into left field a bit with the DRM crap, but that shit really gets under my skin.
First off, the basics:
http://www.hdtvgalaxy.com/hdtvbasics.php
There are two prevaling versions of HDTV. 768p and 1080i. As the link above explains they are different resolutions that a TV signal can be broadcasted at. That's all there is to it. Naturally the higher the resolution the better the image (well, more or less).
Secondly, the 1080p vs 1080i debate:
http://www.hdtvexpert.com/pages_b/reality.html
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6449_7-6361600-1.html?tag=disc
Put simply 1080p is not viable due to the limited bandwidth involved with today's HDTV signals and what the content industry can distribute.
Expectations:
After all is said and done 1080i is the highest resolution you should be looking for, espcially for an LCD and Plasma HDTV. However, most presentations are done at 768p because of limited broadcasting bandwidth anyway. Therefore if you got a good old 768p HDTV you'll be good to go for 90% of the HD that's out there. Of course you could get the 1080i and future-proof yourself as most sets can display the 768p signal just fine with a good resizer/re-interlacer. Plus with the 1080i those HD-DVDs will look great once they become more widespread and affordable. Then again, the same could be said for 1080p which HD-DVDs are supposedly going to run natively. Barring the 1080p native resolution of HD-DVD, the 1080i will be worth it with the new HD-DVDs because the resolution is at least the same size, despite having a lesser smoothness. Of course if you're getting an LCD or Plasma the 1080i will get
converted to progressive scan anyway as that's how they display the picture (FYI, the "p" in 1080p stands for progressive scan). In short, until the age of HD-DVD arrives you could probably get a 768p set and not notice the difference in quality for most mainstream media (especially if you have Comcast's crappy HD that is compressed to hell and back).
Interfaces:
HDTV has sought to rely on one master interface: HDMI.
http://www.hdtvprimer.com/
HDMI is set to replace the DVI interface. DVI interfaces are most commondly found connecting PCs to LCD monitors.
Now the problems with HDTV and where this is all headed IMO:
http://www.drmblog.com/index.php?/archives/80_DTV_+_HDTV_+_HDMI_+_HDCP_+_DVI__BAD_DRM.html
To sum it all up, HDCP is a mechanism that requires all the hardware to be compliant or your HD content will be crippled. Its gonna suck to find out that after spending thousands of dollards that your movies look just as good as they did on your old set with the DVD player. And that's not even counting the myriad of restrictions that can be dicated to you after you purchaced your own copies of the media.
Who even thinks this stuff up anyway? The DRM we're already seeing today is analogous to GM shutting off your car because you didn't put in the $10/gallon gas they wanted you to buy from the dealership. That's a dumb analogy, but that's the level of stupidity that the content industry has taken things to with Digital Restrictions Management. When they say that they want to protect their rights, all that means is that they want their cake and eat it to, which is to say they want to sell you a copy and then turn around and dictate how you use it. And this is just the start. They've already said that future HD DVD standards not be copyable, even though you have the legal right to make backups of anything you buy. What DRM amounts to is this: the studio that sold you the CD or DVD will come home with you and tell you what you can and cannot do with that CD or DVD, plain and simple. Don't believe me? Next time you play a DVD ask yourself why you can't skip the FBI warning or some studios' commercials (i.e. Disney). Think about it.
My advice when it comes to any form of DRM is this: stay far, far, far away from it. DRM is essentially a version of spyway/crippleware and in some cases has included viruses and trojan horses. And NEVER put a DRM'd CD or DVD into a computer. You may end up losing the whole thing due to data corruption or infection like people did with Sony CDs a few months back.
Anyway, that's my thoughts on it. Did I get anythign off the mark? I may have strayed off into left field a bit with the DRM crap, but that shit really gets under my skin.
