Do you see the difference with HD TV?

[marinyork]

Yes. A gigantic difference. Even if I had very poor eyesight and not able to resolve detail or see macroblocking I would be able to tell the difference, the colours are much more vibrant - what people with bad eyesight call "shiny". One can tell a very big difference between the SD channels. To be fair to SD, if everything was like BBC1 it wouldn't be too bad - it's the BBC three, bbc four, ITV 2/3/4, E4s, BBC News of this world that are the problem . The sound is a lot better too

If you read a lot of forums there's a fair bit of moaning about 'my family isn't that bothered' , it does seem to be a bit more of a techie/bloke's thing. Contrary to what most people think I think people are curious about HD but they only really care about having BBC1,BBC2, ITV, Channel 4 and Five in HD. .

 

[Arch]

If you read a lot of forums there's a fair bit of moaning about 'my family isn't that bothered' , it does seem to be a bit more of a techie/bloke's thing. Contrary to what most people think I think people are curious about HD but they only really care about having BBC1,BBC2, ITV, Channel 4 and Five in HD. .

Wanting it because it exists, you mean?

I suspect I'm guilty of that - well, being the 'what's the piont?' decryer, not the techie/bloke thing.

I can perhaps see the advantage for a nature programme - stunning views, fine detail etc, but sport? What's the benefit? As long as you can see the colour of the team kit, and who's who, isn't that all that matters?

(Of course, I like nature programmes, and I loathe sport, so I may be biased, I admit).

 

[Bird Brain]

(Of course, I like nature programmes, and I loathe sport, so I may be biased, I admit).

Can't see a problem with that.

 

[Over The Hill]

B/W licence - about £47, so a real saving on colour. I don't know how long it'll be an option though.

Probably about as long as your B&W telly keeps working! I doubt if you will be able to replace it with a B&W one or if the nurds in Currys will know what you are taling about. I am guessing they will say "no; just in black or silver".

 

[Archie_tect]

We have HD but as I don't wear my glasses to watch TV it doesn't make a blind bit of difference!

 

[Over The Hill]

Never seen it! I have been in a TV shop a few times and either have not noticed any difference or they have not had one working.

I have a decent TV that is HD ready but have no hd player or tuner. Not sure I would like Anne Widdecombe in HD. Scarey!!

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Every nostril hair is rendered in stunning detail!

Does it automatically make you reach for you nose hair trimmer?

 

[rich p]

I was unconvinced until I watched the TdF on Eurosport this year - simply stunning.

 

[beanzontoast]

Never seen it! I have been in a TV shop a few times and either have not noticed any difference or they have not had one working.

I have a decent TV that is HD ready but have no hd player or tuner. Not sure I would like Anne Widdecombe in HD. Scarey!!

We had our hd-ready tv for a year before getting the Freesat HD box. I feel like we're getting the most value out of it at last.

 

[Arch]

Probably about as long as your B&W telly keeps working!

Yes, I guess come the switchover, my telly is caput. I suspect it would keep going longer, if only there was an analogue signal.

In theory, I'm told, I could rig a freeview box up to it, but then I'd have to get a colour licence anyway, as it's the receiver you pay for, not the screen. If I had a video recorder, I'd have to get a colour licence, as that would be a colour receiver.

 

[Davidc]

Yes, I guess come the switchover, my telly is caput. I suspect it would keep going longer, if only there was an analogue signal.

In theory, I'm told, I could rig a freeview box up to it, but then I'd have to get a colour licence anyway, as it's the receiver you pay for, not the screen. If I had a video recorder, I'd have to get a colour licence, as that would be a colour receiver.

You can, and if it only has an aerial input you can get a box with RF out for it.

You need to check but I think the boxes count as converters not receivers so if you only have a B&W TV to plug into it AFAIK you shouldn't need a colour licence.

I haven't seen (or at least noticed) a B&W TV for years, so wonder what you're going to do when the TV set finally dies and needs replacing.

 

[Davidc]

There are loads of 28" perfectly working colour CRT tellies dropped off at our local dump every Saturday morning. People literally can't gibe them away. It's a huge waste.

Yes, but that doesn't solve the problem of finding a monochrome one so you can qualify for a cheaper TV licence.

 

[marinyork]

Wanting it because it exists, you mean?

In the sense of it being something better, available yes. Many people just watch channels 1-5 a great deal of the time though and so they'll probably carry on their viewer habits and if it was available they'd watch it. Most of the HD channels have been specialist ones and not 1-5, that's only come/coming very recently. People don't seem interested particularly in anything beyond 1-5 or that costs them a lot of money.

I suspect I'm guilty of that - well, being the 'what's the piont?' decryer, not the techie/bloke thing.

I can perhaps see the advantage for a nature programme - stunning views, fine detail etc, but sport? What's the benefit? As long as you can see the colour of the team kit, and who's who, isn't that all that matters?

(Of course, I like nature programmes, and I loathe sport, so I may be biased, I admit).

I don't actually watch all that much sport. The short answer to why sport benefits is because the SD digital picture just can't cope with fast moving action and it makes a mush of dancing squares on the screen. How it's rolled out HD can cope better (for a variety of reasons).

 

[Arch]

I don't actually watch all that much sport. The short answer to why sport benefits is because the SD digital picture just can't cope with fast moving action and it makes a mush of dancing squares on the screen. How it's rolled out HD can cope better (for a variety of reasons).

Oh, I see! So HD is better than ordinary digital, but digital is actually (in those terms) worse than analogue anyway. So HD is as good as analogue...

When the time comes, I'll go colour, and pay up, but while I can get a cheap licence, I will. I think you can still get B/W tellies, but they tend to be the tiny portables, not like mine, a massive, um, dunno, 12-15" screen? But then, I'm limited for space in the flat, so any bigger will be a pain to find a place for.

 

[ianrauk]

I was unconvinced until I watched the TdF on Eurosport this year - simply stunning.

Mrs Ian loved watching the tours in HD. Thought the same as you... Stunning