More Confusion: Visual Tech.

With my previous post, I discussed the technical aspects of visual technology, mainly the new found fad of high definition. But the question then, is what does it take to view high definition TV and movies? Many retailers provide guides to this question, but I believe that I can “one up” them and simplify matters. The first thing to remember though is that all of this costs money and depending on what you want, it can cost a lot of money. But with the financial aspects aside, let’s delve into the confusion, shall we?

Let’s first start with viewing high definition TV. As mentioned in the previous post, you will need a TV that is HD capable, i.e. plasma, LCD, or even a projector. Both plasmas and LCDs are slowly going down in price, so be on the lookout for bargains on exceptionally large units. You have the TV, now you need a service that will provide you with an HD quality signal. Typically, your present cable or satellite provider will offer this service as an add on to your current package. Obviously, this will cost more, but most rates are reasonable. I currently get HD through my cable company, but personally, I would argue that most satellite company’s offer more channels in HD. On a side note, if you chose to stick with your current provider, your residence may have to be rewired with updated technology.

With that down, the next matter at hand is how to view movies and such in HD. As of last year, there were 2 main competitors in the HD movie realm: Bluray and HD-DVD. HD-DVD was backed and made by Toshiba, but as you can tell, the word “was” is rather key. In essence, the Bluray format won out and is now the standard in HD movie viewing. Obviously, your old DVD player will not be able to play a Bluray disc, even though it is the same size. So you will then need to acquire a Bluray disc player. Many of these units are still a bit pricey, but like HD TV’s; they are slowly declining in price. I would personally recommend Sony’s Playstation 3, as it has the ability to play Bluray movies as well as game. On top of that, many Bluray players are able to play your old DVDs as well.

On a final note, if you want to truly experience high definition, you are going to need the proper cables to do so. Many are probably familiar with AV cables, YBPr cables, and S-Video cables, but these are unable to conduct the massive amount of information that an HD signal entails. Instead, you will have to acquire an HDMI (High Definition Media Interface) cable to view HD. In most cases, your cable or satellite provider will provide you with an HDMI cable to connect to your TV from the receiver. If you buy a Bluray player, you will probably have to purchase an HDMI cable separately. I would recommend purchasing one over the internet, as they are considerably cheaper and of the same quality as the expensive ones that you find in many major retailers.