Will Your Next TV be Widescreen ?

[George Bellefontaine]

From what I been reading, it seems that 4:3 tvs are still in bigger demand than widescreen models.Why hasn't widescreen tv caught on ? I don't own one, I confess, but I have a dedicated HT with front projection, and any tv fare is usually watched elsewhere in my home.But it seems to me that widescreen sets should be in bigger demand now that dvd has taken off.
How about you, will your next tv be widescreen ?




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[P-Dub]

No, I don't think I would ever purchase a 16:9 set. Any future set that I purchase will be 4:3 as most of my view is still off cable. And also any 4:3 set that I do buy must be able to squeeze anamorphic DVD's. So that negates the benefit of a widescreen set.

Realistically, budget speaking, widescreen sets are still priced at a premium. Though not as high as they used to be, but I can still get a 4:3 HDTV ready set that can put out the same screen realestaste as a smaller widescreen set.

Idealy for my next purchase, a FPTV is the way I'd like to go.

One reason widescreen isn't in so much demand is that there is not enough programming. It's starting to appear, but it's still a long way away. With the growth of DVD, my real fear is that the mass consumer will force studios to put out more pan & scan movies as they don't like those pesky black bars.

Can you imagine that you're joe consumer and you buy a widescreen set, then put on Phantom Menance and you still get black bars? I bet he'd be pretty pissed.

I guess what I'm getting at is that there really needs to be a push to educate the consumer what is widescreen, what is HDTV standard, what is 1.85 and 2.35 ratios for movies. And I can't see the average salesman doing that.




Paul

There are three kinds of people in this world; those that can count, and those that can't.

[Andrew Pratt]

price is still a major hurdle for the average consumer...that and most broadcast TV is still 4:3 and well just general ignorance all hinder sales. My next TV may nto be a widescreen set but it will likely be HDTV ready...or a projector that supports the widescreen format.

[Chip]

My next tv will definately be a 16:9 wide betty..
HBO HD, ShowTime HD a number of CBS HD shows during the week, Leno on NBC... a whole slew of 480P stuff on Fox and oh yea, ABC has some movies in 480P..(actually ABC probably has more than Fox). Ya gotta jump in sometime!
BTW my current tv is an HD ready 16:9 Mitsubishi (46" - $2500.00) with a Dish 6000.

- Chip




Chip Engle


"Concrete ain't a spectator sport"


<a href="http://www.htguide.com/bilder/index.cfm?fuseaction=arkivbilder&userid=0&selected userid=336" target="_blank">My HT

[Lex]

I tend to think yes, whenever that happens, it will be an Elite PRO-720, or whatever the current 65" WS set is, unless I move and go FP. (unlikely)

I don't think I am super worried about having black side bars on 8-10 sit coms a week, maybe an ER, 60 minutes and such. It's just not that important a viewing.

Lex

[John Holmes]

I'm hoping my next TV purchase is a widescreen. It does seem to be the next move in evolution. However, Paul makes a very good point on sets that can perform the proper squeezing.

Still, my viewing is majority dvd so a widescreen maybe the best choice for me.

FPTV has been dropping in price so, maybe by the time I'm ready to buy a WS set, the FPTV will be within reach as well!




"I came here, to chew bubble gum and kickass. And I'm all out of bubble gum!!!" My DVD's

[Huskerduck]

Is there any other kind of TV?

After almost 2 years now I find it hard to watch a regular 4:3 set because I dont like regular TV much and what TV I do watch my stretch modes do a very good job

You guys are forgetting to mention ABC has expanded to a large HD lineup and theres HDNet as well(still the best HDTV on other than PBS)

as far as watching progressive scan DVD and HDTV on a 4:3 I would have to get a HUGE 4:3 and have honking grey/black bars glowing ever so slightly or make big screen masks soall my sets will be widescreen, definately with the XBox getting with the program

the New Mitsubishis and HDTV VCRs are amazing, I used to think the Pioneers were pretty sweet but after auditioning the new line-up, I think I found a new leader




Mark


Ducks Meager Theater

[GregoriusM]

Widescreen. But it won't be for about 3 to 5 years down the road, depending upon whether the programming comes along and prices comes down to more reasonable levels.