Please pardon my ignorance and educate me on this. Are we saying that rear projection TVs and LCD TV's wear out faster than CRTs? I ask because all I've ever had, TV wise, is CRTs. I've left my office TV on, almost constantly, for seven years if for no other reason, just to provide background noise while I do other things. I mean, shit, how soon am I going to have to worry about my 22" secondary monitor burning out?
Yes. Well, not the set, but the bulb inside. Rear projection sets use some pretty powerful lamps that diminish over time. I believe Sony recommends the bulbs in my rear projection set be changed every 2000 hours or so. New bulbs are around $200 and are user installable. (The more upscale XBR version of my set even comes with a spare bulb.) The picture on a CRT is produced by an electron beam hitting the phosphors in the screens; this doesn't wear out the screen, although the electron gun does diminish in beam intensity over time. Old TVs--with analog control circuits--would drift as the components aged, requiring your TV to be adjusted every few years. I suspect new CRTs will last many, many years and, since they have digital controls, will probably need little, if any, adjustment. Other than a small loss of convergence at the corners (which could almost certainly be adjusted out), the cheap-o Sony 27" I used for 14 years still worked fine up til I replaced it with my HDTV. That set probably had 10,000 or more hours on it. I wouldn't worry about it. By the time it does, you'll be able to buy a replacement for, like, $5.
It was a slow day at work, so I took off early to go pick up my new HDTV. It's 32", which isn't huge, but dwarfs the 19" Samsung I was using before. I might have gotten a bigger tv, but it's still going to be a bedroom set. At least I no longer have to limit myself to whatever can fit in the dorm room. I need to replace my 5.1 setup eventually. Considering the small space I had before, I'm actually just using some 5.1 PC speakers with an adapter for the A/V out connection. 2001: Great choice to break in the new boob tube. Beautiful transfer, and awesome sound quality, as well. This movie would normally be a must own anyway. Much more so on Blu-Ray for taking in Kubrick's visuals in high def. 9/10. (10/10 should be reserved for the forthcoming Blu-Ray release of Commando, imho. ) I should have a couple more Blu-Ray discs coming this weekend. I picked up a few titles during Amazon's last BOGO.
I got a question also: Are all movies on Blu-Ray in 1080p? Or are some downscaled? I know a lot of smaller (below 40") HDTV's right now only go up to 720p. Which is why I opted for a monitor. I looked on the back of Underworld and Underworld Evolutions, and they both said they were 1080p. Just wondering if some other discs actually only are lower resolution.
I believe ALL movies are in 1080p although I understand that, due to a production slip-up, the Terminator 3 disk actually only outputs a 1080i image. (By comparison, all DVDs are mastered at 480p.) I don't think so. I believe both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are mastered exclusively in 1080p, although earlier HD-DVD players only put out a 1080i signal. I know many of my disks will show a lower resolution as well (a 480 line signal that's compatible with existing analog sets), but this isn't what you'll see when you hook up to an HD set.
I'm guessing the majority of Blu-Ray/HD-DVD movies are 1080p. Depending on the player or tv, the image can be downscaled to 720p. There are a number of tvs, mine included, that are the 720p resolution, but technically support 1080i or 1080p. They just take the image at that resolution and downscale to whatever your tv actually displays. Your player can also down scale to whatever is supported. About 6 months or so back, the PS3 could only down scale to 480p. Luckily, they fixed it so it would display at 720p (and 1080i?), as well. There are some smaller tvs that support 1080p and are 1920x1080, but they're somewhat pricey.
No no no no, you guys be very careful and read the back of those disks. I was making the same assumption until I happened to glance at the back of Space Cowboys on Blu-Ray at Circuit City the other day and saw "Standard Definition" on there. It has been the only movie I've seen with that so far but I'm careful to read the back of each movie now, especially the old ones(from the 90's in particular).
Ok, now I'm confused, it says 1080p Standard Definition on the first line on the top... And ya, I realize this one is the HD-DVD disk, but I saw it on the Blu-Ray version in the store.
I'm guessing a typo or something. Just scanning through all of my other discs, they all say "1080p high definition".
Well that's an expensive typo, I doubt I'm the only one who put it back on the shelf when I noticed that.
Actually, I think you're mistaken. The movie is in 1080p and will show 1080p on an HD set (or will be scaled to whatever resolution the set is) IF you run it over an HDMI connection. However, on many disks (ALL?), there is also a standard definition version that is used over non-HDMI links. I believe this is a copy protection issue; the studios don't want unprotected HD data streams going over unsecure links. Look on the back of some of your disks and you'll probably see the same Standard Definition info. I've got it on many of my disks and I ignore it because my connection--like yours--is HDMI.
Hmmm...Highdefdigest says it was an MPEG-2 movie. Maybe that's their way of saying, "yeah it's high def, but you're not going to shit your pants over the video quality".
It's not a typo. Here's 'The Last Samurai.' You get SD if you watch over analog or non-HDMI digital links.
Paladin do you see on Space Cowboys on that first line under Main Feature where it says "1080p Standard Definition" where as on The Last Samurai it says "1080p High Definition"... we are on the same page here right?
Yours says "1080p High definition" like the ones I checked. Unless I missed something, the only standard def part I see is in the special features. Those usually aren't in high def anyway.
Actually, in regards to the box cover, YOU WERE RIGHT about it being a typo, although I was right about the HDMI. 1. In the case of Warner Brothers disks, the SPECIAL FEATURES (i.e., trailers, documentaries, etc.) ARE in 480p, because they're just carried over from the original DVD. Notice that the MAIN FEATURE is in 1080p. I was wrong in thinking this was referring to a non-HDMI output. However... 2. I was right when I said that you'll get a lower resolution over a non-HDMI link. That is true, but shouldn't matter since everyone who's watching Blu-Ray should be using HDMI anyway. Anyway, here's HighDefDigest's comments on Space Cowboys, to which they gave 4 out of 5 stars for video:
[happy_gilmore]"I'm stupid. You're smart. I was wrong. You were right. You're the best. I'm the worst. You're very good-looking. I am not attractive..."[/happy_gilmore]
I think maybe someone just got the words 'Standard Definition' and 'High Definition' mixed up. I guess it doesn't matter, as long as it's 1080p, then it's high definition.
I think you're right, my first thought was "what the hell, are there crazy blu ray owners that want things in 4:3 or something?"
I upgraded my sound system last year from a 5.1 surround sound system to a 7.1 surround sound system. That's one of the things that is cool about the x3 blu ray. It takes advantage of the speakers.
Has anyone seen the movie Ultraviolet? If you have any comments, recommendations, or etc. for getting this movie?
I haven't seen that movie, but I'm wondering, is 7.1 really that great for sound? My next big purchase will be a good surround system, is it worth the extra money?
I don't have 7.1 myself; just my old Dolby Digital 5.1 setup (Yamaha recevier, Polk Audio speakers, and a modest 75w sub). But it sounds pretty sweet. I figure there's not really any cost difference for 7.1 now; most receivers will support it. You don't have to commit to buying the speakers when you buy your setup: you can buy a 5.1 setup and expand later. I haven't had a good demo of 7.1, but I tend to think surround sound has reached a point of diminishing returns. Sure, if no big cost difference, why not? But is 7.1 going to be that much more immersive than 5.1? I don't imagine it is, so I'm not upgrading. Yet.
I move on Feb 9th... I hope to have something new(surround sound)by Feb 16th... ya... I'm giving myself a week to settle in before I worry about it.
I got my 7.1 on sale at Circuit City. It is an Onkyo system which so far has worked pretty good. Most movies are set for 5.1 so you don't really notice the difference. Where I have noticed the difference is on movies that are set up specifically for the additional speakers. Two movies that I have seen on HD DVD and now Blu Ray are Top Gun and X3. When the movies are designed for the additional speakers it can be a lot of fun to hear all the sounds. Especially planes and the X jet as they fly over and past.
Is anyone else contemplating submitting this one to quotes? Edit: I attributed this quote to the "Hi-Def War" thread!
Ok two more reviews: The Departed Stars Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Wahlberg, Matt Damon. Its an Irish mob/corrupt police force movie. One guy was raised by the mob and goes undercover as a police officer. The other comes from a screwed up family and becomes an undercover mobster. Pretty good story, although I'll probably have to watch it again to get everything in the story. Good extra's too, including a short documentry on the real story this movie is based off. 7/10 Ratatouille This is a Disney 3D animation. Charming characters, not an overtly sappy love story, and I like rats. Plus, it's about cooking! HD really stands out here, as you can see all the little details of the rat's fur and various textures in high res. Definitely a visual treat. The extra's were pretty neat too. The take you inside a famous kitchen in (I think) New York City and show you how they got their inspiration. Some of the food there looks delicious. Overall, a pretty darn good waste of 2 hours. If you have kids, they will really like this movie. 7.5/10
I just finished watching Superman The Movie Picture. I have to say for a movie that is nearly 30 years old, the fx hold pretty well. I think the transfer is pretty good especially for the age of the movie as well. The sound is great as well. Donner was smart to have used the method he chose to use for the audio in this movie. It is I think one of the reasons why the Donner Superman movies have been put onto blu-ray and none of the other Superman movies have.
I noticed that too when I sent in my thing a couple of days for my additional five free blu-ray movies. Superman the Movie was one of the options on the list. But, yah, the receipt said 8 to 10 weeks for it to be processed. That's why they like to do mail in rebates and such. They are such a pain in the ass to deal with I think a lot of people ignore them.
