HDMI Help

[Chisoxfn]

Invest into that 401K early and often at a young age. I know I contribute a crapload already and essentially if I keep up the current rate I'm putting away from my paycheck (and the entire economy doesn't completely just die), I will have zero concerns when I'm retired.

 

Plus, you start doing it early and it is much easier to make a habit of it because technically if you start from your first paycheck you never get used to having the money in the first place (since it just goes straight from your paycheck into the 401K).

[shipps]

I've read all over the place that it has zero effect on your picture. The only time it matters is if you have longer cables.

My grandfather has the same exact TV setup as I do but he has the cheaper cables,and I swear my picture is better than his on some of the HD channels.

[Texsox]

My grandfather has the same exact TV setup as I do but he has the cheaper cables,and I swear my picture is better than his on some of the HD channels.

 

Swap cables and see if you notice a difference. People do vary in their sensory abilities. I have a pretty lousy ear, but make up for it by enjoying what is played on commercial radio. I can understand some people having sharper eye sight and noticing a difference.

[CanOfCorn]

Swap cables and see if you notice a difference. People do vary in their sensory abilities. I have a pretty lousy ear, but make up for it by enjoying what is played on commercial radio. I can understand some people having sharper eye sight and noticing a difference.

 

I work in the video bizness and I notice things that others might not...at the same time, that doesn't mean that it makes that much of a difference. It's a digital signal, and unless, like many others have said, the cable is too long (15ft is the average, but it depends on who makes it and how well it's made, some can make it up to 30 or 60 ft, if made correctly), the difference is going to be in your eye, not the cable.

[shipps]

Swap cables and see if you notice a difference. People do vary in their sensory abilities. I have a pretty lousy ear, but make up for it by enjoying what is played on commercial radio. I can understand some people having sharper eye sight and noticing a difference.

Yeah I should do that.I could swap my grandfathers TV with my microwave and he wouldnt tell the diffrence.

[CanOfCorn]

Yeah I should do that.I could swap my grandfathers TV with my microwave and he wouldnt tell the diffrence.

 

But, DAMN! That popcorn channel kicks some major ass!

[Texsox]

I work in the video bizness and I notice things that others might not...at the same time, that doesn't mean that it makes that much of a difference. It's a digital signal, and unless, like many others have said, the cable is too long (15ft is the average, but it depends on who makes it and how well it's made, some can make it up to 30 or 60 ft, if made correctly), the difference is going to be in your eye, not the cable.

It is also an appreciation thing. I will buy a state of the art TV when my current set goes out. Until then, I am perfectly happy with my 27" Philips and my standard DVD player. I have friends with the latest, they are nice, but I'd rather have the cash right now.

[StrangeSox]

My grandfather has the same exact TV setup as I do but he has the cheaper cables,and I swear my picture is better than his on some of the HD channels.

 

Could be a lot of different factors, including TV calibration, power source quality and signal quality from the cable/ satellite box.

 

Double-blind testing usually shows these things to make no difference subjectively, and signal testing shows them to make no difference objectively. There's a lot of snake oil out there in the A/V world.

 

Plus, you start doing it early and it is much easier to make a habit of it because technically if you start from your first paycheck you never get used to having the money in the first place (since it just goes straight from your paycheck into the 401K).

 

That works well for me. I started contributing to my 401k as soon as I could. I also have my car payments direct-deposited and auto-withdrawn from a separate account so that I don't ever see or miss that money, and I auto-deposit some money into savings every paycheck as well. When that money is never in your checking account to begin with, you won't miss it being there.

Edited May 5, 2008 by StrangeSox

[Dick Allen]

It is also an appreciation thing. I will buy a state of the art TV when my current set goes out. Until then, I am perfectly happy with my 27" Philips and my standard DVD player. I have friends with the latest, they are nice, but I'd rather have the cash right now.

I felt the same way. I had a 32" Sony monitor that I bought used in 1989 that worked like a charm until December last year. I bought a 40" Samsung LCD on one of the bigger internet sites for a great price with no tax and free shipping. Holding off a few years saved me thousands. They shipped me out a 46" Samsung LCD. I had the cable guy out a couple of days later, and now have a hard time watching anything that is not HD.

Edited May 5, 2008 by Dick Allen

[almagest]

Short runs of cheap cable carrying 720p/1080i signals is fine. Runs over 50 feet, or future-proofing your cable for 1080/1440p content, are better served by better quality cable.

 

Gizmodo had an article about this a while back.

[southsider2k5]

Well while this thread is up... The wife and I are planning on being good Amerians and buying a new HD with the stimulus check here soon. We want something in the 32" variety, because that is the biggest we can go and still keep the entertainment center. Any recomendations? Then question number two becomes for people who have Comcast, what cable package does it take to be able to get Sox games in HD?

 

Thanks, I'll hang up and listen for your answer

[shipps]

Then question number two becomes for people who have Comcast, what cable package does it take to be able to get Sox games in HD?

 

Thanks, I'll hang up and listen for your answer

You have to buy the HD cable box which I think is about $100 and then you have to pay 5 extra bucks a month for the HD.

[Steve9347]

Well while this thread is up... The wife and I are planning on being good Amerians and buying a new HD with the stimulus check here soon. We want something in the 32" variety, because that is the biggest we can go and still keep the entertainment center. Any recomendations? Then question number two becomes for people who have Comcast, what cable package does it take to be able to get Sox games in HD?

 

Thanks, I'll hang up and listen for your answer

I recommend Samsung to any and everyone. With a 32", make sure you get a 720p and not a 1080p. There is no difference in the two until you are over 40."

 

I have nothing special with my cable, just the digital HD DVR package. Just make sure you tell them "I want ESPN" so you dont wind up with just the local channels in HD.

 

That'll give you:

 

173 ESPN HD

174 MOJO HD (CSN + games are on this channel)

183 WCIU HD

192 WGN HD

200 CSN HD

204 ESPN 2 HD

 

As well as all the other necessities like Food Network, USA, TNT, TBS, FOX, CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN etc etc. It's the only package you'll really need, bc it covers all HD channels other than premium (Showtime, HBO, etc).

 

[Steve9347]

You have to buy the HD cable box which I think is about $100 and then you have to pay 5 extra bucks a month for the HD.

No, you don't have to buy any cable box. It's like $8 a month for the HD tuner or $12 a month for the HD DVR Dual Tuner.

 

Edit: It might be up to $9 and $14, but you get the idea. It's worth it.

Edited May 7, 2008 by Steve9347

[southsider2k5]

I recommend Samsung to any and everyone. With a 32", make sure you get a 720p and not a 1080p. There is no difference in the two until you are over 40."

 

I have nothing special with my cable, just the digital HD DVR package. Just make sure you tell them "I want ESPN" so you dont wind up with just the local channels in HD.

 

That'll give you:

 

173 ESPN HD

174 MOJO HD (CSN + games are on this channel)

183 WCIU HD

192 WGN HD

200 CSN HD

204 ESPN 2 HD

 

As well as all the other necessities like Food Network, USA, TNT, TBS, FOX, CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN etc etc. It's the only package you'll really need, bc it covers all HD channels other than premium (Showtime, HBO, etc).

 

Sweet. Thanks Steve!

 

[shipps]

No, you don't have to buy any cable box. It's like $8 a month for the HD tuner or $12 a month for the HD DVR Dual Tuner.

Well about a year and half ago you did unless I totally misunderstood the guy.When I got the initial package I was under the impression that I had bought an HD cable box.

[Steve9347]

Well about a year and half ago you did unless I totally misunderstood the guy.When I got the initial package I was under the impression that I had bought an HD cable box.

Through Comcast, you definitely needn't pay $100 for a tuner. That's a satellite thing...

[Steve9347]

Sweet. Thanks Steve!

No prob, man.

[StrangeSox]

Well while this thread is up... The wife and I are planning on being good Amerians and buying a new HD with the stimulus check here soon. We want something in the 32" variety, because that is the biggest we can go and still keep the entertainment center. Any recomendations? Then question number two becomes for people who have Comcast, what cable package does it take to be able to get Sox games in HD?

 

Thanks, I'll hang up and listen for your answer

 

I just picked up a 40" Sony three weeks ago and I love it. Their 32" sets looked great, too. Can't go wrong with Samsung either.

 

I added the Digital Starter and HD packages to my cable and I get all the Sox games. What I find weird about this package is I get some Discovery Network stations like Discovery, HD Theater and Animal Planet in HD, but not others like TLC. If you want TLC, HGTV, FOOD, History, etc. in HD, you'll have to go with Digital Classic.

 

When you call Comcast, be sure to keep asking for a better price and threaten to switch to satellite. you can get your bill dropped substantially.

Edited May 7, 2008 by StrangeSox

[shipps]

Does anybody else that has Comcast HD get that green screen every now and then?It is extremely annoying.

Edited May 7, 2008 by shipps

[Steve9347]

Does anybody else that has Comcast HD get that green screen every now and then?It is extremely annoying.

In the last year, it's happened twice for me, but once was just last week. You have to unplug the bastard to get it to work again.

[santo=dorf]

Do not waste your money on stuff like Monster Cable. There is no reason for an HDMI cable to cost that much. Their market has to be like 1000%. I'll just agree with what everyone else said and say buy them online. I've had good luck with bluejeanscable.com

Whoops. Although it didn't matter too much to me as their sale was a fraction of my total sale.

[GoodAsGould]

If your looking for a 32 inch tv Samsung just released a new model relatively recently. Its cheaper than most TV's, 699.99 regular price and by far the best quality of all the tv's that size. For comparison sake, last years sony model is 26 inches and reg price in 799 or 899 cant remember off the top of my head. These are Sears prices im giving you, bestbuy/circuit city are probably similar.