On NextGenElectronics.com's sister site, TFH Gaming reader Harold Taylor
recently sent in an email about gaming and high definition television.
Our own Thomas Knollwood takes the answer on in this commentary.
From: "Harold Taylor, Jr."
To: TFH Gaming
Projection or Tube? Basically it comes down to that!
I own a Playstation 2 and have pre-purchased an XBOX! Now I am in the
market for either a projection wide screen hdtv television or either at
least a 36 inch tube hdtv. I need help on deciding which one will be best
for console gaming. Since y'all have the inside scoop with the manufactures
of both console systems maybe you can shed some information on the subject.
The xbox supports hdtv and some games are written to use wide screen format
(Madden 2002) so you can see why the wide screen hdtv projection would
be a nice choice. Yet I hear that projection televisions can really get
screwed up or images burnt onto them if you play video games on them.
However why would they support those two formats (hdtv and wide screen)
if they don't expect you to play them on a projection tv?
Also what about these hdtv's that support computer input such as vga/xvga
format.
To me if a computer monitor can display video games and support high resolution
then the tv's that support hdtv and vga/xvga should be able to handle
it without messing up the tv. Be it a projection or a tube?
Basically I need to know which one to buy that will make the console system
I hook up to it look great. Because we all know that the television is
the weakest link when it comes to a console video gaming system.
Thanks,
Harold E. Taylor, Jr. (28 yr old gaming nut!)
Dear Harold...
You raise some good questions and you need to keep an eye on our series
from Greg Gibson on the FUTURE OF GAMING, as he will be pointing out where
we go from here.
If you are serious enough to be asking HDTV questions, and appear to be
able to afford the $2K - $4K for a system, then I will give you an OPINION...
please note that it is an opinion (everyone has them) and you agree, by
reading the next word, not to hold us liable (in California everyone sues
everyone - so you gotta understand this is an OPINION).
My advice - don't buy anything now. You have picked the absolute worst time
in the history of television to be trying to buy a tv. Stick with what you
have and wait a year or two... it will be worth the wait.
If you absolutely HAVE to get a tv/monitor right this minute (your other
set broke), then you better hold on tight because you are in for a WILD
RIDE!
First, HDTV is only broadcast over the air by a few major network channels
in very few cities. At present it is mostly on UHF stations trying to simulcast
- so first thing, call your local TV stations and talk to their Engineering
Department (chief engineer) and ask what they broadcast, where is their
transmitter, and what channel (for example, in San Diego CBS Channel 8 is
broadcast in HDTV on Channel 55)... you might find that their transmitter
is one you can't pick up!
Second, Satellites (DirecTV and DISH) generally don't carry HDTV. The exception
is a special event or two on channel 199 (on DirecTV) or the HDTV feed of
HBO Eastcoast on channel 509. The rest is just normal broadcasting. THIS
SUX BIGTIME. Because the minute you see full HDTV, you want it - and you
want it all the time. Are you ready to send this kind of money and have
nothing to watch. Call DirecTV and DISH to see exactly what HDTV broadcasts
you will be able to get BEFORE you buy.
Third, because most new TVs are the widescreen (I have a Mitsubishi WS65807)
format, if you play a lot of video in regular mode (bars on the sides) -
you will eventually screw up the picture (the Manufacturer will give you
a special note with this WARNING clearly made). The key would be to play
video in stretch mode - but you gotta realize that the screenpeople will
look "fat". Please note that this is also true for direct-tubes as projection-tubes.
And there is also the problem of "burn in" any image left on the screen
for a prolonged... did that once with my pc direct monitor at work. True
projections are more sensitive, but you gotta be careful with both types.
Fourth, we don't know about XBOX and how it will interface with HDTV because
we don't have an XBOX yet. But we will be doing a special review of XBOX
in late October (we are scheduled to do a product review and are getting
a pre-release XBOX).
Fifth, you ask about a tube or projection... actually, the real issue is
what size room do you have... if you are sitting in a small room, and are
5 feet away from a 70-inch set, you will go nuts. You want to get a set
which is sized properly for the room - I have a big room so I got a 65 inch
TV... there are no HDTV tube sets currently larger than 40 inch widescreen
(keep checking tho). So, if you want a 45, 55, or 65 inch set, you go with
a projection... 40, 36, etc. go with a tube.
You are right about inputs XGA in some of the new HDTVs... and as soon as
we get the XBOX and Madden 2000, we'll let everyone know how it works in
that configuration.
Thanks for the question... we will keep you posted!
