more Bell / HD questions

[DementedReality]

ok, so i am going to go and get a Bell system, but now i run into another issue.

at this moment, i dont have an HD TV and while I might buy one, I might decide to wait it out. the issue is that only the Bell HD PVR has dual tuner, which allows me to watch one show and record another or record two shows at one time.

the sales guy (i never believe these guys) says I can use the HD PVR without an HD TV for this purpose. Is this true? Is there a better solution?

[underGRADFlame]

Yup this is true

[DementedReality]

Originally Posted by underGRADFlame

Yup this is true

i forgot my second questions

i noticed such a huge difference when the regular broadcast came through on the HD TV. Is there enough HD programming that I wont feel screwed by purchasing the HD TV?

[kootenayguy9]

If you watch any Network show during the week it is definetly worth it. The only shows not in HD now are the reality shows like Survivor and the Amazing Race. Sportscentre is now also in HD which looks great.

[DementedReality]

Originally Posted by kootenayguy9

If you watch any Network show during the week it is definetly worth it. The only shows not in HD now are the reality shows like Survivor and the Amazing Race. Sportscentre is now also in HD which looks great.

ugh, i watch those two shows .... so basically, i can expect them to look like crap and not use up the entire "window" of the TV?

[underGRADFlame]

Originally Posted by DementedReality

ugh, i watch those two shows .... so basically, i can expect them to look like crap and not use up the entire "window" of the TV?

No, in survivors case, it's qualitity is much better than last season, for some reason it's not mastered in 16:9 HD but I beleive its shot in it. I really noticed last episode that the quality is much higher, and looks great except for the fact it's in 4:3.

[fanforever1986]

Bell's got 32 HD channels as of right now, I heard 8 more by early 07. Definately the place to be for HD (unless your into horrible HD quality and a huge lacking of programing, then you'd be better placed with Shaw)

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by DementedReality

ugh, i watch those two shows .... so basically, i can expect them to look like crap and not use up the entire "window" of the TV?

I've found that most SD shows on HD channels look pretty good on a HD TV. The biggest problem I've noticed watching SD programs on a HD set is sports, specially hockey. It may be because the distance that a game is filmed or the speed but after watching HD hockey, SD looks like crap. This can be helped by adjusting your TV but it's still not good. On the plus side most prime time is HD, most baseball is HD, most football is HD[even the CFL], golf and tennis are switching with the NHL dragging it's arse as usual, at least in Canada.

You can filll up your screen by using the stretch and zoom modes. I'd like to also add it's a good idea to calibrate a new HDTV as the default settings are usually overly bright.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by DementedReality

i forgot my second questions

i noticed such a huge difference when the regular broadcast came through on the HD TV. Is there enough HD programming that I wont feel screwed by purchasing the HD TV?

After noticing that my wife was watching "The View" in HD, I'd almost say there's too much in HD. Just because Rosie O'Donut needs widescreen to fit on the TV, doesn't mean they should be putting her face out there in HD.

[ken0042]

My suggestion for those of you conserned about "black bars" is to but a widescreen TV that in 4X3 mode still gives you the same size picture as your current 4X3 TV.

Now, how the fata are you supposed to figure out the 4X3 size of a widescreen TV? I'm glad you asked. Here's a handy calculator to allow you to compare the sizes: http://www.cavecreations.com/tv2.cgi?KeohiHDTV

[Neeper]

I watch HD 80% of the time. It's totally worth it. Every good show is on HD. Sports is incredible and Sportscenter in HD looks beautiful.

[kootenayguy9]

I watch 80% of my programs in the 800s (HD channels) on Bell. I rarely watch anything other than maybe The Score, the Game Show Network and Calgary's local news on a non HD channel.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Neeper

and Sportscenter in HD looks beautiful.

Did you see Darren Dregger sp. with his bright lipstick and heavy makeup, not so beautiful.