What does HDTV REALLY cost?

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Considering this. . . Maybe in the next few months - against my better judgement but the wifey kind of likes the idea.

What REALLY is the total cost (roughly) after the $1,500-or-so bucks for a HD ready flat-panel LCD? I presently have Direct TV and they deliberately hide their pricing information on the web site (I'm sure I could spend an hour digging around trying to find an answer, but it's easier to just ask some of y'all that already have it). Are all programs available in this format yet or just certain ones? How do you folks that have it like it?

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, how do you all feel about the "staying power" of the technology, particularly in a time like now when TV broadcasting seems to be going through a "rapid evolution" phase? My biggest opposition to this is buying something and having it be antiquated technology in 2-3 years. My inclination is to wait until the "winner" in this new technology shakes out and the new standards are firmed up and not changing so quickly before buying, but I'm open to guidance. What do you all say?

[Super_Dave_D]

Buy a TV with 1080p and you will be covered for some years to come. Most channels aren’t even being broadcast at that rez yet, Fox is 720p. I think the others are 1080i.

The cost - well that can go as high as you let it.

Receiver - You must have a DTV HD receiver. Do you want a base HD receiver or do you want a built in HD DVR. The latest DTV HD DVR is a pretty nice unit. Way better than their last one. The latter is way more expensive and kind of hard to get now.

DVD Player - Minimum that you need is a progressive scan DVD player which is cheap and you call go all of the way to Blue Ray. This is the area where I am being more cautious with which way I go. Its a good excuse to get a PS3 and they come with a BR player and you get HD gaming to boot.

Local HD channels are free with an antenna.

DTV HD channels are a package - I think its like 6-9 bucks a month for their base channels and the premium ones (HBO) adds more.

If you have the Sunday Ticket (NFL) you have to buy their Superfan package in addition to their normal superfan package, if you want HD football.

Heres a pretty decent website to help learn more - good for all electronics for that matter

http://www.cnet.com/4520-7874_1-5102926-1.html?tag=prmo1

[scottmandue]

One million dollars!

[masraum]

The difference in cable boxs at Time Warner is about $8 a month.

I think HD will be around for a while.

Only certain channels are available in HD, for instance, on my cable box there's a channel that's ABC, and then there's a different channel that's got ABC's HD programming, so out of 100 channels or whatever that I have, only 15 or 20 are HD capable.

Whatever you do, don't pay the ridiculous prices that retail places charge for HD cables.
check out this thread for cable info and a way to save $50-$150 on cables.
Anyone here use HDMI and optical digital cables?

[Mr_Wizard]

I recently spent $599 (on sale from $1000) on a 36in HD ready flat panel LCD. It depends on what HD programming you want. With the built in tuner it picks up HD air broadcasts. This is free. I get FOX, ABC, CBS, NBC, and the UNC channels in HD. I have a 51in HD Monitor in the front room. Here I have the HD Box from Time Warner Cable. HD stations I get:

FOX
CBS
ABC
NBC
ESPN
DISC
INHD
TNT

there are more but I cant remember them off the top of my head.
My bill with the cable package, box (HD/DVR), and internet is around 60 bucks a month.

[Super_Dave_D]

HD Source Resolution


HD Display Resolution

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Good info. Maybe not as outrageous as I originally thought. . . Hmmm. . . Keep it coming and I'll check out those links.

[mikester]

Direct TV charges $100 for the upgraded dish, box and installation. Tell them TWC will give you everything you need for free and they will give it to you for free, hit them up for the programming too which honestly isn't much beyond the ESPN type channels and the locals.

[red-beard]

I bought all HDTVs 2 years ago for the house for about $699 each. They are 32&36 CRTs, all in 1080i. The picture difference is nothing short of amazing. On TWC, all of the regular channels are now sent out in EDTV, so even the regular channels look better. The 20 or so HDTV channels are fantastic. The HD programming doesn't cost extra, but you pay something like $8 extra per month for the HD boxes. 3 of our 4 TV sets are HD. We are planning to replace the last unit soon, but I'm waiting until something is affordable in 1080p.

Oh, and if you have the choice between a 720p and a 1080i, get the 1080i. Whenever I see a 720p set, I think it looks like a lot of big pixels.

[RickM]

I held out as well. But recently was comfortable enough with the technologie's staying power that I went for a 50" Plasma.
My Cable co offers both a "free" HD channel block (same as Mr Wiz) and a pay channel block.

Other than the rental fee for the cable box/tuner/DVR my cost is basically the same as before.