Support NeoGAF

[RonaldoSan]

We all know europe suck at the high-def but with this new generation soon to emerge I need to take action!

I just checked the web today and it is actually possible to get lcd's with 480p, 720p and even 1080i support.

Samsung LE-26R51B (26" LCD)
http://www.samsung.com/dk/products/tv/lcdtv/le26r51b.asp?

- HDMI, VGA
- 720p, 1080i

I don't know anything about the picture quality. Does anyone own this tv? Is there any other tv's in the same price range I should take a look at?

Should I get? Is it worth it?

 

[Hooker]

Have you checked the prices on those?!



I was looking at some as well yesterday (Sharp and Sony to be precise) -- and only the very high end models (€4000+) have 1080i (plus 480p, some don't even have 720p natively) I saw none with 1080p, which is the minimum I'm looking for > PS3.

The cheaper smaller screens just have 480p. And all have that idiotic SCART inputs, no component/composite/HDMI/DVI. Just SCART and an occasional RF.

In other words, wait... We're running a couple years/generations behind on HDTV, mainly because no government in the EU made a new law in which all television broadcasts need to be in 480p/720p res by 200* (like in the States). And why bring out new television sets with better screens when you can still sell the older ones for the full price!

That's probably the main reason why I want the new generation to begin, because that may be the first step of getting an HDTV for a respectable price in this continent

 

[RonaldoSan]

I found some danish online retailers. It's about 1.250€

That's pretty high for a 26" but the features are very sweet. I will try to check some german online retailers.

 

[Timen]

could you give me some links to european retailers? (shipment to the netherlands preferred n___n)

 

[Drexon]

Wait. Like the man said. There's definately a market for HDTV in europe, the sharks just haven't caught the scent of our blood yet. It'll be a frenzy.

 

[ourumov]

I have been wondering how much will be importing a HD set from the states...Probably very expensive...But I am not paying 1000€ for a 720p set...People here claims it has paid a lot les...

 

[Drexon]

Think refurb. That's cheap and you'll get a large (think 32"+) HDTV set well within your pricerange. Refurbs are good, refurbs are your friends.

 

[Timen]

i like refurbs but they don't ship to europe

 

[fortified_concept]

www.pixmania.com has some HDTVs and delivers in many countries in europe. Can someone tell me the difference between DVI and HDMI?

 

[cybamerc]

I was looking at some as well yesterday (Sharp and Sony to be precise) -- and only the very high end models (€4000+) have 1080i

Where the hell have you been looking. Not even HD ready plasmas have to cost that much. HD ready LCDs cost the same as a high end CRT. Of course the picture on LCD is crap but the prices are definitely reasonable.

 

[Timen]

www.pixmania.com has some HDTVs and delivers in many countries in europe. Can someone tell me the difference between DVI and HDMI?

HDMI is the new standard for sending both image and audio data through the same wire, HDMI is backward compatible with DVI but you'll need some extra audio cables. The convertors go for about $20 to $30

thanks for the link by the way, will check it out!

 

[Ghost]

The EU has actually set its HD standards now, the default resolution is 720p, 1080p isnt being considered here yet (I doubt the PAL PS3 will display in 1080p) Theres a HD ready label

Which will appear on TV sets that can display 720p or 1080i and have either DVI or HDMI inputs.


Sky (UK satellite) launches HDTV end of this year, Im pretty sure other EU countries already have limited services going (they are just test services) so there will definitely be HDTV READY sets around by the end of this year, thats what you need to look out for, otherwise you might end up without a HDMI or DVI connector.



Personally im not rushing into getting a HDTV until PAL console specs are confirmed.

 

[seanoff]

no such thing as a PAL HDTV spec IIRC.

In Australia we get the same HDTV stuff from the USA no conversion/processing nothing changed. Our tuners are different thats all so derivation of the DVB spec but aside from that i gather HD streams are HD streams. HDMI is HDMI, there is no PAL HDMI.


Therefore a PS3 outputing 1080i/p will be the same everywhere in the world.


And good luck finding a 1080p tv for less than a very large 5 digit number.

 

[Hooker]

Where the hell have you been looking. Not even HD ready plasmas have to cost that much. HD ready LCDs cost the same as a high end CRT. Of course the picture on LCD is crap but the prices are definitely reasonable.

http://www.sharp.nl/templates/tpl_level3.asp?ContainerID=1332&PageID=3042&CatID=16&ProdID=1349


Keep in mind, that I want a 1080i minimum, 1080p if possible

 

[cybamerc]

The EU has actually set its HD standards now

You are right. The EICTA HD ready label isn't directly related to any HD standard though. It's merely a sort of service to consumers. The Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) standard which is used in the EU (and other places) however fully supports all HD resolutions up 1080p60.

Which will appear on TV sets that can display 720p or 1080i and have either DVI or HDMI inputs.

Merely being able to display those resolutions isn't good enough. The display also has to have a physical resolution of at least 720 lines. Unfortunately I don't think any particular horisontal resolution is required (should be at least 1280 pixels).



Hooker:

> Keep in mind, that I want a 1080i minimum, 1080p if possible

Well if you require a physical resolution of 1920x1080 that's going to cost you no matter where you live. You'll have to wait a few years before they drop to the same levels 720p displays are at now.

Also, keep in mind that any fixed pixel display with a resolution of 1920x1080 is capable of 1080p. If it doesn't accept 1080p signals it's not worth your money.