Man, I still dont get all this tv shopping. HD sets have been around for years now and there is some (I'll admit not a lot of) HD programming that looks amazing. But its taken a video game console to finally push people into buying one? I'd pick HDNET over any graphics my 360 can push out. Is anyone else with me here? Don't get me wrong, I'm glad more people are getting into this market but I never thought an Xbox would be the deal maker.

I bought mine about a year ago. I have digital cable, but the HD channels aren't available where I live yet (I live in some sort of geographic anomally apparently ). Prices have really dropped since I bought mine, which I would think is more what is convincing people to buy one. My set cost $1600 a year ago, now I've seen it for $1200.

I think it has very little to do with the xbox 360, and very much to do with the plummeting prices of HD sets and increased programming availability. Now that Plasma and LCD TV's with the added pimp factor of being thin are priced within reach of more consumers it starting to pick up. This was happening long before the release of the xbox 360.

I purchased my 55 in HDTV about 2 years ago..Mitsubishi. I bought it because of PQ..Hell all I watch is HD: Discover HD, INHD1, INHD2, ESPN HD..all my local programming is in HD...I love it...why spend so much just to play xbox or PS? havent figured that out yet

I think it's just the good deals that stores are offering this holiday season that entices people to upgrade their tv sets.

I bought my KDF60XBR 2 years ago and still use rabbit ears to pick up OTA local HD channels. I didn't want to pay an extra $10 from DTV to get an extra 4 channels that I can't get OTA. I'm also waiting for DTV to come out with MP4 next year=100s of HD channels.

Have you seen the Xbox 360 on an HDTV versus a standard TV? It is night/day, the 360 was designed for Hi-Res... I don't have an HDTV yet, but I have been thinking about the upgrade since I saw the 360 on one. Regular TV shows/movies isn't that big of a deal to me to make me buy it, but the games are what I am most impressed with..

I bought my 62" Toshiba 5 months ago because of Xbox 360. I would never buy a HDTV for just movies and tv programs just not worth it.

I've been saving up to buy a plasma for a year now.

As the prices keep dropping, I get closer to my goal, but I still don't have a ton of cash on hand. The surge in sales has far more to do with the price of the HDTV's than the 360. Once they have reached a very reasonable level, standard TV's will go the way of the dinosaur. . .

I got into HDTV 5 years ago, mainly so I could watch dvds in 480p. Xbox came around and supported the same res so it was all good timing.

Like others have said, prices are dropping rapidly, and let us not forget its that time of the year when we love to shop.

I understand that a lot of us already have them. Ive had mine for about 4yrs now. Im just seeing a lot of threads here lately asking advice on which hdtv to buy, questions about resolutions, ect.....It seemed weird to me that this console was the final push for some people to buy an HDTV.

I've been enjoying HDTV for almost two years. Most big sporting events and network series are HD now, and an upscaling DVD player makes movies a treat.

With the cost of HD sets dropping to $400-600 for a 26-34" CRT and about a grand for a big rear projection set, buying a standard TV at this point makes no sense, IMHO. Many people don't realize that if you live in a metro area you can receive all the locals in HD for free with a $20 antenna.

The Xbox 360 -- if I can ever find one -- will be a nice addition to my home theater setup, and I have a $49 Kmart wireless adapter ready to connect it to the PC with my photos, mp3s and an ATI HDTV Wonder that can tune and record HD shows free over the airwaves.

I'm buying an HDTV partially because of the Xbox 360 (even though I don't have one yet), but mostly because the prices are dropping and there is a lot more HD programming than there used to be.

You are not a hardcore gamer if you can't see why people are doing this? I've had my HDTV for over 2 years now and I'm estatic people are buying more of them. The more people buy HDTV's, the more programming will become available. Hopefully DVD's and movies will catch up soon and realize that they need to put stuff in 720p or 1080i and start doing true 16:9...I'm glad the video game industry is with it.

I believe the 360 has just pushed people to do it sooner. I know that I am thinking about it now. I know people who bought hdtv setups 3 or 4 years ago, and they figured that it was a waste of thier money for the most part. They were really expensive at the time, and even with dtv they only got like 10 high-def channels. But times are changeing. The switch to only high-def broadcasting is getting near. I have read that by 2009 al sdtv's will require a hd tuner to recieve local channels. I do know that any tv that I purchase from this point on will be high-def. It would be stupid to buy anything else. I haven't made up my mind yet on weather I want a plasma, lcd, crt, or projector. I am leaning towards a projector, as I believe the lamps can be replaced easier. And with the plasma's short life. But I think i would also get a crt for everyday television viewing. But that could be a whole nother thread.

Happy- HDTVing

I forgot to mention that my brother and cousin both bought dlp projectors just for 360 gaming. Another cousin got one just for 360, we found one of those $650.00 samsung sets at target for $350.00

Why is it pushing them? Im assuming they want to take full advantange of their 360s. Price played a part too, seeing how cheap Projectors are now.

Before the xbox 360 came out I was honestly looking for that one true reason to purchase an HDTV. Thus MS and local TV broadcasters (along with some generous TV retailers) gave it to me. Within the next week or two I plan to buy either a DLP projector or a DLP TV which when hooked up to my 360 will be unreal.

good man!

DLP for the win!

I bought my 50" LCD about a month ago, but it wasn't for gaming. I bought it because i wanted a larger TV and my area was offering great HD programming. The plus side was that i was ready for the 360.

I wouldn't buy a TV just for gaming, just doesn't make sense to me. That's just my opinion.

they are getting cheaper. thats why i got mine. i picked up a 51" hdtv for 800 bux. playing 360 on a hdtv at walmart i didnt want to go back to my reg tv. i wanted to get one for some time. so there was a few factors that pushed me over the edge.

The worst/ugliest 360 games.. look fucking awesome on a HD tv/projector.. vs looking at them on a run of the mill but acceptable 28-50 inch regular tv.

Someone else said it.. night and day difference. As with everything.. in time.. more programs on TV will by HD. Prices are dropping.. and will continue to do so. Buy today.. buy tomorrow.. but be assured.. you will buy.

No telling, I've been on the HDTV bandwagon since most prime time stations started broadcasting in 1080i.. 4 years now :think:

Remember, you're also looking at a gaming forum. Most people in a HT forum have had HDTV for years. Different people have a different push. Some had the push of TV in HD (and they have had their sets for a while now). So I think this is just a different section of society that is actually interested in HDTV.

I havent purchased one yet. Im waiting for the first SED tv's to come out hopefully by the end of next year. You will all kick yourself for not waiting because these are going to kick ass

I have a noob question, if I buy a Plasma tv will it die in about 2 years and then will not be usable again? I heard that the light bulbs or something burn out and are not replaceable.

You do know that when they release those tv's they will be 60"+ and cost more than most of the present day top-selling technologies combined




No it will not die in two years but since it uses a gas once that gas is gone you can not refill it and that tv is basically dead. And even though I don't really like plasmas, worrying about it dying in 2 years should not be a concern in buying one.

i bought my 1st hd set 34 xbr in 2000..yes theres not many hd channels but it rocks..esp football...i just recently bought my 2nd hd tv 50 inch plasma


the xbox 360 didnt make me buy a hdtv..but it made me want a 360 lol





no not at all...its phosphorus...and the new plasmas today are rated at 60k hours halflife..at this point half its brightness is gone

www.avsforum.com

I'm not seeing how the two are synonymous. I’m a gamer and I don’t have a HDTV in the living room yet. Alot folks that bought an HDTV a few years ago probably regret the purchase (e.g. lack of digital interfaces, way too expensive before). I know I do. I’ll never do anything with my stinking Zenith’s RGB interface and when I finally get a component HD feed going into it (less the 360 of course); component will be downsampled to SD because of copyright protection! Combine that with a lack of HDTV programming (until fairly recently) and only a handful of Xbox games that support 720p (30 or so?) and far fewer that even support 1080i. Also, lets not forget that many games that did support these resolutions looked choppy/jaggy and it’s even fewer with an acceptable experience. So, it is understandable for many (inc. gamers) that there needs to be a little more utility in the TV then Xbox 360 gaming for me to make the investment in the HDTV that I want.

As it stands currently, the prices are certainly down but there is still no “next gen” media that supports native HD resolutions (e.g. blu-ray, hd-dvd) and televisions still aren’t being equipped with enough HDCP enabled digital interfaces to support the protected media . Now is a good time to buy? If you’re dollar conscious, now is the best time to wait.

Of course, as bonkers mentioned: different push. Some would spend money superflously just for the instant gratification, which there is really nothing wrong with. I prefer that extra couple of thousand earn capital gains in my pocket then hang on my wall so... Go with what works for you


EDIT: I've heard others mention SED and after reading a spec article, I can only say... WOW. Perhaps it's too early to tell, but I hope we see these on store shelves very, very soon... say next summer

The ONLY reason I bought a HDTV was for the 360. I would never have bought (at least not for a long time) a HDTV just for movies. But, when I heard the 360 supported High Def, that was what got me on board.

For the record, I purchased a 30" CRT Samsung SlimFit HDTV with native support of both 720p and 1080i. I love it.

Fair enuff, and understandably so. I mean, there really aren't any movies released (as of yet) in native high definition format. I guess there is the oddity dvd here or there that claims high definition transfer (if I'm not mistaken are still upsampled at best) but other then watching high definition cable or SAT access, OTA, or huge 25GB+ downloads, movies just aren't there yet. 360 seems like a good reason to purchase if your a devout gamer, but just not enough for everyone is my point.

Those are exactly my words. In my situation only change the ending, "For the record, I purchased a 34" CRT Widescreen Sony Wega HDTV (KD-34XBR960) with native support of both 720p and 1080i. I love it. The fact that I purchased the TV, stand and a complete 5 year warranty for $1800 is a steal IMO.