16x9 TVs Availability - DVDfile.com forum for DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD

08-09-1999, 02:53 PM

Hello everyone, this note is to request help from you:

i have been a movie collector for 10 years now (VHS) and decided
to change to DVD. At the same time, i decided to purchase a
Widescreen (16x9) TV and i have been having a hard time in doing so.
I regularly check the news on dvdfile.com and noticed a lot of support for 16x9
enhanced DVDs, that would make me think that the people related to
this site like 16x9 TV. Well... i visited the local stores and NONE of them
had a single 16x9 TV (note that i am not looking for a BIG screen TV nor
a HDTV, just one that preserves the correct 16x9 ratio dimensions without the use
of black bars). I also visited some major retailer's Web Pages (Sony,Panasonic etc)
with no luck.

If there is so much support for 16x9 DVDs, Why is it so difficult to get a 16x9 TV ????

Am i looking at the wrong places ?

Any information will be appreciated !
-Thanks.

Dominik Pfleghaar · 08-09-1999, 05:59 PM

All I can say is tat over here in Switzerland, you can find 16:9 TV's everywhere, and there's plenty of choice (of course they're PAL, not NTSC).
I think it's only a matter of (short) time until they start to take off in the US of A.

------------------
Unca Dom, DDS-088
dvdfile.com moderator
dominikpfleghaar@netscape.net

Jenkins · 08-09-1999, 07:49 PM

That's the only problem with our country.

There are so many bitches and poor people, it takes far too long for new standards to take off. Because everyone has a voice, everyone has their say. If I had my say, I'd be standing on the back of truck, full of 16X9's, shoving them up skeptics asses as they walked by.

Go to Europe for a day, they have more widescreen TV's there in one store than my entire state. It's pretty sad.

Blade · 08-09-1999, 09:09 PM

celvira,

I believe Sony has a Wega TV that is 16:9.

It might be called Vertical Compression. The reason for this is that a 16:9 enhanced DVD stores it's information in a way that makes the picture look really skinny and tall. In order to make the 16:9 look "right" some TVs can squeeze the picture vertically so that the picture expands width wise until its proper aspect ratio is reached. This process allows the picture to have up to 33% more image detail which is why so many of us think 16:9 is such a great thing.

Unfortunately the VAST majority of US TVs use the 4:3 picture size and thus, our market has been very slow to move toward the new format.

You might want to try some HT shops for a better selection of 16:9 capable tvs.

Hopefully the move to HD tvs will start an increase in the number of 16:9 sets availble soon.

------------------
-David

08-10-1999, 04:55 AM

Toshiba has a line of 16x9 RPTVs. The 40 inch model TW40H80 is soon to be replaced by the HDTV-ready 40X81, which is HDTV-ready. The older set has had some very good reviews, and might be very affordable when the new model is out. Street price for both is about $2100 - $2,200.

08-10-1999, 08:10 AM

Celvira,

Outside of Europe and Japan, 16:9 tube TVs are very rare and expensive.

In fact, with the exception of the new Sony XBR 4:3 tube TVs, the only 16:9 capable tube TVs that I know are the Panasonic and Konka 4:3 SDTV sets and the Panasonic 32" and Sony 34" HDTV models.

And for the cost of the 16:9 tube TVs, you can get a HDTV capable 16:9 RPTV that has comparable picture quality with NTSC material, and a far superior picture with HD material.

But it's your money.

-Dean.

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08-09-1999, 02:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
celvira	16x9 TVs Availability Hello everyone, this note is to request help from you: i have been a movie collector for 10 years now (VHS) and decided to change to DVD. At the same time, i decided to purchase a Widescreen (16x9) TV and i have been having a hard time in doing so. I regularly check the news on dvdfile.com and noticed a lot of support for 16x9 enhanced DVDs, that would make me think that the people related to this site like 16x9 TV. Well... i visited the local stores and NONE of them had a single 16x9 TV (note that i am not looking for a BIG screen TV nor a HDTV, just one that preserves the correct 16x9 ratio dimensions without the use of black bars). I also visited some major retailer's Web Pages (Sony,Panasonic etc) with no luck. If there is so much support for 16x9 DVDs, Why is it so difficult to get a 16x9 TV ???? Am i looking at the wrong places ? Any information will be appreciated ! -Thanks.

08-09-1999, 05:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
Dominik Pfleghaar Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Elm Street 123	All I can say is tat over here in Switzerland, you can find 16:9 TV's everywhere, and there's plenty of choice (of course they're PAL, not NTSC). I think it's only a matter of (short) time until they start to take off in the US of A. ------------------ Unca Dom, DDS-088 dvdfile.com moderator dominikpfleghaar@netscape.net

08-09-1999, 07:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jenkins Supporting Actor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Rochester, NY, USofA	That's the only problem with our country. There are so many bitches and poor people, it takes far too long for new standards to take off. Because everyone has a voice, everyone has their say. If I had my say, I'd be standing on the back of truck, full of 16X9's, shoving them up skeptics asses as they walked by. Go to Europe for a day, they have more widescreen TV's there in one store than my entire state. It's pretty sad.

08-09-1999, 09:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
Blade Actor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Oahu, Hawaii	celvira, I believe Sony has a Wega TV that is 16:9. It might be called Vertical Compression. The reason for this is that a 16:9 enhanced DVD stores it's information in a way that makes the picture look really skinny and tall. In order to make the 16:9 look "right" some TVs can squeeze the picture vertically so that the picture expands width wise until its proper aspect ratio is reached. This process allows the picture to have up to 33% more image detail which is why so many of us think 16:9 is such a great thing. Unfortunately the VAST majority of US TVs use the 4:3 picture size and thus, our market has been very slow to move toward the new format. You might want to try some HT shops for a better selection of 16:9 capable tvs. Hopefully the move to HD tvs will start an increase in the number of 16:9 sets availble soon. ------------------ -David

08-10-1999, 04:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
WHYME	Toshiba has a line of 16x9 RPTVs. The 40 inch model TW40H80 is soon to be replaced by the HDTV-ready 40X81, which is HDTV-ready. The older set has had some very good reviews, and might be very affordable when the new model is out. Street price for both is about $2100 - $2,200.

08-10-1999, 08:10 AM	#6 (permalink)
Dean McManis	Celvira, Outside of Europe and Japan, 16:9 tube TVs are very rare and expensive. In fact, with the exception of the new Sony XBR 4:3 tube TVs, the only 16:9 capable tube TVs that I know are the Panasonic and Konka 4:3 SDTV sets and the Panasonic 32" and Sony 34" HDTV models. And for the cost of the 16:9 tube TVs, you can get a HDTV capable 16:9 RPTV that has comparable picture quality with NTSC material, and a far superior picture with HD material. But it's your money. -Dean.