How Important Is Being 'Cutting Edge' To You?

[Pirate]

I’ve noticed on other forums (and sometimes on this one) that people will buy several incarnations of a component in the same year because of upgraded features and specs. For example, several people bought HDMI 1.2 receivers last year and those same people will probably shell out another $300-$1000 for a new one with HDMI 1.3.

Here are your options:

Very Important
"It drives me crazy when I can’t take advantage of the latest and greatest features and specs."

Important But Not Crucial
"I don’t mind having semi-outdated components… but not too outdated."

Not Very Important
"I like having the best I can afford, but I’m not bothered if I’m a little behind the times."

I Couldn’t Care Less
"As long as I can watch movies, it's all good."



I've also added a Other option for you picky folks.

[plissken99]

I chose "Important But Not Crucial". I don't mind having outdated equipment, so long as I'm not truely missing out on anything. I won't be shelling out $$ for HDMI 1.3 equipment, the current HDMI spec is plenty adequate, and should be for the next 10-20 years.

[Monrozombi]

I voted "Not Very Important". I have been using the same reciever from a HTIB since 2003. I only have 1 coax and 1 optical input, wish I had more but it works. Having what I can afford and being happy with is more important then having the newest and shiniest

[EM3]

I picked Not very important. I always liked tried and true products. When I buy I want it to last me a long time. I mean hell I wouldn't even buy into dvd until Divx died off. I guess I am a second tier level consumer of electronics.

[Iguana Man]

Important but not crucial for me. However, that is dependent on the dollar/performance ratio. If there isn't a pretty large improvement per dollars spent, then I wont bother.

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by plissken99

I chose "Important But Not Crucial". I don't mind having outdated equipment, so long as I'm not truely missing out on anything. I won't be shelling out $$ for HDMI 1.3 equipment, the current HDMI spec is plenty adequate, and should be for the next 10-20 years.

Ditto.

[Wirehed]

I like having the best I can afford, but that doesn't always equate with "Cutting edge." Sometimes features are nice, but in the case of hometheater equipment sound and video performance are the most important aspect.

[limacharliewhiskey]

Not Very Important for me. While it's nice to have the latest gadgets, I don't need to have the latest thing when it immediately comes out. When it becomes a good value for the dollars that I spend, that's when I upgrade.

[El Lancito]

I was just thinking about this myself. Now that I have an HD player, I suppose that I "need" to update my sound system. I honestly don't think that I'm going to bother with that anytime soon, as good old DD 5.1 and DTS works just fine for me for the time being. Maybe if I start having problems with my current equipment, my replacement will be an upgrade, but until then...why bother?

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by El Lancito

I was just thinking about this myself. Now that I have an HD player, I suppose that I "need" to update my sound system. I honestly don't think that I'm going to bother with that anytime soon, as good old DD 5.1 and DTS works just fine for me for the time being. Maybe if I start having problems with my current equipment, my replacement will be an upgrade, but until then...why bother?

Don't worry about it with hd-dvd, El Lancito. That format doesn't have any belief in lossless tracks, so an upgrade in sound is unnecessary.

[sub780lime]

I would say not very for me. This is mainly due to budget reasons, but I pick and choose what I do. When i bought my 34" HDTV (which is a tube) I made sure it had HDMI - though it was 1.1. Now, I would like to upgrade to a 1080P TV, but until I have the money I wont. The next TV we buy will be 1080P.

So I am not concerned with currently having it, but when i do get ready to spend the money, I will make sure I am at least current gen. I wouldnt go buy a 1080i TV right now, for example.

Just like I dont have 7.1 currently, but when I next upgrade recievers I will make sure it is.

[chlngr1970]

Well, to be honest, if all my cards play right, my next display will be CRT based anyway, but should be able to display 1080p, it just won't have an HDMI or DVI input. I'm going to have to invest in a scaler that has HDMI inputs and analog outputs...

Cutting edge? Maybe not, but it will look a damn sight better for the money spent, and be a much larger picture to boot

j

[Sehnzeleid]

Not really, I'm perfectly fine with my set-up, 720p and all. :P

To "truly" be always cutting edge you'd have to rich enough to buy every successive model of everything in your HT constantly, unrealistic.

[bembol]

Very Important
"It drives me crazy when I can’t take advantage of the latest and greatest features and specs."


I fall into this option. The Full HD 1080p and HDMI 1.3 wasn't really necessary but I had to have it with HD DVD. Take my recent upgrades, the 37" Sharp AQUOS LC-37D90U LCD 1080p and the Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD player. I could've kept the HD-A1 but because I upgraded my HDTV that 1080p.

Take Apple...

I switched with the G4 Mac Mini and when they came out with the Mac Book, I sold and upgraded. After a few months Intel Core 2 DUO's came out, guess what I sold and upgraded to the new iMac's. This goes with their iPod too, I went from their old 512MB Shuffle to Nano's and now the latest 30GB iPod Movie.

BTW, I will be upgrading again in 4 months when Apple introduces Leopard and the new iMac's,

[zepplongfellow]

I put somewhat important. I do enjoy my CRT HDTV more than any plasma or lcd I have seen. I still enjoy dvd and am in no hurry to catch up to the next gen players until one supports ALL movie studios.
It took me a while to get a HDTV. And then when I got into dvd's in 1999 it was not until 2002 that I got 5.1 surround sound. So I am about 2-3 years behind the latest and greatest and I am happy with what I have however I am replacing my main front speakers in about 6 months for 2 channel music.

[SilentBob]

Important But Not Crucial i guess would best suit me. I am an impatient man and if i see a sale or something i would like. I really think about buying it. . . but I usually don't but i always have that thought in the back of my mind. Like for me currently i am really thinking about getting an HDMI 1.3 receiver to take advantage of the new sound formats on both my Blu-ray/HD-DVD movies. I have it pretty much covered for my HD-A1 player with the analog cords but i feel like i have left out my PS3.

Who knows what might happen in a few months but i'm not one of them guys that i sometimes read about updating a HDTV, High Def player or receiver every few months/years just because a new feature has been added. I like to have them too but my stuff is still pretty good as it is.