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Ofcom warns Brits against full HD sets, Times needs to do some research into costs of HD players

According to The Times, Ofcom has been warning British consumers not to dive in to TV showrooms this Christmas and automatically buy the most advanced high definition TVs available.

Ofcom said that, because there were no firm plans for British broadcasters to deliver 1080p content, consumers could end up with costly TVs offering little more than "HD Ready" (they mean 720p) sets.

"Analysts" (unnamed) suggest that high definition TV prices will continue to fall, so that at such a time as broadcasters are able to transmit 1080p content, it'll be much cheaper to buy a set.

The Times suggests that anyone wanting to watch full HD will need to buy a high definition disc player, "fork[ing] out upwards of £500 for a special player".

Erm, actually, high definition disc players needn't cost that much any more, as a quick perusal of any online retailer will tell you.

My advice, for what it's worth, is not to go crazy with the plastic this Christmas (or indeed, at any time) just because you can. If you need a new TV, then buy the best one you can — 720p/1080i is fine for most uses, but 1080p sets are becoming cheaper, and you could well be planning to keep your TV for at least five, possibly ten years.

If you don't need a new TV yet, and aren't immediately jumping on to the high definition bandwagon, then save your cash until you do need one.

(Via The Times)

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Posted by Andy Merrett on December 3, 2007

Comments

Since, OFCOM probably wants to sell as much of the analogue TV transmission space to the highest bidders what do you expect.

Since, you would not expect turkeys to vote for Christmas, it should not be surprising if Scrooge (OFCOM) - tried to back track on giving consumers (whom have been ripped of for years paying the TV Licences) 1080p TV.

I agree that people should wait as long as possible before buying HD products, but that they should buy 1080p rather than the inferior 720p/1080i. For example not all 1080p TVs are more expensive than 720p/1080i TVs.

With the rate that HD technology is improving we should have 1080p within about five years.

At the moment; 4kx2k (twice 1080p), 4 times 1080p and just about 16 times 1080p TVs has already been created.

With the fierce competition between, The Establishment' - the new TV displays; OLED, Laser, LED, LCD, SED, 3D (maybe 2 years) and Plasma - Computer games substantially improve HD technology has they have done with computer technologies.

The substantial increasing in computer technology that will substantially increase HD technologies, whilst lowering prices, should make at least 1080p HD feasible. This is besides, the only reason why we are getting HD products is because, 'The Establishment' were not making enough profits and now - it is everybody for theirselves - forget the claims of Blu-ray versus HD DVD and LCD versus plasma. For example it is like, 'Animal Farm' but in this situation some companies are more equal than others!

Broadcasters are being forced to develope HD, dragging and screaming, because otherwise they would probably go bankrupt. Sponsors are going to want 1080p rather than 720p/1080i if 1080p makes them more profit.

I think buying one properly featured HDMI 1.3 1920x1080p is cheaper than buying two TVs within a ten- or twenty year period.

Posted by: Barrington | December 4, 2007 2:38 AM

Really fantastic advice from OFCOM. A great advertisement for the competence of government bodies in the UK. Is it any wonder why IT and technological problems are frequent in the government.

Any point in buying a 1080P (Full HD) television... Yes because that is what a Blu-ray player is capable of outputting. So if you want to watch Blu-Ray then it makes sense to buy a 1080P television to get the most out of it.

Posted by: Kirsty | December 5, 2007 2:52 AM

Ola galera, gostaria que alguém me ajudasse, eu adquiri o pacote de canais (TV no PC via Internet) da www.tvacaboparatodos.net os canais que mais assisto são FOX, AXN, TNT e Warner Channel, o meu problema é que eu assisto os canais no trabalho, e a maioria dos canais só funcionam em ela cheia, gostaria de saber se teria um modo de colocar os canais para ficarem em uma tela pequena no canto para que possa assistir e trabalhar no PC ao mesmo tempo? (Me ajudem, por favor, pois quase fui pego por meu supervisor assistindo TV no PC em plano horário de expediente)

Posted by: Anonymous | February 2, 2010 7:54 PM

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