Is anybody else disappointed with HD TV?

[SurreyGuy]

I've been watching Sky HD on an HD TV for about 3 months and I can honestly say that the picture looks no different to my "old" Sky+! A neighbour of mine is of the same opinion, but are we in the minority?

We also think that the quality of picture that Sky Sports' adverts (for their coverage in HD) would have you believe you will get is exaggerated!

[Chickadee]

I could never see any difference with HD and normal TV.

I then read that if you have any sight problems (I am very short sighted) you are unlikely to be able to see HD.

[ACtheTROLL]

me to

[ACtheTROLL]

too

[SurreyGuy]

I've got 20/20 vision!

One of the guys I work with raves about his HD!

[barry1010]

There is a difference. I watched the series about the South Pacific in HD and recorded it in standard and the HD picture is superior.
You do get a lot more detail, even on programmes such as Antiques Roadshow.

[VHG]

If your TV is not 1080 horizontal lines then you probably wont notice much difference.

Most HD TVs are either around 720 horizontal lines (720p) or 1080 horizontal lines (1080i or 1080p).

If your TV is only 720p then that is not much above "normal" TV anyway.

To get "true" HD you need a 1080 lines TV and a 1080 lines signal. I believe Sky transmit some HD output at 720 and some at 1080.

A blu ray disk outputs at 1080, but you will only see it at its best on a 1080 TV.

My son has a 50" 1080 TV and Sky HD on that is stunning.

[Oneeyedvic]

When watching a documentary, HD is stunning.

When watching a 'typical' tv programme like Jonathan Ross or Robin Hood, HD is pretty overrated.

We recently compared a normal DVD of Casino Royale to the Blu Ray version - it was quite stunningly different - but of course Blu Ray is 1080p whereas Sky movies in HD would be 1080i

So in answer to your question - in some things it is better, for some there is very little difference.

[SurreyGuy]

Thanks folks.

My TV is the 720 "version", but the Sky engineer said the picture would automatically adjust and that I would still notice a difference.

Ah well, never mind - looks like I'll have to save up for a 1080 TV!

[Hammer]

That was one of the biggest technology cons for years - putting 'HD Ready' on 720p TVs and neglecting to tell people it wasn't full HD. These TVs are ready for HD in the sense that they will let you plug an HD box into them, but full HD they are most certainly not. Better get saving!!

[Yorky Lass]

Well I think HD is fantastic. Sad sod that I am has clicked between the same program in SD and HD and the HD jumps out at you.

[SurreyGuy]

<counts 1p and 2p pieces into a bottle>! :o)

[jones451]

Hi surreyguy,
I've only got 2 channels on freesat hd (wont pay for sky anymore due to crap customer care).Sport and docus definately vast improvement,rest irrelevent as I dont wont to see blackheads etc