News and Views

From my kids accomplishments, to my heretical perspective of the world

News and Views header image 2

What you’re used to…

November 19th, 2006 · 10 Comments

I bought my 65″ HDTV about a month ago, and have been enjoying it. A few days ago, as the “free-return” time came near, I started feeling that the image, though excellent on HD, was deficient on SD (Standard Definition – normal TV).

The more I looked at it, the more I felt that there must be something wrong with it. Colors weren’t very accurate, and images didn’t look smooth. I remembered that my old 50″ SD TV was clearer with better color. If this was right, maybe I should return this new one before the time ran out.

But just to make sure, I first took my old 50″ and set it up right next to the new one, and fed it the same signal.

What a surprise! In every way, on every channel, with every picture, the new TV looked better than the old one. Colors were more natural, and images were smoother. The old TV was a tad brighter, but that wasn’t necessarily better.

Apparently, after a month of watching mostly HD images, my impression of what was acceptable had shifted up the scale. The sharp, clear picture on HD signals had colored my perspective so that when I viewed SD signals I felt there must be something wrong.

Just shows how your opinions and perspective are influenced by what you’re used to.

Tags: Computers, Tech & Science

10 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Richard // Nov 19, 2006 at 8:48 pm

    So, I assume this means you are going to keep the new one? I hope so because I plan to watch some football games on it when we are in AZ during bowl season!

  • 2 Daryl // Nov 22, 2006 at 1:23 pm

    I’m “stuck” with the new one now, and will have it for bowl season.

    When are you coming to Arizona?

  • 3 Richard // Nov 23, 2006 at 8:14 am

    We will leave Denton right after Christmas. That means we will probably be in Mesa for New Years. We will be there for a few days and then out to Quartzsite to check out the happening there.

  • 4 Don // Nov 23, 2006 at 5:19 pm

    Quartzsite? I’ll save you a trip. NOTHING is happening out there. 😉

  • 5 Richard // Nov 23, 2006 at 9:49 pm

    Every January and February about 1 million RV’ers gather there to boondock in the desert and attend various flea markets, rock shows (that’s granite, quartz, etc., not Rolling Stones) and meet with other RV’ers. It is quite a happening. We’ll let everyone know more about it when we are there to check it out for ourselves.

  • 6 Don // Nov 24, 2006 at 5:24 pm

    It’s the middle of the desert. Do I really have to repeat myself? 😉

  • 7 Richard // Nov 24, 2006 at 10:27 pm

    So is Phoenix.

  • 8 Mom // Nov 26, 2006 at 9:57 am

    You two children watch it, before you make any more disparaging about “my neck of the woods.” At this time of the year, I’ll match our climate against that of most of the world.

  • 9 Don // Dec 5, 2006 at 8:33 pm

    This is a pretty……………… plain blog. 😉

  • 10 Daryl // Dec 8, 2006 at 10:47 am

    I’m a pretty………………plain person!