HDTV Almanac - Alfred Poor on Video about HDTV

[alfredpoor]

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of discussing HDTV and related topics with David Gewirtz of ZDNet, which he captured on video. We covered a wide range of topics, including OLED HDTVs, 3DTV, screen sizes, Smart TVs, and “direct LED” TVs. The video runs almost a full hour and was made during a Skype video call. [...]

[url=http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/columns/2012/06/hdtv-almanac-alfred-poor-on-video-about-hdtv.php]Read Column[/url]

[Rodolfo]

Alfred,

Many good points on your video, but I do not agree with the blanket recommendation of not buying plasma because LCD sells more volume, this is like saying do not buy a Ferrari even if you prefer its quality because the mass oriented Toyota sells more cars.

My buying choices are not driven because one technology sells more than the other but rather because what is better for my need, and quality image has been always first knowing that I have to pay more most of the time, but that is me, others may choose differently, but no blanket statements should be issued of the kind of one fits all, like your statement of 3D passive is better than active-shutter, there are no 3D winners, these are parallel technologies that must coexist for those that appreciate better certain factors over others, or have issues with one technology and not the other.

However, in the case of 3DTV, as of Oct 31, 2011 3D University researched that 90% of the 3DTV models in the market were active-shutter, would that allow me to say that passive should not be bought as blanket statement based on volume? Definitely No. Some people may find merits on passive 3D and is a better service to educate how to evaluate those differences rather than recommending based on volume.

A more balanced recommendation about the plasma/LCD would have been to qualify the differentiation in terms of picture quality and required angle-of-view, which plasma has always been better in both counts, or in terms of which type of panel may be better for a very bright room, for which LCD is made for (if the picture quality and angle-of-view are less important factors, but people should be made aware of), or in terms of needing under 42" panel sizes, the domain of LCD.

Regarding the recommendation for Vizio you may want to check about the fire hazards and (lack of) serviceability the brand experienced in the recent past, I could not recommend a Vizio to anyone without proper disclaimers.

Best Regards,

Rodolfo La Maestra

[terrypaullin]

Regular readers at this site should thank God that there is a voice of reason here who posts regularly ( and responsibly ). I wish I had the time to comment on all that is cross-threaded with Alfred's perspective, but I don't. And frankly, it just makes me mad to see that much mis-information in print. Our new "blogging world" has certainly supercharged the dissemination of information, but leaves with us the even greater challenge of sorting wheat from chaff. Rodolfo dispenses Wheat.
My best advice to first time buyers is to read as much as you can on your topic of interest and consider the source. Thanks again, Rodolfo for your sage counterpoint and composed style. I hope readers are listening. There are few people in our industry I would give my "proxy" to, but indeed you are one.
Terry Paullin