High Definition Picture

[nick_pan]

Hi guys,

Im confused over the whole advent of High Definition TV etc

Im looking to buy one of Sony's Top of the Range Desktops and pair it up with a 23inch LCD screen

However, although as ive read in the specifications, the desktop has a variety of tv outs...dv outs...vga outs...etc etc (which are what is confusing me) are any of these capable to output to a HD LCD Screen?

WIll i get an HD picture? Cause if not, am i better off just buying a regular 23inch LCD Flat Pannel which isnt HD Ready?

Secondly - 23inch LCD Screens for PCs tend to be extremely expensive..why are their TV Counterparts alot less?

Should I just be getting one of sony's 19inch lcd pc screens or go for a 23inch LCD TV and connect it up?

Thanks in advance!

Nick

[kee-lo_]

Hehe I have no idea.

Seriously though Nick - that guy's trying to get a sale, and I'd stay with the industry favourite HDMI as it will support DRM'ed content

[robpaxton]

It's important when considering HD and the future availability of commercial content that you check that video cards and monitors include HDCP.

Without HDCP then most HD-DVDs / BluRay disks won't work or will display at a reduced resolution (Until someone cracks the content protection system )

This Wikipedia entry gives a basic rundown of the situation.

[Blencogo]

Rob,

Presumably, this only affects Blu-Ray and HD-DVD capable devices? Does this mean that upgrading to Blu-ray will involve not only a new drive but other display hardware as well?

[robpaxton]

If you want to watch commercial Blu-Ray content in high definition then HDCP will be required in most cases. This would generally mean a new video card and monitor even though most existing cards and a lot of existing monitors are perfectly capable of displaying HD content.

Also it's important to remember an HDMI interface doesn't necessarily mean that the device can display HDCP protected content.

[kee-lo_]

You've got me all worried now Rob, my step father got this great plasma screen, it does say HD ready but does it really mean it'll handle this HDCP? I should bloody hope so though!

I think it's bad news that legitimate users are going to have to walk on eggshells to make sure they're going to be able to watch legitimate Blu Rays

[robpaxton]

Good news if it says HD-Ready then it has HDCP built-in.

[chris_lewis]

Im woth the waiting for a while option, You must buy an HD ready TV!! with at least 2 HDMI inputs, I like the idea of HD out from a PC but I would use the DVI for this & get your HD content from Sky / Telewest. The forthcoming PS3 is gonna do fine as a BlueRay HD player imo too.

This is my plan anyway but hooked up to a 37" LCD, all being well some good deals will be around when the time is right, November I recon

C

[kee-lo_]

I had a look in the booklet and it's got HDCP.