Ive had a DVR for five years now, but I still haven’t picked up an HDTV. Honestly, I have trouble believing I need it and trouble believing it will make that much of a difference in my TV-watching career. Which is why Dave Winer’s recent commentary got my attention: He didnt offer any great new analysis, but he proclaimed HD is “a life-changer.”
After a short time with my DVR, I started viewing the world through DVR functionality. Id half hear something on the radio and for a split second think I could rewind it. Or Id be listening in on a technical briefing and wish I could pause the conversation for a little thought-processing time.
I just dont see HD having the same effect.
On the other hand, according to analyst Mike Paxton (who, by the way, I happen to respect greatly) 8.5 million households are watching HDTV on a nightly basis, and the number of households with HD sets is approaching 25 million. Can that many people be wrong? Thats a small percentage of Americans overall, but its still a decently high number. Nothing to sneeze at.
So I am reconsidering my personal position on HDTV. College basketball season is coming up, and HD games could make me a believer. I never thought I needed a big-screen TV either (sacrilege, I know), but now that I have one I could never go back. Tiny basketball players just dont compare to their big-screen counterparts. Maybe sharper, clearer, HD-quality players will prove just as important.
Certainly I would have gotten a better photo with an HDTV last year when Bradley played (and beat) Pittsburgh in the NCAA tournament. As it was, my photo of Brad Pitt ended up pretty low-res.