Toshiba's New HDTV Tries to Make Everything Look Good
Not everything looks better on a high-definition TV. Some low-resolution fare—particularly broadcasts and VHS tapes—can look worse on a modern flat panel than on an old tube set made 20 years ago.
That's why I think Darren Murph at Engadget missed the boat when he mocked Toshiba for its new LCDs that pump up non-HD images. Yes, the converted images fall short of high definition. To my eyes, they looked a lot better than the blurry picture that comes with standard broadcasts.
I'm leery of paying much for improvements to high-definition TVs. The sizes of mainstream sets, say between 42 and 50 inches, don't get much of a boost from more resolution. Faster refresh rates and other antiblur technology do make a difference, but I only notice they're missing in head-to-head comparisons.
To untrained eyes, any reputable HDTV looks great when you get it alone in your family room.
Toshiba's new Super Resolution Technology now adds about $300 to a TV's price, a company rep told me. I'm not sure it warrants that many bucks. But kudos to Toshiba for trying to make everything look decent on an HD set.
Tags: television | HDTV | Toshiba
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Reader Comments
great idea
one of the reason's im not spening money is because sdtv looks horrible on hdtv
Darren Murph
That's because Darren Murph is one of the biggest Sony fanboys on this planet, and hates-hates-hates the fact that DVD upconversion is killing his beloved blu-ray/PS3 sales.
Of course he looks beyond the fact that other vendors (including his beloved Sony) upconvert TV and DVD signals. Toshiba is to blame in Darren's eyes BECAUSE they upconvert better than everyone else.
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