Digital TV - are we being ripped off?

mushypeaman

Because when the change to digital TV happens, we won't need a TV set that tunes into, and receives, TV channels will we? All we shall really need is a monitor screen that displays the output from our Freeview box, or Sky box, or DVD player, or video player.

Leaving aside the TVs with a built-in Freeview box, what exactly are all these expensive 'digital' TVs that are being advertised? Are they simply monitors that are being called TVs to justify the high price?

Does anyone remember The Great North Sea Gas Ripoff? Anyone remember that we were all going to have to scrap our older cars when leaded petrol was withdrawn?

Here we go again??

Does anyone know enough about TVs to enlighten me on this one?

superscaper

I don't know of any "digital" tvs that don't have built-in digital tuners. Care to enlighten us with an example?

You'll still need tuners, they'll just be digital rather than analogue.

Inactive

mushypeaman wrote: »

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Leaving aside the TVs with a built-in Freeview box, what exactly are all these expensive 'digital' TVs that are being advertised? Are they simply monitors that are being called TVs to justify the high price?

A " Digital TV " is just that, a TV with a built in Digital Freeview Tuner.

crox

The expensive tv's have a higher resolution for the next generation of video players (and sky) that will display High Definition content. Early adopters are paying a premium for "the next big thing". As usual prices will come down as they become mainstream.

superscaper

crox wrote: »

The expensive tv's have a higher resolution for the next generation of video players (and sky) that will display High Definition content. Early adopters are paying a premium for "the next big thing". As usual prices will come down as they become mainstream.

"High Definition" and "Digital" are two different mutually exclusive things and you can have one without the other. Since the OP was specifically asking about "digital" tvs I'm assuming the question is about all tvs with a digital tuner whether they are high definition or not.

jt2k6

IMHO the difference between a monitor and TV are the inputs, if the screen has input for a raw signal (TV arial) it contains a tuner (analogue or digital)

without the input for a raw signal it becomes a monitor, then you are mearly paying for size and new technology! not that I can imagine TV tuners being very expensive

nullogik

There a lot of misleading signs for "Digital Radios". Sure those in the know, will be able to identify that its not a DAB radio, and instead is just an analogue radio with a digital tuner.

But is this misleading for technophobes?

superscaper

Ok my turn to be educated, what's the difference between a DAB radio and a radio with a digital tuner?

Edit: or do you mean a tuner with digital selection compared to a tuner that receives digital signals? In that case I'd agree but I can't remember seeing any examples of the former being marketed as a "digital radio".

espresso

superscaper wrote: »

Ok my turn to be educated, what's the difference between a DAB radio and a radio with a digital tuner?

Edit: or do you mean a tuner with digital selection compared to a tuner that receives digital signals? In that case I'd agree but I can't remember seeing any examples of the former being marketed as a "digital radio".

Most common non DAB car radios are analogue radios with digital tuners i.e. digital frequency and channel readout.

superscaper

espresso wrote: »

Most common non DAB car radios are analogue radios with digital tuners i.e. digital frequency and channel readout.

That's what I suddenly thought after I made my post. I think that is a problem of overuse of the word "digital" in different contexts. The problem is that it is correct use of the terminology but it probably shouldn't be used as much in marketing.

Edit: Am I right that it's the difference between digital selection of analogue signal frequency (non-DAB) and receiving actual digital signal frequencies (DAB)?

nullogik

superscaper wrote: »

That's what I suddenly thought after I made my post. I think that is a problem of overuse of the word "digital" in different contexts. The problem is that it is correct use of the terminology but it probably shouldn't be used as much in marketing.

Yep, thats what I meant "digital frequency and channel readout". I've seen quite a few shops (both independant and large chains) using "digital" to describe such analogue radios.

I suppose the lesson here, is if its not "DAB" then its not truly "digital" as people would expect.