New TV: PIP or Built in HD Tuner?

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Following up on my earlier tv thread, which do you think is more important?

I'm looking at two different 42" plasma models.

One has dual tuner/PIP/split screen, but no built in OTA HD tuner.

The other has a built in HD tuner, but no PIP/split screen.

I'm leaning towards getting the PIP/split screen model and buying an HD tuner, but wanted to get some thoughts.

I'd like to be have spolit screen for football season coming up and of course hoops in the spring.

[Shelly]

We have an HDTV, but I don't think it has PIP (I didn't see it on the remote). The cable box does (I have a DVR HD box) and it's very simple to use.

[OnlyOneGinobili]

just get the pip one, then buy the tuner....thats the best bet... hd will soon rule tv.

[Kori Ellis]

If you have DirecTV, I believe you can't use PIP. So take that into consideration.

[scott]

I'd go for the tuner - but where you live comes into play. There are a couple of HD channels that Time Warner doesn't offer here in SA, but are available over the air... most notably, Fox (obviously quite important for Football season).

You can get the HD antenna for like 30 bucks at RadioShack, which beats paying several hundred for the HD tuner.

If your HD provider (ATT, Time Warner, CableVision, DirecTV, etc) offers all the HD channels you want already, then you don't need an HD tuner anyway... just go for the PIP. The only reason I have every used the PIP/Split Screen is to play XBox on one side, watch a game/TV on the other.

[E20]

PIP is overrated, I bet no one who has it uses it. You'll get too distracted! I tried playing video games while watching TV and tried to watch two playoff games at once, both occasions made me felt stupid for trying. Go for the HD Tuner!

[timvp]

If you have DirecTV, I believe you can't use PIP. So take that into consideration.

:tu

I believe that PIP won't work if you have satellite.

[Zombie]

PIP is overrated, I bet no one who has it uses it
I spent hours trying to get PIP to work (not on HD) once I got it working I never used it. PIP is just way overrated as E2O stated.

[Shelly]

yeah...the only time I used it was during the playoffs so I knew when the coaches and players sat down for their interviews.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Damn, not the feedback I was expecting :lol

So all of you sports nuts don't do the split screen thing on say Sunday for the NFL, Saturday for college football, etc?

I guess I should be more accurate... the tv that I am looking at with the PIP can break it out into split screen, so I could have two games on at the same time.

Y'all sound like you're saying it ain't worth it...

Oh, and as for channels... I live smack in the middle of one of the best over the air (OTA) high def cities in America - Dallas. One of my neighbors pulls down 15 channels OTA.

As for provider I think I'm going to end up with Dish. THey've got more HD channels to offer at a better rate. I saw the NFL Sunday Ticket went up in price by over $100 and I know I'll be able to see the ones I want anyway (Cowboy games) here locally in HD.

The sports packages I care about are all available on Dish (ESPN Gameplan, ESPN Fullcourt, and NBA League Pass).

Y'all really think PIP is overrated huh? To me it seems like the split screen is the better way to go for sports viewing (two games at once), I can add HD tuner externally.

[CalsonicKansei]

I have PIP but I really don't use it too much. I mean when you have it and try and use it you cannot hear it and the screen is a bit too small. But I would Definitely go with a HD built-in-tuner. IMO

[E20]

Aggie, I was watching some football on PIP once, the sound was alright...it was, I mean listening to one commentator and the other being muted was kind of annoying and what I was basically looking at was the line down the middle of the screen and couldn't really pay attention to anything else. Watching multiple sports games at once is bad unless if you have more than 1 TV at hand and have a great attention span or having a great attention span and aren't too soft on the eyes for PIP. What PIP is good for is watching two pornos at the same time that way you don't have to get up and change the video you can just turn your head.

[timvp]

Our 65" TV has a PIP that can split up to four channels, IIRC. We've done it before but it's really not that great.

It's one of those things that is cool for about a week, but then after that you'd rather just change the channels between the games.

[ChumpDumper]

You obviously need to buy two TVs.

You're welcome.

[3rdCoast]

My 65 incher is too busy to watch tv

[scott]

AHF, Any reason you are looking at Plasma over DLP or LCD?

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

The big one is that everyone I've talked to (including some friends that already have one) has said that the LCD screens can show some 'lag' when you're watching sports.

As for DLP, when I looked at them head to head, I think the plasma has a better picture.

[scott]

Interesting about the LCDs, I'll have to keep that in mind. I'm going to be shopping for a 20-30 incher for my bedroom soon. I always thought the DLPs looked a little better, but my biggest concern with Plasma's is that they only have a 5-10 year life before they go kaput.

[scott]

And oh yeah, given what you said about the over the air availability you have in DFW, I'd definitely go with the tuner... unless money isn't really a thing and the extra couple of hundred for the tuner doesn't matter.

The only thing about the over-the-air is we can't figure out how to get the 5.1 audio out of it... it supposedly broadcasts, but with an antenna there is no way to get a 5.1 signal to the reciever.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

FYI, they don't make plasmas under 37".

The 5-10 year lifespan for plasmas is a very effective myth generated by the LCD camp to cut into plasma business.

For instance, I'm looking at getting a Panasonic plasma, and their screens are rated at 60,000 for half brightness (the point at which the gases in the tv reach half their original brightness). You could watch TV 8 hours a day for roughly 21 years before the set reached half brightness (I won't be watching it eight hours a day except on sports weekends :lol).

If you're looking at something in the 20-30" range, I'd look at the Sharp Aquos LCDs, they're supposed to be the best in the biz, and the motion blur isn't supposed to be as bad on the smaller models (I'm looking at a 42").

The shitty thing about DLPs is that you have to replace the bulbs every so often. Most of those bulbs are rated at 6000-8000 hours, at which point you're looking at $300 for a new bulb.

That was something I also factored in - even if the plasma only gives me 30000 hours, during that time I would have spent an additional $1500 or so on bulbs for the DLPs.

[scott]

Good info on the plasma's... I didn't know. Have you done any research on HDTV tube sets? I've heard (but not confirmed with any research) that they provide some of the best pictures, with the obvious drawback of it being a large set.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Yeah I looked at them, and they do provide a very good picture (the Sony 35" Xbrite is considered the best), but I don't want a 240 lb. tv.

Screw that.