It's in HD

Well its here! High Definition and if you not sick of the commercials, or Circuit City beating HD down your throat, you will be soon.

Look don't get me wrong, I love the new cameras we are using. The color and clarity are amazing. I am really happy we made the switch. However there are some huge draw backs on all levels. Not to mention there are some half truth flying all over the place.

Let me start with your TV. No your TV will not shut off, let me repeat that, No your TV will not shut off in 2009. Yes there is a switch from analog coming. Now, at the moment that switch is suppose to be happening in 2009, however this switch was suppose to happen in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007. Congress keeps changing the date when the switch was suppose to happen, so there is a chance that 2009 may not be the date. (Why congress is involved at all is beyond me.) This is what will happen, assuming congress doesn't change things, any one who is watching their tv from an antenna will no longer have a signal. I believe this change is to free up the air waves for emergency signals. However I am not 100 percent on that part. What I do know is there will be a converter box available. There will be a discount available for two converters, through a coupon that is available from the US government. This converter box will make it so you can get a HD signal on your TV. If you get your television from your cable company, your cable company will take care of any changes and be sure to charge you an arm and a leg in the process. None of this means you need to get a HD tv. Your TV will not shut off. A HD tv will except a HD signal now, from your cable company or a free signal from an antenna. Yes a HD tv displays awesome color, however the way I look at it, if you TV isn't broken there is no reason to replace it.
There is also the difference between 1080i and 720p. With out going into to much details, both deliver a great picture. Personally I like 720p for sports and action movies, 1080i for documentaries, and "chick flicks". However take a look and see what you like for yourself. Also look out for tvs that are HD tvs and HD ready tvs. There is a difference.

Now for the problems we and other videographers are running into. HD vs Blu-Ray. If you think the whole thing is confusing, join the club. Here is the short of it. HD is still a red laser like the dvd player you have now, and Blu-Ray disc are read with, you guessed it a blue laser. Both deliver your movie in High Definition. Which one should you get, I don't know. We are watching the "market" so to speak and see who, industry wise, is going where. Confused yet, there is more. You can get a DVD player that converts your original DVD into a HD version. Well don't worry we are just as confused. Well sort of. What we want is a standard. We don't care if it is HD or Blue-Ray. We just want some version to be "the version" so we can not only make it available to our customers, but that way we can start to help those who have not make the switch to a HD dvd player and talk about the benefit of the player and system. But at the moment I think we will all just be sitting on the sideline waiting.