What is the date analog signals will be phased out by?
I heard 2005? Is this for real? So if I go buy a big screen it could be of no use in 4 or 5 years?

The FCC had mandated that all stations be broadcasting in digital by 2006, but only if 85% of TV sets were capable of receiving digital signals. (someone correct me here if I am missing something)

Even then there is nothing to prevent them from simulcasting in digital as well as analog.

There are also converters available to convert the digital signal to analog for use on analog TV's.

So you should be OK getting an analog set today, but have you seen the incredible picture on the HDTV ready sets? If you can at all swing it, I think it is worth the extra bucks.
IMHO

Your set would still be useful, you'd just have to buy a STB to downconvert the signal to analog NTSC.

Why should I pay $3000 to $10000 for a tv (plus a box for my satellite) for 3 channels?

Why would I buy a Mercedes when a Hyundai will do the same thing? Because I can!!! :) You know the saying. He who has the most toys, wins!!!!!!!!!!

I have the RCA DTC-100 and it has both HD & NTSC signals and outputs to either as well. Another words you can view NTSC converted up on your HD or you can watch HD downconverted on your NTSC TV.

But it seems to me: buying a pronto was the craze 2 years ago, but imagine buying a pronto that only controlled only one tv! Well the backsplash was cool and it could control 160 devices! (which it could do!) Now the HDTV - look at me I'm a moron and look at my really Cool TV that is only cool for 3 stations!!!!

Beevis-
You're answering your own question. YOU probably SHOULDN"T buy a HDTV yet. We're still kind of at the leading edge of this technology. If you are the type of person who likes being at this edge, you know it costs more money than it probably should, but you accept that.

If you're not that type of person, sit back, relax, enjoy your current setup and join in when you feel the value and benefits exceed the cost!

I've had a player Pioneer Elite with Component outputs, etc.. I also have a Mitsubishi 55" High Resolution TV. It is cabable of 1080i but does not have a HDTV tuner. With 3 component inputs I can have my DVD hooked up and add a HDTV tuner later when there are more that 3 sat feeds and about 15 broadcast signals a week. However a high resolution HDTV ready tv hook to a good quality DVD is a difference I see for 2 hours a night 4 to 6 nights a week. Yes $3000 is well worth it.

Beevis is just being a Butthead! Just try to take my HDTV from my cold dead hands!

I have had a DTC-100 for over a year and I do not have an HDTV screen yet! I use it with a plain old Toshiba via S-video and I get all the channels you have plus all the Digital ones as well the few HD. Even the HD and digital downconverted to my 32" toshiba looks better than any thing else I get plus it's has digital sound as well.

So the converters are already here and the DTC-100 lists for $550 but you can often find open box models for 350-425.

When the prices and quality of the HD monitors become acceptable to me I will add one as well.

Steve 13: I believe the actual phrase is: "He who has the most toys WHEN HE DIES, wins..."

Wow Mike Riley is quite the stickler for detail.

Are all of your cables twist tied and labeled?

They are, aren't they? Don't lie! :)

Just kidding, Mike...

Yo, Mike D:

They we all tied, with coloured velcro strips... and labelled with tape and magic marker... but we used removable marker, and everytime we grabbed a label the ink came off on our fingers, until all the writing was gone! Then I couldn't tell what was plugged in, and finally I gave up.

What I'd really like to do is get colour-coded cables. Most high-end cables are black or grey or off-white, and when you look at the soup behind my armoire, you need to be a tracking expert to find out what goes where! .... signed, Anally Retentive, Mike

PS: I plan to have the most toys WHEN I DIE...

Mike...

No you won't. I'll have the "most" toys. I buy very cheap stuff, and lots of it. Sometimes I'll even buy two or more of the cheap device, simply because since it's so cheap I know it won't last long and I can use the others as backups.

Then of course I make my own stuff. I've already filled my house with furniture, but keep making more. Fortunately my designs tend to be "knock down" or "fold up" or able to stack. This way I can cram more stuff in the same space.

Lastly, I don't seem to ever throw anything (other than household trash) away. I'm just sure that someday I'll find a good use for it again. Anyone have a use for two TI-99/4A computers, slightly used? How about a Zenith black-on-orange monochrome monitor with one composite input? Oh wait, I found a use for the Zenith. Nevermind!

So... I'll have the most toys when I die. I promise. Now, if you're very nice, I might will them to you. Then YOU'D have the most!

Dave ;-)

PS: I actually prefer to have just sold my last toy right before I die. I'm assuming I won't have any use for them where I'm going.