Friday, June 02, 2006

Hitachi 42" "1080 ready" advert - Caveats

So Hitachi's riding on the HDTV bandwagon with frequent ads - "Are you 1080 ready?" How good is this one? Check this out by Tech Reporter Oo Gin Lee at his HDTVSingapore blog: HDTV Singapore: Hitachi's 42 1080HD Plasma - Don't buy first

In addition to Gin Lee's words, the Hitachi 42" real specifications, which they don't state on the TV ads, is 1024 vertical by 1080 horizontal. NO TYPO HERE. The 16:9 physical aspect ratio is reproduced by 1080x1024 pixels in reality, which means you have real WIDE pixels for a start. For a traditionally compliant 1080 panel, it has like 1920x1080 pixels, a perfect 16:9 ratio achieved by the pixels.

In their brochure here: http://www.hitachiconsumer.com/sg/products/download.aspx?file=42PD8900TA.pdf they state in WORDS that they are HDTV ready, but there's no HD-Ready logo, dude. And without mention of the HDCP logo and not having a pixel count within the `at least 720P in 16:9 ratio' I don't see how it can get the HD-Ready logo. I see the brochure as either INCOMPLETE or ... well, you know, excessive spin.

Anyway, I think HDTVsingapore has asked for a clarification, let's see what they come up with.

UPDATE: OK they replied to ginlee. http://hdtvsingapore.blogspot.com/2006/06/hitachi-responds-on-its-1080-hd.html

There's no magic. It is indeed a low number of vertical lines. Quoting:
To enjoy full spec of HD, the panel should have a resolution of 1920 x 1080 for
the 16:9 screen aspect ratio.For Hitachi's 42PD8900TA with resolution of 1024 x
1080, the vertical lines is actually slightly scaled to get the 16:9 aspect
ratio.

SLIGHTLY indeed. Almost a 50% downscale, and they call it SLIGHTLY. Incredible spin.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

kiwi, you write: To be HD ready any display must be at least 720 lines in a aspect ratio of 16:9

that is correct. But the 42PD8900TA does not display in a 16:9 ratio. So how in the world did it get the certification for HD-Ready?

If indeed it is HDCP compatible, Hitachi should have put it on their web brochure. It is not there. As regarding downscaling, a slight downscale is OK, but a 50% downscale? Downright crazy. As with `cost more' check out the best-selling full HD display - the Amoi 37" 1920x1080 set at S$2999 - it's substantially cheaper than the Hitachi.

Unknown said...

kiwi, the HD-ready logo scheme is (purposefully?) ambigious on this. Their requirement for `at least 720 physical lines at a 16x9 picture aspect ratio (widescreen)' should not even admit the Hitachi in question at all, but yet, they do. And `understated' means what? The HD-Ready logo scheme was there to avoid confusion, and if Hitachi didn't choose to display it, either they are promoting confusion or stupid. Or both of course, one can never discount the possibility.

But your stating their brochure as `understated' finally makes it clear to me that you are making excuses for Hitachi.

Therefore, from the way you write, and from your making excuses for Hitachi, there is no real discussion possible. Either you work for Hitachi or its distributors, or you're already SET in an idea.

I am fully aware of the traditional arguments for plasma, and against plasma, and you do not paint a full and true picture of the situation. But fair enough, few do. In any case, nothing more is added to the discussion. The basic point - a horrendous perversion to the words of the EICTA's requirement for a physical 16:9 ratio, and an exploitation of the ambiguity, leaves a sour taste in my mouth as far as Hitachi is concerned. Feel free to email this thread to Justina.

Unknown said...

And I thank you sincerely for the kind comments. I'm riled up with even the slightest hint of Hitachi people coming to this blog to defend their sorry attempt at misrepresentation.

As you have clarified it, I feel a little bit of overreaction on my part, and I apologise for it.

At this time, I'm pissed at plasma at its current form, and worse at Hitachi for their misleading adverts. It's infuriating.

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