I got burnt on my last big screen purchase.

First, let me state that the $2K+ entry fee into big screens is a sizable amount of discretionary income for my household, so I can't justify a big screen purchase, but every 10 years or so. My wife doesn't "get" the whole HDTV thing...

Last big screen I bought was in '98 or '99. It was a Sony 53" and the technology was pretty stagnant year-to-year at that time. Then in 2000 or '01 line-doublers really started to show up as TVs started to because HDTV-ready. Well, I basically had the last of the truly interlaced sets and I oogled over the beautiful progressive sets. Now, I've wanted a new TV ever since I saw the progressive ones, but couldn't justify early on.

Now that HDTV is main-stream, I've been waiting (impatiently, by the way) for the technology to stabilize some (which it seems like it may never do). I've seen DLP arrive, but I knew 720p wasn't the top, then 1080p sets with only 1080i inputs. Sets get brighter, higher contrast, etc. I'm really tired of waiting, but I don't want to find myself in the same boat as last time.

I know LEDs, lasers, thinner cabinets, more color gamut, HDMI 1.3, are all coming, but I'm tired of waiting, so I picked up a 67" Samsung HL-S 1080p set last week and am evaluating it....I'm REALLY impressed, but I'm seriously worried about regretting the purchase.......................

Any comments/suggestions? I know I could be in a waiting pattern FOREVER, but should I really just wait one or two more years?

There is always something better in the pipeline. Enjoy your purchase and ignore all these next best thing threads now that you have your set.

Unfortunately --if you want to see it that way -- we live in a world where the the pace of technology development accelerates with time. New processor and software technology allow for more automation in design and thereby increase the rates of development and advancement. That's not going to change anytime soon, it's only going to get "worse."

In 3-4 years time, there will be superior technology available that delivers a comparatively superior picture. Regardless of whether you're shopping for computers, televisions, or cameras, all you can do is buy the best you can afford at any given point in time. A quality display purchased today is still a quality display purchased tomorrow, by the standards available at the time of purchase.

If no one in your family sees rainbows, then that Samsung is a great choice. You can play the waiting game forever, there will always be something better around the corner if you decide to wait. All you need is a television that satisfies you, given the limitations inherent to all sources/displays.

From readings on these forums and elsewhere, it looks like there is nothing coming in the near future that is in both the size and price range of what you just bought, and, will be grossly better. It will be years before possible SED or OLED flat panels come on-line, and the same before plasma or LCDs in that size range will be down to the $2K price level.
I haven't read about anything coming in the next one or two years that is a big enough improvement to cause buyer's remorse, which is why I jumped in last fall.
Enjoy what you got.

There is always something better in the pipeline. Enjoy your purchase and ignore all these next best thing threads now that you have your set.

I agree and would add not to read the threads about your new set, or you'll start looking for problems you didn't know existed.

No major technology jumps will be happening in the short term, and anything worth having will come with a big price. Modifications to current technologies such as DLPs getting LEDs, lazers, and what have you, will not make you regret your purchase IMO. The benefits will not be significant, and the time spent between now and their release will be much sweeter since you already HAVE an HDTV.

The thing I read here that made me jump in finally was the argument about the Cable and Sat companies.

They just spent literally billions getting their technology to stream at 720p HD. I don't foresee them doing this in the near future up to 1080p. The difference is not that big, seriously. And with the HD transition act (http://www.circuitcity.com/rpsm/cat/-13416/edOid/145447/rpem/ccd/lookLearn.do) that is required by 2009, I think that things will finally settle down for a bit.

It really comes down to your preference, though...wait it out, or jump in...I jumped in...and with the money I saved by not going to the highest tech, I was able to upgrade my audio abilities also..

Good luck!

If no one in your family sees rainbows, then that Samsung is a great choice. You can play the waiting game forever, there will always be something better around the corner if you decide to wait. All you need is a television that satisfies you, given the limitations inherent to all sources/displays.

I've never seen the RBE, but I'm not sure what to look for. If it's like the noise in your car that a passenger points out, maybe I don't WANT to know what to look for...and then I won't see it!

I agree and would add not to read the threads about your new set, or you'll start looking for problems you didn't know existed.


EXACTLY! I'm 95% positive that the problems "I think" I have with my new set is probably in my head. I read about problems with my set before I even bought it! As soon as I took it out of the box....I started obsessing about the mentioned problems in threads on my TV and have been driving myself crazy! My girlfriend too! Suddenly, the last couple of days it seems like alot of stuff I had been seeing....isnt there anymore! But hey, alot of sense I make....CUZ' HERE I AM, READING THREADS! :eek:

I've never seen the RBE, but I'm not sure what to look for. If it's like the noise in your car that a passenger points out, maybe I don't WANT to know what to look for...and then I won't see it!
How to see rainbows:Move your eyes quickly from one part of the screen to another and try to detect multicolors (rainbows) around object edges -- this is caused by the color wheel used on existing DLPs, but manufacturers are slowly migrating to LED backlighting to eliminate that phenomena.

I purchased my first HD-TV back in May 06, 56” Samsung HL-S 1080p. I don’t regret it one bit this thing will last me at least 5 years and I hope 10 or more. Being in the IT industry change is nothing new and I love it, with change it can bring price drops and that is always a good thing you probably got your TV for the same price I paid for mine less then a year ago. Great TV and I hope you enjoy it as I have mine.

TVs took a HUGE jump a few years ago to the HDTV level. Just like dvds did to VHS. Now though, the technology has leveled off BIG time. TV stations are not going to be broadcasting anything better then 1080i/720p for a LONG LONG time.

So, your purchase is going to be about as good as it gets for many many years. The set will be dead long before its very outdated. The newest technology will be true 1080p/24, and that will only be a little better then what you see. At this point technology will be taking baby steps forward. Sure 5 years from now there might be laser(whatever) hdtvs, but are you going to enjoy your awesome set any less because there is something a little bit better out there?? Seeing the hd-dvd/blu-ray movies, WOW, they look so amazing. I think that a tv would have to be 3D for me to really care about a better picture then what we have now.

Thanks for the opinions.

I've had a few days with the set and all I can say is WOW! It has fully exceeded my expectations. SD is so...yuck.

Also, I've determined this set is FAR more capable than any source readily available today - compression artifacts, etc. are far worse than any slight technology changes

I bought the XS955 a couple years ago and although it is just a plain one chip LCD RPTV with 720p native resolution, it is still nonetheless a remarkable set to watch especially when watching DVDs and HD content. There is no regret despite the fact that the set itself became discontinued within months of being released (quickly replaced by 3LCD and then 3LCD quickly became replaced by SXRD).

You will get buyer's remorse, there is no doubt about that. How could I tell? Easily - by your posts and by how keen and observant you are in regards to the timeline of TV technology.

But the question is: will you be pleased by your current set with the years to come? The answer appears to be clearly yes.

As a side note: SED utilizes phosphors and is thus vulnerable to burn-in. Not a huge jump in technology in my opinion. OLED, on the other hand, sounds very promising but it looks like it may take additional time to develop and even to manufacture on a commercial scale. OLED will blow away both FPD LCD's and plasmas completely out of the water. The contrast ratio obliterates all other existing displays (off really means off for a black pixel).

On a closer timeframe, yes, you will be missing out of newer technology to come such as: LED-backlit DLP and LCoS sets with depths of 10" and thinner with better color gamut, uniform light distribution, no more fans and fan noise, no more running up electricity bills, and no more replacing lamp bulbs. Other things like better HDMI revisions are also possible. But you should do what I did when I got the XS955: be glad with the set and remove AVSforums from your bookmark and never ever come back to this site again.

I actually gave away my XS to my mom last year and just recently started browsing the forums again to keep up to date with the latest technology. I've been living (happily) under the rock the whole time.

A lamp based system seems best right now.

DLP seems like the favored (mine and yours obviously :) ) technology.

I think we'll both be happy for a long time if our bulbs don't blow too often and
our color wheels don't come flying apart.

Enjoy.