HD Compatible advertising

[Faust]

Walking past my local [email protected] store this evening I couldn't help but notice an advertising sticker on the PE50 series Plasmas, these were official Panasonic stickers which read "Viera HD Compatible". Whilst not untrue, I can't help but feel that this is a bit of "sharp practice" and is designed to fool the unwitting customer.

 

[mal60908]

They are HD compatible, and is designed to get people to think they are HD sets.

If people aren't going to do their research when spending a large amount on a plasma, it is their fault when they eventually find out it isn't HD Ready. There is no excuse with internet and search engines not to find out more before you buy, whether it be a £50 camera or £3000 plasma screen.

 

[MAW]

Mal, I was unaware the PE50 had a digital input, surely that is an absolute must for a 'compatible' label. And unless they've done something inside, it may well have a problem with 720p on component, the 1st vieras certainly did.

 

[Deleted member 27989]

They are HD compatible, and is designed to get people to think they are HD sets.

If people aren't going to do their research when spending a large amount on a plasma, it is their fault when they eventually find out it isn't HD Ready. There is no excuse with internet and search engines not to find out more before you buy, whether it be a £50 camera or £3000 plasma screen.

Don't forget not everyone has got Internet access! There are so many people who don't, otherwise why are Argos, Comet, Curry and Dixons still in business ;-) Anywy I think that kind of advertising should be banned! It is very misleading and the worst thing is that it is like that by design....Really makes me angry....

 

[UrbanT]

Don't forget not everyone has got Internet access! There are so many people who don't, otherwise why are Argos, Comet, Curry and Dixons still in business ;-) Anywy I think that kind of advertising should be banned! It is very misleading and the worst thing is that it is like that by design....Really makes me angry....

There are plenty of mags in WH Smiths to help with their research. Having no internet is not an excuse.

 

[Joe Fernand]

dejongj

Go get em - http://www.asa.org.uk/asa/

Best regards

Joe

 

[Faust]

I have a PE50 on order at present, mainly because it is a very good Plasma Panel and I have no interest in increasing my monthly subscriptions for Hi Def - had it been free then I would have gone for a HD Ready t.v. I do my research and so was well aware of the capabilities of this t.v. Just stand in Comet or Dixons on a Saturday afternoon and listen to people making enquiries about flat panel t.v.s and you'll realise that most people have not got the first clue about these products. One only has to look at the smile on the salespersons fact to know that. I enquired with Panasonic to see if I could get any info about the possible release of the 55 series here in the UK (50 series with an HDMI connector) but they acted dumb. Panasonic also said in an email response that they hoped "the broadcaster would make HD widely usable" as in component access I assume. Like MAW has stated I thought that to use the HD Compatible tag a Digital Input was also required.

 

[Joe Fernand]

Hello Faust

'HD Ready' is the 'standard' agreed by those that talk to/sign up with EICTA - see http://www.eicta.org/press.asp?level2=24&level1=6&level0=1&docid=398

'HD Compatible' signs can be applied liberally without much thought to what may or may not work with these display devices.

I'd suggest where you see 'HD Compatible' its a sure fire indicator that what your looking at is NOT 'HD Ready'.

Best regards

Joe

 

[Faust]

Hello Faust

'HD Ready' is the 'standard' agreed by those that talk to/sign up with EICTA - see http://www.eicta.org/press.asp?level2=24&level1=6&level0=1&docid=398

'HD Compatible' signs can be applied liberally without much thought to what may or may not work with these display devices.

I'd suggest where you see 'HD Compatible' its a sure fire indicator that what your looking at is NOT 'HD Ready'.

Best regards

Joe

Exactly, not HD Ready, I know that and so do you, but for the average Joe I would say he'd been taken in by that. Still I have seen the PE50 running a Hi Def Demo alongside the PV500 and to be honest you had to look pretty closely to tell the difference. As Sky will be using component as well as HDMI on their first generation box I would think it will be many years before everything is HDMI and HDCP encrypted in the UK.

 

[MAW]

I'm sure you are right, Faust. BTW I think it's bad form to use the expression 'average Joe' in present company. Luckily he's quite hard to offend!

 

[Faust]

I'm sure you are right, Faust. BTW I think it's bad form to use the expression 'average Joe' in present company. Luckily he's quite hard to offend!

 

[Faust]

I'm only on here while I'm waiting for my PE50 to be delivered this afternoon. I didn't realise just how many cables and scart leads I had until I started to dismantle my present system - Sky+ DMR E30, AV Receiver for 5.1, and VCR, Phew!

 

[MAW]

I'm relieving the tedium of writing 5 new proposals, what a way to spend a sunny Saturday.