You seem to be ignoring 72Hz output to a 72Hz-capable display...why perform any pull-down at all when you can simply triple the 24fps of film-based video. Pioneer plasmas support this refresh rate, and I've seen several LCD HDTVs that also support 72Hz imaging.
Of course, the new 120Hz LCDs appearing on the market (if not already, then very soon) will add another interesting twist as motion smearing is (supposedly) reduced to very low levels and the refresh rate is a nice 5x of 24fps.
[[here is wishing for better EDID information in displays, and set-top devices that are smart enough to take advantage of it.]]
Oh...and what's with the incorrect aspect ratio shown for the deinterlacing tests? Are those images in the article representative of the actual setup??
I'm not saying you cant do great things with video using the right PC setup, but that article failed to point out the respective costs of the hardware they used for making this comparison. I won't even get into usability comparisons...
One of the PCs on my home network hosts a Ventrilo http://ventrilo.com/ server (very minor overhead.) My group of friends installed the small client software and connect to a password protect "chat" room.
Push-to-talk and voice-activated modes are offered. The client software offers enough options to (possibly) intimidate new users, but once configured it is as easy as it gets.
However, a previous post mentioned the use of AIM to communicate with troops overseas. Many IM clients are now integrating voice/video communication. I believe MSN offers voice and video, and I think AIM has voice as well.
For PC voice communication, I suggest using a decent mic in a fixed location as well as a pair of headphones. The new Logitech webcam I have offers cool face-tracking features as well as an integrated mic.
Question to all: anyone aware of a Windows VOIP app that integrates strong encryption?? I believe Nero's SIPPS http://www.nero.com/us/632232585951420.html/ offers this feature, but I'm looking for an Open Source product. Free would be nice. Anyone??
LCOS technologies are used in (rear-) projection displays and not "flat panel" displays (LCD/Plasma).
LCOS displays have long suffered from a shimmering effect that I found distracting to the point of being annoying. Compared to the latest DLP designs, LCOS has a ways to go before it can seriously compete.
AFAIK - the TMDS is only used for DVI output; As of right now, no notebook uses the TMDS/DVI to output the signal to the notebook's display. And very few models sport external DVI connections.
I have brought this topic up with half a dozen notebook manufacturers and all admitted it was true. I have no doubt that a pure digital pathway to integrated panel will happen, but it isn't at the top of their "to do" list.
Perhaps the switch to DVI (internally) will also eliminate the 18-bit "choke" of the current analog pathway to notebooks' displays.
to its integrated LCD. Also, all notebook LCDs are 'hampered' by an 18-bit color limitation. Tech tricks and better manufacturing help mask the noticability of the panel's reduced color output, but it is a well-known 'secret' of the industry.
Dell's new XPS notebook offers a DVI output, and methinks Apple has offered DVI out on their powerbooks for a while now. However, neither uses a digital connection, internally, to the notebook's display.
I live in the SF/Bay Area. About a decade ago I needed some financial/food assistance to keep me from ending up on the street.
I stood in line for three days filling out the various forms and answering questions. I stayed on general assistance for about 3 months before finding another job. All-in-all, it saved my ass.
My one critical observation of the "system" was that on the 1st and 15th, half the folks showing up to pick up checks/food stamps were obviously incapable/unwilling of doing the 3 day line wait to begin general assistance. Between the people who work multiple cities collecting GA, and those who collect the benefits of others, I was appalled at the rampant waste of taxpayer money.
I say track everyone who sucks off of the tit of the tax payers. Mandatory tracking of all homeless people is a bit extreme. However, for the people who collect GA benefits, this type of tracking would help curb system abuse (selling food stamps for cash, etc.)
I for one would appreciate a visible means of identifying the "street homeless" who are currently receiving public assistance. I stopped giving handouts years ago after realizing most of the beggars on our streets were already receiving assistance to pay rent, buy food, and some spending money. For most of them, begging had turned into a hobby. Fuck that nonsense!
If someone wants to blow their wad (the cash part of GA) on their drink/smoke/needle of choice, more power to them. But when they refuse help and continue to beg for party money while taking up half the sidewalk....or refusing to bath for years....or screaming all night while setting off car alarms off....well, personal tracking sounds like the least violent option I could think of.
I'd like to see a system in place where the hardcore homeless are placed in a more rural scene (outside of city-like distractions) to sort things out. For the mentally disturbed, identify them and help as much as possible.
Otherwise, I'm down for a Running Man style solution.....
[end of rant]
18-bit notebook LCDs vs x-bit desktop LCDs?!
on
LCD Price Fixing?
·
· Score: 2, Interesting
Considering the hardware used in notebook LCDs is limited to 18-bit color (are their ANY true 24/32-bit LCDs in notebooks??) For that matter, are desktop LCDs also limited by their hardware in terms of "true" color depth?
Methinks this may be one reason for the price differential. I would imagine glass size is another factor, and performance cannot be ruled out. Any notebooks out there sporting sub-20ms response times??
I'm reviewing NEC's 30" LCD3000. With a 22ms response time and a native resolution of 1280x768, this thing is a pretty slick display. $4200 is a pretty nice lump of change...but I recall plasma's with that native rez selling for much more.
-- Telemann HiPix DTV-200 was the best. Best on-screen information, and it worked as stated. Also, driver/sw support for this product continues to move forward with additional features such as commercial skip being added regularly.
Hauppauge's has a crap interface and we were never able to play back recorded content.
AccessDTV's product was fine but didn't offer the on-screen information provided by the HiPix.
Here is a link to a decent review/roundup of them: http://www.techtv.com/freshgear/print/0,231 02,3409 693,00.html
Now, if I can use the RF-based remote wonder (ATI) with a device like this it would be awesome...should be possible.
Word of warning: the HiPix is a big card! forget trying to stuff it into a Shuttle-style case...no room;) If I could ask for anything on revision 2, it would be a smaller PCB for it so it would fit into the tiny cases.
[forgot to login...promise not to do this again;)]
The reality is..., although DVD+R/RW has a theoretical edge in compatibility due to its lossless linking feature, both formats are actually very similar in results. Just be sure not to get the older drives that can't do DVD+R.
Acutally, lossless linking is part of the DVD-R/RW spec and always has been.
In terms of "theoretical edge", I turn to the 200+ hardware manufacturers/members of the DVD Forum (www.dvdforum.com) and their official approval of the DVD-R/RW format -- and the one consumer format that sports the "DVD Video" logo!
Blank media pricing is another important point: Pioneer's A04 drive in retail box can be had for under $300, and blank media is already under $1 for bulk. Finding +R media (right now) in bulk is difficult -- and more costly.
Pioneer had the tech out to the public first and I guess some didn't want to go along with them. The very fact that the +RW Alliance used a similar (and confusing) naming strategy for a product launched a year later than -R shows how much they care for the average joe. I wont even touch the current mess (and subsequent class-action lawsuit(s)) of the first generation of +RW drives that were "supposed" to be upgradable to +R (because initial promises of +RW compatibliity were highly exaggerated.)
Rumors have 4X dvd recording available by the end of the year...and did someone say a notebook drive?! And, how about that one about a major +RW Alliance member jumping ship *cough* dude! *cough*....
Regardless, PC manufacters need to take a tip from Apple and make the DVD authoring experience far more seemless and less painful on the growing legions of new users. Anyone care to send me their favorite DVD authoring sw list (PC)?
the 2804-S402 is a nice first try but that implementation of the GF2 Go was not that impressive (16mb SDR ram)
it bogged down easily under any rez above 640x480.
i had the chance to evaluate a notebook from a major vender that had the 32mb DDR version and it was IMPRESSIVE and the closest thing to my desktop system i have tried to date.
Slashdot Mirror
You seem to be ignoring 72Hz output to a 72Hz-capable display...why perform any pull-down at all when you can simply triple the 24fps of film-based video. Pioneer plasmas support this refresh rate, and I've seen several LCD HDTVs that also support 72Hz imaging.
Of course, the new 120Hz LCDs appearing on the market (if not already, then very soon) will add another interesting twist as motion smearing is (supposedly) reduced to very low levels and the refresh rate is a nice 5x of 24fps.
[[here is wishing for better EDID information in displays, and set-top devices that are smart enough to take advantage of it.]]
Oh...and what's with the incorrect aspect ratio shown for the deinterlacing tests? Are those images in the article representative of the actual setup??
Blah...back into my hole.
The article essentially says "our $2000 PC can play DVD video as good as some $2000 DVD players"...
Please.
Here is a $200 DVD player that will perform better than most $2000 PCs:
http://oppodigital.com/opdv971h.html
I'm not saying you cant do great things with video using the right PC setup, but that article failed to point out the respective costs of the hardware they used for making this comparison. I won't even get into usability comparisons...
One of the PCs on my home network hosts a Ventrilo http://ventrilo.com/ server (very minor overhead.) My group of friends installed the small client software and connect to a password protect "chat" room.
Push-to-talk and voice-activated modes are offered. The client software offers enough options to (possibly) intimidate new users, but once configured it is as easy as it gets.
However, a previous post mentioned the use of AIM to communicate with troops overseas. Many IM clients are now integrating voice/video communication. I believe MSN offers voice and video, and I think AIM has voice as well.
For PC voice communication, I suggest using a decent mic in a fixed location as well as a pair of headphones. The new Logitech webcam I have offers cool face-tracking features as well as an integrated mic.
Question to all: anyone aware of a Windows VOIP app that integrates strong encryption?? I believe Nero's SIPPS http://www.nero.com/us/632232585951420.html/ offers this feature, but I'm looking for an Open Source product. Free would be nice. Anyone??
A minor nitpick of the submitter's quote, but...
LCOS technologies are used in (rear-) projection displays and not "flat panel" displays (LCD/Plasma).
LCOS displays have long suffered from a shimmering effect that I found distracting to the point of being annoying. Compared to the latest DLP designs, LCOS has a ways to go before it can seriously compete.
Sweet CG work...robot warrior (something like robocop2k4??):
http://analogik.org/video/_tetra_vaal_video.mov
Via [H]ardOCP...via someone special I'm sure.
AFAIK - the TMDS is only used for DVI output; As of right now, no notebook uses the TMDS/DVI to output the signal to the notebook's display. And very few models sport external DVI connections.
I have brought this topic up with half a dozen notebook manufacturers and all admitted it was true. I have no doubt that a pure digital pathway to integrated panel will happen, but it isn't at the top of their "to do" list.
Perhaps the switch to DVI (internally) will also eliminate the 18-bit "choke" of the current analog pathway to notebooks' displays.
to its integrated LCD. Also, all notebook LCDs are 'hampered' by an 18-bit color limitation. Tech tricks and better manufacturing help mask the noticability of the panel's reduced color output, but it is a well-known 'secret' of the industry.
Dell's new XPS notebook offers a DVI output, and methinks Apple has offered DVI out on their powerbooks for a while now. However, neither uses a digital connection, internally, to the notebook's display.
Easy solution (Windows anything):
Display Properties > Settings > Advanced > General...
Change the DPI setting to 120 or higher.
Saw the notebook today and it was using a higher DPI setting. (not the default 90dpi).
I see too many LCD users lowering the resolution in order to make the text larger. Artifacts and other garbage are the usual result.
Use the LCD's native resolution, with 32-bit color, and crank up the DPI setting until your eyes are happy.
BTW: greater than 1080P resolution on a notebook...niiice.
I live in the SF/Bay Area. About a decade ago I needed some financial/food assistance to keep me from ending up on the street.
I stood in line for three days filling out the various forms and answering questions. I stayed on general assistance for about 3 months before finding another job. All-in-all, it saved my ass.
My one critical observation of the "system" was that on the 1st and 15th, half the folks showing up to pick up checks/food stamps were obviously incapable/unwilling of doing the 3 day line wait to begin general assistance. Between the people who work multiple cities collecting GA, and those who collect the benefits of others, I was appalled at the rampant waste of taxpayer money.
I say track everyone who sucks off of the tit of the tax payers. Mandatory tracking of all homeless people is a bit extreme. However, for the people who collect GA benefits, this type of tracking would help curb system abuse (selling food stamps for cash, etc.)
I for one would appreciate a visible means of identifying the "street homeless" who are currently receiving public assistance. I stopped giving handouts years ago after realizing most of the beggars on our streets were already receiving assistance to pay rent, buy food, and some spending money. For most of them, begging had turned into a hobby. Fuck that nonsense!
If someone wants to blow their wad (the cash part of GA) on their drink/smoke/needle of choice, more power to them. But when they refuse help and continue to beg for party money while taking up half the sidewalk....or refusing to bath for years....or screaming all night while setting off car alarms off....well, personal tracking sounds like the least violent option I could think of.
I'd like to see a system in place where the hardcore homeless are placed in a more rural scene (outside of city-like distractions) to sort things out. For the mentally disturbed, identify them and help as much as possible.
Otherwise, I'm down for a Running Man style solution.....
[end of rant]
Considering the hardware used in notebook LCDs is limited to 18-bit color (are their ANY true 24/32-bit LCDs in notebooks??) For that matter, are desktop LCDs also limited by their hardware in terms of "true" color depth?
Methinks this may be one reason for the price differential. I would imagine glass size is another factor, and performance cannot be ruled out. Any notebooks out there sporting sub-20ms response times??
I'm reviewing NEC's 30" LCD3000. With a 22ms response time and a native resolution of 1280x768, this thing is a pretty slick display. $4200 is a pretty nice lump of change...but I recall plasma's with that native rez selling for much more.
Where the hell was I going with this??
-- Telemann HiPix DTV-200 was the best. Best on-screen information, and it worked as stated. Also, driver/sw support for this product continues to move forward with additional features such as commercial skip being added regularly.
1 02,3409 693,00.html
;) If I could ask for anything on revision 2, it would be a smaller PCB for it so it would fit into the tiny cases.
Hauppauge's has a crap interface and we were never able to play back recorded content.
AccessDTV's product was fine but didn't offer the on-screen information provided by the HiPix.
Here is a link to a decent review/roundup of them:
http://www.techtv.com/freshgear/print/0,23
Now, if I can use the RF-based remote wonder (ATI) with a device like this it would be awesome...should be possible.
Word of warning: the HiPix is a big card! forget trying to stuff it into a Shuttle-style case...no room
Peace out.
[forgot to login...promise not to do this again ;)]
The reality is..., although DVD+R/RW has a theoretical edge in compatibility due to its lossless linking feature, both formats are actually very similar in results. Just be sure not to get the older drives that can't do DVD+R.
Acutally, lossless linking is part of the DVD-R/RW spec and always has been.
In terms of "theoretical edge", I turn to the 200+ hardware manufacturers/members of the DVD Forum (www.dvdforum.com) and their official approval of the DVD-R/RW format -- and the one consumer format that sports the "DVD Video" logo!
Blank media pricing is another important point: Pioneer's A04 drive in retail box can be had for under $300, and blank media is already under $1 for bulk. Finding +R media (right now) in bulk is difficult -- and more costly.
Pioneer had the tech out to the public first and I guess some didn't want to go along with them. The very fact that the +RW Alliance used a similar (and confusing) naming strategy for a product launched a year later than -R shows how much they care for the average joe. I wont even touch the current mess (and subsequent class-action lawsuit(s)) of the first generation of +RW drives that were "supposed" to be upgradable to +R (because initial promises of +RW compatibliity were highly exaggerated.)
Rumors have 4X dvd recording available by the end of the year...and did someone say a notebook drive?! And, how about that one about a major +RW Alliance member jumping ship *cough* dude! *cough*....
Regardless, PC manufacters need to take a tip from Apple and make the DVD authoring experience far more seemless and less painful on the growing legions of new users. Anyone care to send me their favorite DVD authoring sw list (PC)?
the 2804-S402 is a nice first try but that implementation of the GF2 Go was not that impressive (16mb SDR ram) it bogged down easily under any rez above 640x480. i had the chance to evaluate a notebook from a major vender that had the 32mb DDR version and it was IMPRESSIVE and the closest thing to my desktop system i have tried to date.