(continued from previous page) ...120Hz, it seems a little pointless. The benefits of 50/60Hz to 100Hz are clear. It really has made a difference to the quality and clarity of the picture. However, I don’t think the human eye would be able to see the difference between 100Hz and 120Hz.

barney_2k: What about saying to the public that you can use a normal CRT PC Moniter to get High Def?

Ok public: you can use a normal CRT PC monitor for high definition! Thanks for your contribution Barney, you are quite right. It is possible to use your computer monitor for HD. The problem, however, is the lack of widescreen CRTs, and the cost of large widescreen LCD monitors. It may be a better investment to buy a large LCD TV, instead of an LCD monitor, so you can use it for gaming, watching TV and for the PC.

Breath_of_The_Dying: Isn't it for a fact that AACS only applies to movies? So anyone getting the 20gig version need not worry about HD for gaming.

You are correct. AACS does not apply to gaming (see Part 1 for an explanation of AACS). So if you only want to use the PS3 for gaming, then the 20GB config is a good option. However, I can almost guarantee that you will want to use the PS3 for movies at some point. $500 is a hefty investment, and I’m sure you’ll want to fully exploit the system. And although I mentioned that the image constraint will not be implemented any time soon, it feels like a safer bet to opt for the 60GB config for the guaranteed HCDP compliance, and the improved quality because of the digital connection (HDMI).

Schmeh: Not all HDMI connections are HDCP compliant.

Whilst it may be true that the very first HDTVs to support HDMI may not be HDCP compliant, this is a buyers’ guide for those looking to buy an HDTV now. And therefore, it’s reasonable to say that all HDMI connections are HDCP compliant, because nowadays they are.

I would like to address some concerns a number of members raised about my lack of coverage of CRTs and rear projection HDTVs.

HD-CRT TVs are available and are affordable. But these are large and bulky, and exhibit a few problems. The most common issue I have heard about is that the picture is not scaled correctly to the size of the TV, often leading to parts of the image being cut off. There are also cases of warping at the corners of the image.

Rear projection HDTVs are available as well. The problem most people will have with these is the sheer size of them when you get into the 30 and 40” range. I suspect they too would suffer the same problems as HD-CRTs, but if anyone can enlighten me, drop me a line. My contact details are on the Staff page.

So concluding, I hope you’ve found these two parts helpful. The guide was targeted at the majority who will want a convenient, affordable HD solution, and an LCD or Plasma TV will meet these requirements. Please feel free to send me any comments, either via email or on PS3Forums.