Life in High Def
I recently purchased a High Definition (HD) TV… It may just be the most marvelous invention on God’s great Earth.
After spending the last eight years with a bulky Panasonic, 19-inch, TV/VCR combo, I traded my old tube for a spankin’ new, sleek, 32-inch, Samsung HDTV. I would never classify an appliance as “sexy,” but if I happened to have been born a microwave, I’m not sure I could ever take my buttons off my new HDTV... It’s the Angelina Jolie of electronics.
And when connected to my recently hooked up High Definition cable box, television programming has never looked so wondrous or real.
For those of you unfamiliar with HDTV, put your hand in front of your face and peak through your fingers; this represents the view of regular cable television. Now remove your hand, open your eyes and imagine you’re gazing upon a crystal clear Hawaiian waterfall with Baywatch extras frolicking in the surf – that, my friends, is HDTV.
Because of the HD connection, I now watch sports where I feel like I’m actually on the field. The turf is an amazing green color; the players’ uniforms are clean and sharp; and the referees look like they’re speaking directly to you when explaining a call.
(Beware, though, of watching sports in HD: Initially this was a great thing. But after injecting myself into the action of another horrendous defeat for the San Francisco 49ers, I may refrain from watching any future Niners’ game in HD… much, much too realistic and painful.)
And I’ve now uncovered a new love for all those nature channels I used to pass over. The Discovery Channel and National Geographic network have now become personal favorites. My HDTV makes both the animals and landscapes come alive.
(Be weary of this, as well: After a night out at the bars, I found myself home late watching a special on the Ecosystems of the Galapagos Islands… for two-and-a-half hours. That’s what HDTV will do to you.)
With so many fun things to do outside your cramped apartment, it’s hard to justify staying in and watching TV. And on a nice day in a city like San Francisco, the last place you want to be is indoors.
But, God, I just got an HDTV… Let it rain.
