rec.autos.simulators

Anybody else tried that?

-TAZ

That depends on which HDTV you have. You should have those specs in the
manual that came with the HDTV.

It looks pretty sad with devices like TView Presenter; a very blocky, grainy
640x480 or so.  There are some high-end cards with hi-rez/hi-refresh output,
but none with 1080p (progressive-scan, the HDTV standard) that I know of,
altho an outboard scan doubler might help.  Basically, for the amt. of $
you'd have to put out for such h/w, you'd be better off buying a plasma
monitor, which could be used for both HDTV and XGA.

--Steve Smith

Any good HD set should already have 'line doublers' or equivalents built in.

I presume you are just thinking of pluggin in your Video output into the
standard (NTSC) input on your set and not converting the signal to HD with
an up-converter (this is very costly and generally only used by
broadcasters).  In this case, your maximum resolution will not be any better
than regular NTSC or maximum resolution output from your video card if its
less.  The picture will look better because of the line doubling (improving
"TV Lines" of resolution), but the actual resolution will be the same.

Take a look at your set's manual and try to find how many TV Lines of
resolution it has.  Standard NTSC has 500.  This will give you an idea of
how much better it will appear.

Hope this helps.

Mike

Yes, I meant 1080i not p...and line doubler not scan doubler.  Many
HDTV-"ready" do not seem to have a line doubler, but some try to fake it
with proprietary schemes, and none I know of have the gold-standard Faroudja
technology (available as an outboard "black box" for $6-7,000).  Convergence
seems like the Holy Grail, but there's very little compatible implementation
so far that I can see.

You wouldn't have a list of digital theaters where we might see "Clones", do
ya?  I hear the list is pretty short.

--Steve

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=26

A bit of searching for "PowerStrip" should find appropriate info.

I don't know if you can get games to use these resolutions. I
know GPL and N4 and N2002 are all forced to using 4:3 screenmodes.

I have used my Mits 55805 HDTV for a monitor on occasion. This model has a
standard VGA input for HD.

HOWEVER...you need to be EXTEMELY CAREFUL if you interface your PC directly
to your set and not thru a scan converter. If you overdrive your set...bye
bye.  The highest resolution I would try is a xxx by 540p or 960i. All HD
sets can run these resolutions, but many cannot run a 720p native signal.

And, it's true, NR4 & 2002 are hard coded to a 4:3 ratio. Don't get me
started on the FOV issue. We did that a few months ago.

Have Fun!

Jeff

There is actually a 1080p standard although no one has ever really bothered
to adapt it.  The film guys buffed it from the get go along with 480i, 720i
and 960p.

That's the difference between HD-ready sets and true HD sets!  A lot of
people don't really have a clue what they are buying and get suckered into
getting an HD ready set.  Poor souls!  I'm holding off until the prices come
down somewhat, but then again I'm also looking towards getting a CRT HD set
instead of the soft, limited-viewing-range-projection ones, or the
limited-life-span plasma displays.  Here in Canada not many people are
broadcasting HD let alone with decent signal quality!

Faroudja looks great but it's really more of a scaler than a format
converter.  Not a big difference picture-wise but a difference none the
less.  Sony makes a great converter for broadcasters (or high end HDphiles)
call the HKPF-9000 which is a true real-time multiformat converter.  Any res
to any res (when fully optioned) and switchable on the fly.  Very nice!

In Ontario, Canada there is only one (1) Lucas approved venue for the
digital version in the entire province!  It's located about an hour away in
Waterloo (not even in Toronto amazingly enough!).  Aside from that, there
are some venues who are supposedly showing the digital version despite not
being approved but I can't see how they would manage to get ahold of a copy
given the way Lucas distributed it.  I have to admit, I'm NOT a Star Wars
fan but being in the broadcast biz, I have to maintain some interest.

Thanks.  I'm in upstate NY.  I woulda gladly driven to Toronto to see this
wonder of the future.  It's a little farther to NYC; is there such a theater
there?

I hesitate to ask, but just how much is the Sony HKPF-9000?

--Steve