It's true, you can see every little crease and pore on an actor's face, esp in close-ups. But I think this is inconsequential. I don't think it will ruin actors' careers or anything. If a show is good and people are watching, the show will survive.

Honestly after a while you don't notice that kind of thing. It feels more like going to the movies. The wide screen and the crisp picture becomes more of an entire experience. I have the choice of watching a movie on regular HBO or the HBO HD -- and I *ALWAYS* choose the HD version. I have both regular network channels and the networks in HD, and we ONLY watch them in HD. It is simply better.

Believe me, you're not looking at every wrinkle, let alone thinking about it. I mean, honestly, did they feel this way when they moved from b/w to color? or when signal technology evolved?

But the real payoff is any show with nature in it. The HD channels present a series called "Morning Sunrise" and all it consists of is an hour of "watching nature during sunrise." Moose in an Alaskan forest, beavers in a Maine lake, sunrise over the Utah monuments. They are incredible. Any of Jeff Corwin's shows are so much fun to watch in HD bc you can see every bump on a frog's skin. THAT is cool. It is a DREAM to watch Lost in HD. There are so many shots on that show where I feel like I can just leap into the screen and start swimming, it feels like I'm on the island and the water is right there in front of me.

So from one who has it, I can summarize: Like most things, it is not necessary, it is a luxury. But like most luxuries, once you get used to it, it is hard to go back.

Pat

Me, I'm too cheap to even think about HDTV yet.

That nature series, "Morning Sunrise" what channel carries it? Something only for HDTV??
Thanks!

Also the HD channels have other things. Concerts - wow! you feel like you are right there. Travel shows - you are on the street in Holland. And movies are terrific.

As for the actors, like I said you can see imperfections but I don't know if it will break careers. I was watching SNL last week and Dane Cook was hosting - and watching it in HD you can see that he does not have the best skin. Is Dane Cook's career going to go in the toilet bc of this? Probably not. Just an example.