Fritz
10-07-2002, 12:14 AM
One thing I haven't seen discussion of here is the DVI vs Firewire debate. It boils down to this: The only way to get a perfect transfer between a receiver and a TV is to do a digital transfer. Component video is analog. The manufacturers don't like the digital transfer because that would allow us to make perfect copies of broadcast TV, assuming that we are all criminals and don't deserve that feature. Anyhow, the manufacturer compromise was DVI because it allows a pure digital transfer but has built in copy protection to now allow a recording device to work on that feed.
Anyhow, adoption of DVI is sporadic, and we are seeing alternatives, like Firewire. Firewire is as good as DVI yet it allows two way communication and recording capability from the stream. I'm sure manufacturers may find a way around it, but one can see that DVI may live a very short life.
This becomes obvious when Mitsubishi has now spec'd out their Promise Module to be Fireware capable and NOT DVI capable. This means the Zenith SAT-520 and Sony SAT-HD200 may not be the way to go. Samsung's SIR-T165 does have Firewire as well as DVI, whereas the SIR-TS160 adds DirecTV but apparently lacks firewire.
Mitsubishi's Promise Module is supposed to provide firewire support in the TV (for older HDTV upgradeable ones) as well as terrestrial and unscrambled cable HDTV capability. Makes one wonder which is the best way to go.
I was all for the Zenith/Sony receiver until I read up about DVI and Firewire, and now it seems that I either wait for the Mitsubishi module or go with the Samsung for DirecTV support and get the MPM whenever it hits the market if needed.
Anyhow, adoption of DVI is sporadic, and we are seeing alternatives, like Firewire. Firewire is as good as DVI yet it allows two way communication and recording capability from the stream. I'm sure manufacturers may find a way around it, but one can see that DVI may live a very short life.
This becomes obvious when Mitsubishi has now spec'd out their Promise Module to be Fireware capable and NOT DVI capable. This means the Zenith SAT-520 and Sony SAT-HD200 may not be the way to go. Samsung's SIR-T165 does have Firewire as well as DVI, whereas the SIR-TS160 adds DirecTV but apparently lacks firewire.
Mitsubishi's Promise Module is supposed to provide firewire support in the TV (for older HDTV upgradeable ones) as well as terrestrial and unscrambled cable HDTV capability. Makes one wonder which is the best way to go.
I was all for the Zenith/Sony receiver until I read up about DVI and Firewire, and now it seems that I either wait for the Mitsubishi module or go with the Samsung for DirecTV support and get the MPM whenever it hits the market if needed.
