“The last X you’ll ever need.” Every techie knows that there is no such thing, but that doesn’t stop industry players from saying that their product will be the one to live up to that claim. According to CNET, this statement is now coming from television makers about 4K resolution or UltraHD TVs. Why is it being billed as “the last resolution you’ll ever need?”
4K is yet another new high-definition format. Like other high-def technologies, its purpose is to make images clearer and more realistic, while reducing or eliminating the appearance of pixels. Though standards vary, the 4K name comes from resolution in the range of 4000 pixels wide by 2000 pixels high. This is equal to four 1080-pixel screens. A 1080-pixel screen is the current standard for full high definition.
Where Can I Get 4K and How Much Will It Cost?
4K televisions used to be prohibitively expensive, even for early adopters. The only price that was originally stated was for huge 84-inch sets, which cost a whopping $20,000. Needless to say, this did not exactly drum up market demand.
Soon, however, this will change. According to Forbes, a $5000 Sony Bravia X900 UltraHD TV will soon hit the market. A 65-inch version of the set is priced at $7000. High-end electronics stores will likely be the first outlets offering these new televisions. After they have been on the market for a while, they’ll move to mass-market stores like Best Buy – if the technology takes off. Assuming UltraHD is successful, it will eventually be the default at every appliance store.
Should I Bother Getting a 4K Television Set?
Like all new formats, 4K is currently suffering from a lack of content. Sony is aware of this, and is hoping to alleviate consumer concerns by simultaneously producing a 4K media player that includes 10 movies with 4K native resolution. ClearTVBundle says that satellite providers currently offer 1080 pixel HD resolutions, but Digital Trends says that these providers have recently applied for 4K-related trademarks. Satellite companies intend to get in on the game.
While it help assuage consumer fears over a lack of content, it doesn’t address an even more basic issue: the fact that most people cannot see the difference between standard HD and UltraHD if they are 6 feet or further away from the television screen. Many say there is no point in investing in a 4K television since the average sofa is further than 6 feet from the TV.
Because television sets are used as monitors in addition to watching actual TV programming, it is likely that the market for the new resolution will be larger than some expect. Even so, it could be a while before 4K/UltraHD sets take off. Many will wait for the price to drop even further, while others will never find it worthwhile. Whether 4K sets and programming actually become the next big thing is something that remains to be seen.
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