Should I future-proof my LCD purchase?

[jonsgp]

Hi, I am looking to buy a LCD Monitor and with all the talk of the upcoming protected HD content - Blu-ray and HDD, I was wondering if I should future-proof my purchase by buying a HDCP-ready monitor the likes of Samsung 215TW or Dell 2007WFP.

Some questions:
1. Is there a difference if between HDMI via DVI vs HDMI? In the case of the former, will there be a quality difference since the HDMI signal is produced through DVI?
2. Will it be wiser to buy a cheaper LCD for now just to be a stop-gap measure, and wait till the HD content become more readily available and better-priced?
3. These are some of the monitors I am tracking. Which model makes the most sense given questions 1&2?
-Samsung 215TW
-Samsung 205BW
-Dell 2007WFP
-Viewsonic VX2025WM (though I heard there are power supply issues and DVI problems in this forum)

Thanks a bunch!

 

[schizo]

You're confusing yourself.

HDMI: the little plug, mostly used in HT equipment
DVI: the bigger white plug, mostly used on computers
HDCP: the DRM protection

HDMI and DVI are electrically identical, they're just physically different, and of course HDMI can also carry digital audio. HDMI always implements HDCP, DVI sometimes does, sometimes doesn't, you need to check.

I'm partial to the dell monitors myself because they're incredibly cheap with deals from gotapex and the like.

The only way to future proof any purchase is to buy it from costco.

 

[Kaldskryke]

I'm a newbie too but here are my unqualified thoughts on the subject.

HD content is still in its infancy, and I don't need to be an early adopter. Is the large associated cost worth the increased resolution but decreased selection of movies? Personally, I don't think so, yet.

I know it's wishful thinking, but I'm hoping to see a new display technology take off within the next year or two. I'm not sure if that's going to be OLED/LCD displays or SEDs or NEDs but if it can give CRT performance in a LCD sized monitor, I'd be happy.

But then again, LCDs are really quite cheap and who knows how expensive a new technology display will be.

 

[jonsgp]

Thanks for the tips guys. It helped me clear up some confusion. I will look into getting the Dell 2007WFP or Samsung 215TW.

Cheers.

 

[Scyles]

HD content is still in its infancy, and I don't need to be an early adopter. Is the large associated cost worth the increased resolution but decreased selection of movies? Personally, I don't think so, yet.

I know it's wishful thinking, but I'm hoping to see a new display technology take off within the next year or two. I'm not sure if that's going to be OLED/LCD displays or SEDs or NEDs but if it can give CRT performance in a LCD sized monitor, I'd be happy.

But then again, LCDs are really quite cheap and who knows how expensive a new technology display will be.

/agree