To HD or not to HD?

All set up, but no HD content to play

Despite more and more consumers buying HD televisions, a large percentage aren't actually watching HD content, choosing to not fully utilise their HDTVs.

According to the survey conducted in the UK, while 56 percent of UK households now have an HD television, 91 percent of consumers still watch standard, non-HD DVDs and get their television through standard set-top boxes.

While the likes of Sky and Virgin offer HD broadcasting, it appears that many consumers have simply opted to get a new TV.

Watching HD content

Personally, I'm guilty of this as well. Despite having a full HDTV (1080p) I, like most of those surveyed, don't have a HD-sat box. Instead of paying that little bit extra per month, I'm happy with normal definition content and am convinced that it's only a matter of time before it's available on Freesat or at no extra cost.

However, I do watch HD content through my Playstation 3 console.

The PS3 is one of the few games consoles on the market that offers users HD content, both in its games and the fact that it has a Blu-Ray player built in. Despite the fact that the versions of Microsoft's XBox 360 and Nintendo's Wii are rumoured to include Blu-Ray as well, the PS3 is essentially one of the most affordable Blu-Ray players on the market... and it's a games console.

However, not all of the surveyed adults are as bothered with their HD content/Blu-Ray DVDs or games as I am, and of the 2000 adults questioned, 81 percent admitted to not getting the best from any of the hi-tech gadgets around their homes.

These people, who may not know the difference between a SCART and an HDMI cable, have often spent lots of money on a product, but have no idea how to get the most from it.

Unsurprisingly, 27 percent of respondents admitted to not reading the instruction manuals for their gadgets and 29 percent gave up at the outset, saying modern technology is too complicated.

With more and more content becoming HD, it's only a matter of time before people are left behind. The digital switchover has already begun and if people are spending money on high tech home entertainment systems, it makes sense for them to unleash its full potential... and from the sound of it, that just means buying an HDMI cable for much of the population.

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