New HL-S5087W owner with newbie question?

bfollowell · 12-11-2006, 08:48 AM

OK, after years of drooling, I've finally taken the HDTV plunge. I picked up a Samsung HL-S5087W for $1499 with zero % financing until 2009 and am thrilled with my purchase so far. I upgraded from a ten year-old Sony CRT type rear projection TV. The difference is unbelievable!

I have one question. I only purchase widescreen movies. They're always letterboxed but they all say "enhanced" for 16:9 televisions. When I put my television in 16:9 mode, they stretch out and have very little in the way of letterboxing bars if any at all. They look great. My question is for normal SD television. I watch in normal 4:3, windowboxed mode because I can't stand the "fat", stretched look. However, some movies and television shows air in letterboxed format. If I attempt to watch these in 16:9 mode, the large letterbox bars are kept and the image just looks horribly stretched. Does anyone know why DVD's can be viewed properly but over the air letterbox broadcasts can't?

Thanks to anyone who might be able to answer my question.

Sincerely,
- Byron Followell

12-11-2006, 08:48 AM	#1
bfollowell Samsung HL-S5087W Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 9	New HL-S5087W owner with newbie question? OK, after years of drooling, I've finally taken the HDTV plunge. I picked up a Samsung HL-S5087W for $1499 with zero % financing until 2009 and am thrilled with my purchase so far. I upgraded from a ten year-old Sony CRT type rear projection TV. The difference is unbelievable! I have one question. I only purchase widescreen movies. They're always letterboxed but they all say "enhanced" for 16:9 televisions. When I put my television in 16:9 mode, they stretch out and have very little in the way of letterboxing bars if any at all. They look great. My question is for normal SD television. I watch in normal 4:3, windowboxed mode because I can't stand the "fat", stretched look. However, some movies and television shows air in letterboxed format. If I attempt to watch these in 16:9 mode, the large letterbox bars are kept and the image just looks horribly stretched. Does anyone know why DVD's can be viewed properly but over the air letterbox broadcasts can't? Thanks to anyone who might be able to answer my question. Sincerely, - Byron Followell