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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that women cannot 'see' HD?

258 replies

UtterFool · 26/05/2014 01:23

I was having dinner with friends and there was some banter about my mate's new HD TV.

When his wife is watching it he always walks in and makes a huge fuss about why she's not watching said programme in HD. Apparently she cannot tell the difference so I turned to my wife and asked if she could on ours, "I cannot tell the difference either" she says Shock

I remember having the same conversation with another mate at work so am wondering if my huge sample size (of three) is representative of the entire female population?

Or perhaps some women just don't give two hoots about stuff that men get so hyped up about?

Wink
OP posts:
Ploppy16 · 26/05/2014 07:44

Bah...
GADJET geek..

QuizzicalCat · 26/05/2014 07:44

I can see it, and I love it.

OddBoots · 26/05/2014 07:52

I don't think I can see a noticeable difference but dh can to I try to remember to Tivo his stuff in HD and regluar for my stuff (as it takes up less space).

My parents are thinking of a new TV and asked me if I thought they should wait for/get 4k - I told them they were asking the wrong person. My mum would see the difference (but presently has a visual impairment that's soon to be surgically corrected) - she's always had amazing vision and dislikes things not being 'just so'.

hamptoncourt · 26/05/2014 07:58

I have it but honestly cannot tell the difference. Used to drive XH batty. He would be switching between HD and normal and shouting "Can you see it now?" I felt Like Rachel Green when she can't make out her baby on the scan photo...best just to say, "yeah yeah I see it now...."

Glitterfeet · 26/05/2014 08:14

I love it and can see. Before I finally got around to adding some hd channels to the favourites, I frequently couldn't be arsed to find the hd channel if it was just the news on in the background.

Shewhowines · 26/05/2014 08:21

I don't care about it either and rarely switch to those channels. They are not first on the list! I can see the difference. I just don't care.

I actively dislike surround sound too. It's off putting.

msrisotto · 26/05/2014 08:22

I couldn't tell/didn't notice an improvement in quality between VHS and DVD but after years and years of DVDs, VHS is practically unwatchable and the difference is incredibly obvious to me. I imagine the same will eventually happen with HD. I don't notice a difference now (even switching between the two, the difference is barely noticeable).

FullOfChoc · 26/05/2014 08:28

I cannot see the difference (but felt the £400 for the new tv).

sooperdooper · 26/05/2014 08:28

I can see it if I switch between the channels but I just don't care!

GlaikitFizzog · 26/05/2014 08:30

I can tell the difference, and I am female. I actually can't watch SD things anymore. STV I'm talking to you!

It is more obvious in faster moving programmes like sports and movies.

Joysmum · 26/05/2014 08:31

I can tell a difference but only think it matters enough when I'm watch MotoGP and F1 when I have to watch these in F1.

Joysmum · 26/05/2014 08:32

*in HD not F1!

StarDustInTheWind · 26/05/2014 08:38

I can tell the difference, but am another one who does not really care....

Mefisto · 26/05/2014 08:43

I can see the difference and I don't like it. Seems to make everything look like a cheap 1970s US soap. It does something weird to lighting effects.

OnIlkleyMoorBahTwat · 26/05/2014 08:44

I'm another woman who can barely see the difference and I certainly don't think it is worth paying sky an extra tenner a month for the HD channels.

Of course, my male DP thinks it is marvellous and is eagerly awaiting the day that our 8 year old basic HD TV breaks so that he can go and buy a shiny bigger better smarter new one.

I am dreading the same said day because I won't have a fucking clue what is on offer and do not want one that is any bigger than the current one, that I think is 42", so really quite small by modern standards according to DP Hmm.

Other problem with HD is that it takes loads of space on the sky recorder if you don't keep up with watching stuff.

Branleuse · 26/05/2014 08:44

i dont like HD unless its documentaries. really dislike it

TravelinColour · 26/05/2014 08:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DowntonTrout · 26/05/2014 08:48

I can see it but I wouldn't know if I'd got an HD channel on or not without flicking between the two.

HD takes ages to download from the iplayer on SKY so I don't bother with that.

Whoever mentioned the surround sound- it makes me feel sick, like motion sickness. We had a system put in years ago when it first came out. Watching Platoon nearly scared the life out of me. I mean who wants a helicopter suddenly coming from behind you?

NigellasDealer · 26/05/2014 08:54

I've had the same experience with hi-if lol
I must admit I really could not be bothered with the difference in sound that used to send my ex into raptures, you know as long as the sound was reasonable.

RustyBear · 26/05/2014 08:55

I can see the difference, DH can't. Actually the difference is much more marked on my iPad Air, than on the big TV, but HD episodes take up about 50% more room than SD and cost more, so I don't usually download them.

HarryandJess · 26/05/2014 08:55

I can tell the difference and prefer it when given the option for some programmes. It works especially well for travel programmes, wildlife, food programmes and sport. However, I really don't like what it does for dramas. The lighting becomes far too bright and modern looking for me. I tried watching Endeavour (Morse) in HD recently and couldn't because it distracted too much. Normal telly was much better for that.

ThePinkOcelot · 26/05/2014 08:56

I can't tell the difference either. My husband reckons it is definitely worth the extra £10 a month. I certainly don't.

Titsalinabumsquash · 26/05/2014 08:59

I can see the difference thanks! I care too! In rant I know more about AV stuff than a lot of men and last time I looked down I was definitely a woman! Wink

ineedausername · 26/05/2014 09:00

I see it and definitely prefer it. But we have a big 50' tv.. So maybe it makes the older programmes look even older iykwim?

wigglybeezer · 26/05/2014 09:01

I don't know about HD but it is true that women have much better colour discrimination than men, apart from DH, he tested his on the computer and he is in the top percentile for men i.e.. about the same as the average woman and can therefore be trusted to buy paint on his own.