HDTV Buying Guide

So what's all the big hype about HDTV? Unlike analog TV, HDTV uses digital signals. HDTV creates a clearer, sharper image that doen't look as pixelated. In addition, as the prices of HDTVs come down the incentive for existing TV channels to switch over to HD  programming becomes all the more necessary. The FCC plans to deactivate analog bandwidth in favor of an all-digital system, possibly as soon as 2009 or 2010. If you're thinking about buying a new TV, HDTV might be the way to go - otherwise, in a few years you may need to purchase extra gear to convert digital signals to something your analog TV can understand.
Major HDTV Brands:

Top Rated HDTVs by ZDNet:

1080p HDTV model rated by C-Net:

What People Are Buying

Panasonic 42" 720p Flat-Panel Plasma HDTV  

Toshiba 40" 1080p Flat Panel LCD HDTV  

Insignia 42" Lcd 1080p HDTV  

Samsung 32" 720p Flat-Panel LCD HDTV  

Here are a few things you should know about HDTVs in general.

Resolution

HDTV Options

All dimensions refer to the length of the diagonal of the screen.
CRT HDTVs
  • CRT  
    • While the flat panel plasma and LCD screens get all the attention, cathode ray tube, or CRT, televisions are still reliable for many years of use.
    • These are the least expensive - about $500-$1500.
    • 26-36" models - not as large as a plasma, but on par with LCD screens.
    • Large footprint + large weight = don't get much bigger than 36" diagonal.
    • Reliable with good picture quality.
    • Choose standard 4:3 format or wide screen model.

CRT Rear-Projection HDTVs
  • CRT Rear-Projection  
    • Biggest screen for the least amount of money.
    • 40-60" screens are great for watching sports, movies, and playing games.
    • Over 2ft deep. They take up lots of room.
    • They come with built-in speakers and tuners. Perfect for anyone who doesn't know much about wiring.
    • The tubes need realigning once in awhile. Look for a model with auto-convergence.

LCD HDTVs
  • LCD  
    • Only 3-6" deep, which means that you can either wall-mount it or display it on a media center.
    • More expensive than CRTs, overall.
    • High quality, but limited reliability. Great for small screen viewing.
    • LCDs don't display deep blacks well, but look better than plasma screens in a well-lit room.
    • LCD screens also may not look good viewed from an angle rather than straight on.
    • CRT images are still better than LCD and plasma, although the two newer technologies are getting close.

Plasma HDTVs
  • Plasma  
    • Slim display, similar to LCD.
    • Better for dark colors than LCD - especially good for movie watching.
    • Shorter lifespan than LCD or CRT TVs.
    • Unlike LCD screens, plasma screens can get burnt out - something to keep in mind if you frequently watch stations like CNN that have a logo in the corner and a crawl on the bottom for most programs.

Flat-Screen Rear Projection
  • Flat-Screen Rear Projection  
    • Flat-screen rear projection, also known as flat-screen microdisplays ,  are large rear projection TVs with slimmer profiles than bulky rear-projections CRT TVs.
    • Choose from LCD (liquid crystal display ), DLP (digital light processing), or LCoS (liquid crystal on silicon) technology.
      • None are inherently better; LCoS has slightly better resolution, but only a couple of brands carry LCoS TVs.
    • Big screen 40-70" displays, but only about 8-18" thick.
      • Thicker than a similarly sized plasma TV, but at significantly less cost.
    • Sometimes deep blacks aren't displayed well, but this depends on the model.
    • Some sets give off a rainbow effect.

Whichever option you choose, here are a few pointers to help you find a good TV.

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