HDTV Buyer's Guide

There is no shame in using an HDTV buyer's guide to make informed decisions about that new television you want. The following subjects are important when looking at new plasma or LCD televisions in order to make your viewing more enjoyable.

Before you go out and plunk down $1000 or $2000 on a new HDTV, check to make sure that you can get an HD signal from your existing equipment. If you are using a set top box with a satellite or cable provider, you may have to upgrade your programming package to include some HD programming. Usually this results in an extra $10-$20 per month.

Don't plan on watching HD television? Do you plan on watching HD movies or playing video games in HD? Then make sure you have all the necessary equipment and cables. Blu-ray is the HD standard, so for your moviephiles, investing in a Blu-ray player is you don't have one is well worth the price.

For gamers, the PS3 and Xbox 360 offer games in HD, but you need the proper cables. HDTV-Component or HDMI (discussed below) are the two HD connections both systems offer.

Two types of HDTVs are available. Which one you purchase depends on how you will use it.

• Plasma TVs are best viewed in lower lighting. They can also be seen from just about any angle in the room. Movies look much better on Plasmas than on LCDs, so if you love movies, then go with a Plasma.
• LCDs typically look better in room with brighter lights. LCDs use to be cheaper than Plasmas when HD technology first arrived on the scene, but now, a reason to get an LCD is if you plan on placing in a large room with lots of light. Short on space? LCDs are available in all kinds of sizes starting at 13 inches.

Some HDTV buyer's guides neglect to mention resolution. In order to quality for HD, the resolution must be either 720p or 1080i. Those numbers indicate the number of lines it takes the TV to display a picture. HD can only display in either of those settings. Anything lower results in what's called Standard Definition, which is what most television channels broadcast in. Make sure the HDTV you are looking at can display at least 720p or 1080i.

To get the best possible picture, you need both an HD signal (hopefully, you're set for that) and HD cables. Regular plugs (RCA jacks, or red, white, and yellow plugs) just won't cut it. If you use those cords, then there was no sense in paying for an HDTV.

• HDMI cables are the best cables to purchase because they provide both an HD signal and HD sound, provide you are utilizing the HDMI port on any equipment you are attaching to the HDTV. Blu-rays, cable boxes, and Home Theaters are come with HDMI ports as a standard feature, so don't worry current technology missing that port.

• HDTV-components have the red, green, and blue plugs at the ends. This is a step down from the HDMI. The picture quality isn't as good and you'll still need to plug in something for sound. The HD sounds isn't carried with the component cords.

• DV-I connections are meant for PCs. If you have a PC with a DV-I port (it's an off-white port with a lot of tiny holes) and the HDTV includes one, then plugging your PC into the TV will give you the option to do some computing from your couch!

Make sure you have enough ports on the TV to support the number of peripherals you want to connect. Most HDTVs nowdays offer at least three HDMI/HDTV-component ports and at least two RCA ports with or without S-video. DV-I ports aren't as common and you only need this plug if you plan on hooking up your computer to the HDTV.

Retailers offer HDTV buyer's guides to the brands they carry. Be wary of a store pushing one brand over the other; this just means that they get kickbacks from the manufacturer to sell their product. Don't let a salesman force one brand on you when you've been looking at other brands. Stick with the features you want and that new HDTV will find its way to your living room.

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