Quick Guide to Buying an HDTV
HDTVs offer far better picture quality than older TVs through dramatically increased resolution.
Learn the Lingo
- ResolutionResolutionOn TVs, this is typically a single number that represents the number of horizontal lines the set can display.
- Progressive ScanProgressive ScanAs opposed to interlaced, progressive scan fills every line from top to bottom, without skipping any.
- PlasmaPlasmaA flat-panel technology that uses gas trapped between two panes of glass to create images.
- LCDLCDLiquid Crystal Displays are the basis for the flattest of all TVs, using the same technology in LCD computer monitors and laptop screens.
- InterlacedInterlacedThe usual way TV images are displayed, filling in every other horizontal line from to bottom, then going back and filling those it missed.
- HDMIHDMIHigh-Definition Multimedia Interface provides a single-cable digital connection for both video and audio.
- DVIDVIDigital Visual Interface is a video port standard that appears on most PCs and a few TVs; useful for connecting a computer to a television.
- DLPDLPDigital Light Processing is one of two technologies (with LCD) used as the basis for projection TVs.
- CRTCRTCathode Ray Tube, the old tube-based TV format.
The Basics
There are four main types of HDTVs:
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Plasma
Pros:Very large screens available; vibrant color quality can't be beat
Cons:Screen brightness can dim over time; fragile; expensive
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LCD
Pros:Thinnest and lightest of all TVs
Cons:Max size is limited for now; very expensive; can create ghosting in action scenes
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Projection
Pros:Cheaper than comparably sized flat-panels
Cons:Thick and heavy; lamps burn out and are pricey
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CRT
Pros:Bargain-basement prices; best overall picture
Cons:Enormous at large sizes; limited maximum screen size; hogs power; yesterday's technology
What Matters Most
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- Screen Size
- You won't see the benefits of HDTV if you sit too far away; at 10 feet you need at least a 35-inch set.
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- Inputs
- HDMI offers a simple, all-digital connection for both video and audio in a single cable.
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- Resolution
- 720p and 1080i are the two major HD standards; but the high-end 1080p is even better.
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- Installation
- Bring a friend; CRTs and larger projection TVs are huge and can weigh hundreds of pounds. Fancy wall-mount kits for LCDs and plasmas usually cost extra.
