HDTV Buying Guide – What You Need to Know Before You Buy a HDTV
Posted by hdtv buying guide on March 22, 2009 under HDTV Buyer Guides | 
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It may have caught your eye from afar while you were in the store, or maybe you enjoyed it at a friend’s or relative’s house.
Wherever your first exposure to high-definition television (HDTV) was, the ensuing moments probably focused on getting the same picture in your own living room.
Thankfully, advances in technology have led to falling prices across the board — from the wall-filling monster model to the small counter top set. It’s safe to say that upgrading to HDTV has never been more affordable, despite the current economic climate.
But it’s not as easy as walking into the nearest big-box store and pointing at the one you like. It helps to get familiar with a few HDTV basics.
LCD vs Plasma vs DLP
The differences in quality among these three have certainly diminished over the last few years. The emergence of LED LCD and LED DLP televisions has also made it less clear which flat-panel technology is the best. Check out LCD or Plasma, DLP TVs and LED DLP TVs for a more in depth discussion.
Screen Size
HDTV screens are measured diagonally and come in a handful of standard sizes ranging from 19 inches to around 65 inches. When considering a particular hdtv screen size, don’t forget to account for the plastic casing surrounding the screen. Many an entertainment center has proven too small for its owner’s HDTV aspirations. Here’s an informative HDTV size guide.
Resolution
If you get really, really close to your television, you might be able to make out the individual lines that run the width of the screen. High definition starts at 720 of those lines, stacked vertically. Many larger televisions have 1,080 lines.
Often, HDTV models will be described as 720p, 1080i or 1080p. The letter after the resolution notation is the method the TV uses to scan and update the picture. The “p” stands for progressive scanning, meaning TV reads the picture from top to bottom. The “i” stands for interlaced scanning, which divides the signal into two “pictures” and lays them over the top of each other.
Both processes take place thousands of times per second, so other than knowing what each means, it’s of little concern to a TV buyer.
Programming
While cable and satellite television providers are regularly adding more high-definition content, it helps to know what’s available in your area. For example, if your local cable provider offers only a handful of HD channels — none of which you watch frequently — it may not be worth it to upgrade yet.
It’s also a good idea to be aware of available over-the-air programming. The major networks broadcast nearly all prime-time shows and special events coverage in high definition. Usually, a multi-band digital antenna is all that’s needed to receive the signals.
Peripherals
Many consumers are surprised when their old DVD player produces a less-than-stellar picture on their new HDTV. That old player is programmed to optimize the picture for standard-definition televisions. When hooked up to an HDTV, more detail is seen; it exposes the flaws in the conversion. Often, an “upconverting” DVD player is needed to achieve a high-quality picture on an HDTV.
Connectivity
A high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) cable will likely be used to connect your new HDTV to other devices. Since HDMI is a standard, not a brand name, all cables labeled HDMI are equal. The only exception is cables longer than six feet. For most installations, a no-name cable is more than adequate. They can be found online for less than $20. Compared to the $90-plus models often pushed at the time of TV purchase, no-name cables are a good way to keep a few extra dollars in your pocket.
Here’s more information on buying HDTVs.
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