HDTV Explained: First in a series

I want my HDTV. Who doesn’t? Crisp, clear images in widescreen, the way motion pictures were meant to be seen. But making the plunge means more than shelling out upwards of $4,000. It requires learning the intricacies of the new medium. This series will help break down some of the key information you’ll need before buying an HDTV.

First up - what is HD? High-definition is a digital broadcast which offers sharper, more resonant imagery than traditional sets. HD broadcasts come in three types - 720p, 1080i or 1080p. The higher the number, the more lines embedded in the signal and, therefore, the sharper the picture. The letters stands for “interlaced” or “progressive,“ with the latter offering the superior picture. Check out any Best Buy flier and you’ll see 720p sets much cheaper than their 1080 counterparts. The televisions we grew up watching broadcast 480 lines for comparison’s sake.

But here’s where it gets tricky. Very few, if any, channels broadcast in 1080p, so splurging for the extra capacity does us no good, at least for now.

And not all HDTVs are ready to broadcast HD content out of the box. You’ll need an HD tuner, which many sets have built in. If you don’t have one, you can buy one separately or rely on an external box supplied by your cable or satellite company. You can get HD signals via conventional antennas (to watch HD programs from NBC, CBS, etc) or cable/satellite setups (which offer HBO, ESPN, etc., plus network feeds).

Next -- LCD vs. Plasma