Buy HDTV - is it time?

Whether you're interested in the latest flat-screens for their amazing picture quality, their attractive slimness or just because that 19" black and white box with rabbit ears on top that you took with you to college ten years ago just doesn't hold the same allure it once did, there's never been a better time to consider purchasing your first (or second) High Definition TV. Until the last few years HDTV's were toys that your rich friend would buy and then invite you over to watch a game while you drooled over his five thousand dollar 32" beauty. Thankfully, advancements in television technology and the introduction of many more manufactures has led to a revolution in HDTV pricing. Even with this great news, finding which High Definition TV set is right for you can still be tricky and frustrating. Keep a few tips and tricks in your mind when you hit the big box stores and you can buy HDTV without feeling an empty wallet.

Even though many big box stores feature HDTV's predominately in their electronics sections, there are still some individuals who aren't yet convinced they should buy HDTV. Instead of viewing dozens of images at the store, find a business or friend who already owns an HDTV and sit down to watch an entire show or movie. After you've finished you'll very likely have a new appreciation for just how amazing picture quality is these days, and you may even wonder how you managed to go without for so long. Once you've convinced yourself that you enjoy and would like to purchase an HDTV go back to your favorite store and view their selection for awhile. You may notice that you like the picture quality of LCD over Plasma, or vice-versa, or instead that you really enjoy even more up-to-date technology like HDLED. Don't make your purchase just yet though, there are still several things to consider.

Go home, fire up the computer and check out a reputable consumer review group such as Consumer Reports, CNET, or Epinions. Browse through their reviews based on the type of television you are interested in purchasing. You may be surprised to learn that some HDTV's produce a higher quality image than others. High Definition is broken down into four resolutions: 480p, 720p, 1080i, and 1080p (ranked from lowest to highest resolution). The difference between these resolutions is very noticeable and should be taken into consideration. Another factor to consider is the refresh rate or frame rate. A television must have a refresh rate of 50 Hz to be High Definition. The higher the refresh rate the smoother your image will appear on the screen.

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