We’re not far away from the date, 2/17/2009, for the switch to digital television (http://www.dtv.gov/); are you prepared? Before I speak about the process that, I believe, will satisfy your search for an HDTV you need to know that your analog CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) television will still be usable. Although you will not be able to receive the digital signal through the television’s analog tuner you will be able to receive it with a set top box specifically designed for that purpose. The federal government has a Converter Box Coupon Program that will allow each household to request two coupons worth $40 each. These coupons are to assist in the purchase of two digital-analog converter boxes between January 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009 (www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/dtv/dtvcoupon.html).

There are two caveats:
1. Prices and manufacturer names are not yet available.
2. Congress’ initial allocation of $990 million for the program will allow every household the opportunity to acquire two $40 coupons, but if the administrator (NTIA) requests the additional $510 million also allocated then the program will be restricted to only those households that receive their signal over-the-air, not by cable or satellite.

Before I purchased my first HDTV, the Sharp LC-46D62U, I pored over available information on the internet until my head hurt. My primary problem was a lack of knowledge of the internal functions of the television and how it produces a clean high resolution picture. Because I follow the principle “caveat emptor” (let the buyer beware) I trust no single source’s interpretation of the criteria for purchasing consumer goods so I always collect and analyze all the technical information I can find. There were innumerable times when I felt that I had a good grasp of the technology and choices related to the purchase of the television that satisfies my desires, but I found that there is always something new. CNET and AVSForum both have much of the information that you require along with lots of opinions, but I tend to ignore the overall ratings from cnet since their score usually places too much emphasis on cost.

There are many technical processes governing the input and output of an outstanding HDTV. It can drive you barmy if you attempt to understand them all so focus on the following:
1. Establish a top criterion. Mine was a magnificent picture with eye popping colors and sharpness.
2. Decide on the technology that suits you: Plasma, LCD or DLP (rear projection television).
3. Try to understand some of the most important issues affecting picture quality such as color, contrast/dynamic contrast, sharpness, refresh rate, resolution, interlacing, deinterlacing, progressive scan, 3:2 (2:3) pulldown and viewing angles.
4. Hopefully you will be able to establish some trust with one or more particular brands since the brand is an important consideration. The top tier brands will charge more because of marketing etc, but they will also use higher quality components.
5. Check for the particular model that appeals to you technically and financially. It’s best to research the Manufacturer’s internet sites to see the list of models they have available.
6. Decide on the place of purchase. Internet or bricks and mortar, that is the question. I use the internet to compare prices but with a Best Buy or Circuit City you can return defective products with much less hassles
Most persons transitioning from CRT will be looking primarily at LCD’s and Plasmas, therefore I will be focusing on these two technologies.

The general pros and cons of LCD’s and Plasmas are as follows.
• LCDs consume less power. For example the Panasonic TH-42PZ700U uses 580 watts while the Sharp LC-42D62U uses 247 watts. Both are 42 inch 1080p televisions, 720p televisions use less power.
• LCDs weigh less than plasma. The Panasonic is 99.3 lbs, the Sharp is 75 lbs.
• LCDs are brighter.
• LCDs are not as fragile as plasma.
• LCDs are not as vulnerable to burn-in, but some plasma TV’s now include anti-burn-in technology.
• LCDs do not have glass screens therefore they do not reflect light as plasma TV’s do, although some plasma TV’s are now incorporating anti-reflection coatings.
• Plasma TV’s have better black levels with Pioneer bringing out a new line with 80% better black levels than the preceding generation.

The appropriate size (diagonal measurement) and resolution measured in pixels (1920×1080 - 1080p/1080i/720p, 1366×768 - 1080i/720p, 1024×768 - 720p) are considered next. I definitely prefer a larger HDTV but I would go for a 1080p front projector for anything over 65”. The higher the resolution the better the quality of the picture, at least that is the goal. Unfortunately this is not always the case because the chipsets built into the panel will determine how well the television will take an interlaced HD signal, deinterlace it and present it on your screen as a progressive scan image. This process will diminish the progressive resolution if not done properly, therefore the antialiasing capability of the television is very important. The Geek box from cnet is very good for sourcing this type of technical information. There is another issue called response time which is the amount of time the pixels in an LCD take in going from active (black) to inactive (white), then back to active (black). The faster the response time, measured in milliseconds, the less chance there is for ghosting, some LCD’s are now down to 4ms.

Don’t expect HDTV’s to be as good as CRT’s in handling standard definition broadcasts, they are built for higher pixel content, and do not confuse EDTV (Enhanced Definition TV) with HDTV. EDTV (720×480 - 480p) falls between standard definition and high definition.

I believe that LCD’s are best for everyday viewing of television, playing video games, as monitors for computers, and are tougher which means they will last longer around kids. High end plasmas are for the connoisseur. Hooked up to either HD DVD or Blu-Ray in a room dedicated to the theater experience is where I believe top end plasmas will outshine LCD’s. LCD’s are definitely ready for prime time but the newer crop of plasmas from Pioneer (Elite PRO-110 & 150 FD’s) and Panasonic (TH-50 & 58 PZ750U’s) have raised the bar.

A considered purchase of an HDTV will provide you with a much better viewing experience over the long term. Avoid saving a dime and ultimately losing a dollar.

PS. There is a new kid on the block called SED (Surface-conduction Electron-emitter Display). This is a new technology developed by Canon that has not yet been released to the consumer. There are plans to release this in the latter part of 2007 but because of legal issues between Canon and Toshiba and logistical issues relating to production for Canon I do not believe we will see consumer availability this year. SED’s have the best colors, the deepest blacks, contrast levels up to 100,000:1, a 1ms response time virtually eliminating ghosting to the naked eye, uses one-third less power than an equivalently sized LCD, and exceptional viewing angles. This technology gives us the best of all worlds which is why I am hoping it goes into production soon.

Look out for it.