To those who have an HDTV set, it's a technological boon.
With more upcoming fall programming to be broadcast in high definition than ever before, now is a great time to consider HDTV. (A set runs $900 for a 32-inch set to $5,000 for a 60-inch set depending on the type of TV.) Trust us - "24" looks remarkably clear on one of these sets.
Here's help to cut through the technical jargon, and a look at the three biggest-selling HDTV technologies, with pros and cons, along with breakdowns of what you need to get HDTV into the home and which television carriers have the most programming.
Think of a plasma TV as a neon sign that's controlled by a computer.
Plasma TVs are a flat-panel monitor - sometimes just a few inches thick - that have neon-xenon gasses built into the screen. Electrical impulses controlled by the brains of the TV excite these gasses to create the image.
Pros: Many believe plasma televisions produce the best color saturation and contrast ratio of any television, with truer blacks and more realistic hues.
They look especially good hung on walls. And with such good viewing angles, you don't have to sit directly in front of it to see a good picture.
Cons: They're still expensive, with sets more than 50 inches costing more than $4,000 or $5,000.
They also run hot and are noisy because they have a row of fans to keep them cool. And they suffer from screen burn-in, that dreaded phenomenon in which a static image can burn into and stay on the screen.
Perhaps the biggest downside is that the light output will start to diminish beginning the first day the set's turned on, and some plasmas can lose as much as half of their light output after 30,000 to 60,000 hours of use. Pixels are also bigger on the screen and more noticeable when seen at closer distances.
Based on technology from Texas Instruments, DLP stands for digital light processing. Light from a lamp is shined on millions of microscopic mirrors that tilt and turn on and off. That light then is projected through a spinning color wheel, which produces the image.
Pros: It's the cheapest of all three technologies, with sets as big as 60 inches costing less than a 42-inch plasma screen.
DLP sets tend to produce a smoother image across the screen with less-noticeable pixels, and it's the brightest of all three. It too has good viewing angles and is a quiet set that does not need a row of fans. There also is no worry of screen burn-in.
Cons: To create that bright picture requires an expensive lamp (at least $250) that needs to be replaced every two to three years.
Earlier generations of DLP caused some to view a "rainbow effect" that can shimmer across the screen. Later versions have reduced that problem.
They're not thin like a plasma or LCD set but still skinnier than a regular rear-projection monstrosity.
Similar to a laptop PC screen, LCD TVs involve two transparent panels with a layer of liquid crystals in between. Light passes through to produce the colored image. The technology is sold either as a flat-panel screen, similar to plasma TVs, or as a rear-projection model.
Pros: LCD screens produce bright, detailed pictures, and the flat monitors can be hung on walls and have good viewing angles like plasmas.
They don't produce the same amount of heat as plasma screens and don't need multiple fans.
The life of the bulb can be as much as 60,000 hours, which means you likely won't have to replace the light element.
Cons: LCDs, especially the older models, cannot produce fast-moving images as well as other technologies. Sports broadcasts, for example, might produce slight blurring.
A very small percentage of sets also come with what are called "dead pixels," where a random pixel or two on the set might be defective and appear either black or white.
The flat-panel versions go up to about 40-inches in size before they get expensive. That's when a LCD rear-projection model might be a better option.
Most new HDTV owners fall into this trap: They buy a new HDTV set, turn it on at home and get a picture that's no better than what they had before. What gives?
It's because they think that's all you need to get HD in the home. Which probably explains why two-thirds of HDTV owners don't watch high definition programming on their new sets, according to media research company In-Stat.
But you need more than that. Here's what it will take to get crystal clear HD images in your living room once you have a set in hand.
The TV: Which can range anywhere from $900 for a 32-inch set to $5,000 for a 60-inch set depending on the type of TV.
HD Tuner: This is the set-top box that accepts a high definition signal and processes it through the TV. Earlier models of TVs didn't have a tuner built in and will require that you buy a separate one (about $200). But nearly all new sets have them built in now.
Antenna or HDTV Carrier: You don't have to subscribe to cable TV or satellite to get HD. You can get HD programming for free over the air with a digital antenna that costs as little as $30. Otherwise, you can get HD programming through carriers like Comcast, DirecTV or Dish Network.
In Utah, there are three main carriers that provide HD programming, Comcast cable, Dish Network and DirecTV. Each offers different amounts of programming at different prices.
Comcast: Up to 17 HD channels. Requires an HD receiver box you rent from Comcast. Costs an additional $6.45 per month to get high-definition programming.
Dish Network: Up to 32 channels. Requires an HD receiver that you rent for free. Offers separate HD programming packages, ranging from $49 to $99 per month.
DirecTV: Up to 12 channels. Requires an HD receiver and you must pay an additional $9.99 per month for HD programming.
HDTV sets are awash in technical specifications, and some of them are important. Here are specifications to compare when shopping for a set:
Contrast Ratio: This is the difference between the brightest and darkest images. The higher the ratio, the better the TV. For example, 5000:1 is better than 1000:1
Pixel Resolution: This refers to how many pixels there are across and up the screen. The more, the better. For example, 1920x1080 resolution is better than 1280x728.
HDMI Inputs: This is the number of digital inputs the TV has using the latest and greatest connection, known as HDMI. It's better to buy a TV with two than one.
Screen Size: Didn't we say that bigger is better?
So is HDTV really better than standard definition television?
Uh . . . yeah.
This is the difference between HDTV and that standard clunker sitting on your TV stand right now.
Picture quality: High definition TVs display 10 times the number of pixels or picture dots on the screen than standard sets for much greater detail. That means you can see every bead of sweat and every furry tick on Matthew Fox's face in "Lost."
Sound's great: Typically, HD programs are broadcast with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound for more realistic sound effects and music, while standard programs usually air in stereo and regular, less detailed surround sound.
Picture size: All HD programming is in a widescreen ratio, like movies in theaters for expansive shots. Standard programs are displayed on a square screen.
HDTV PROGRAMING
A breakdown of how many hours each week primetime programming from the five big networks will be telecast in HD.
CBS: 18 of 22.
NBC: 18 of 22.
ABC: 16 of 22.
Fox: 8.5 of 15.
CW: 8 of 13.
A list of cable networks broadcasting in HD (note that carriers do not carry all of the HD versions of these channels)
PBS
MyNetworkTV (American telenovellas)
A&E
Cinemax HD
Discovery HD Theater
E!
ESPN HD
ESPN 2 HD
Food Network HD
HBO HD
HDNET (Movies and specials)
HDNET Movies
HGTV HD
INHD (Movies and specials)
INHD 2
MHD (MTV's HD channel)
The Movie Channel HD
National Geographic HD
NBA HDTV
NFL Network HD
The Outdoor Channel 2 HD
Outdoor Life Network
Showtime HD
Starz HD
TNT HD
Universal HD
Voom (A package of 15 HD channels only available through Dish Network that include networks such as Kung Fu HD and Monsters HD).
Wealth TV
Source: AVS Forum.com
