High-definition Television Buying Guide

480i. 480p. 720p. 1080p. HDMI. LCD. When you start shopping for a new television, it's smart to learn the ABCs and 123s of HDTV. Unlike standard-definition TVs, the purchase of a high-definition TV requires a number of considerations. In addition to screen size, you will want to think about what types of media your new television will be used for, the environment you will be placing your TV in and of course, your budget for such electronics.

High-definition television resolution solutions

One of the first things you will notice when beginning your search for the perfect HDTV is screen resolution. Screen resolution determines the clarity at which your television will display images. Essentially, the higher the resolution, the better the picture will be. HDTVs are produced in three popular resolution formats: 720p, 1080i and 1080p. You can also expect nearly any HDTV to support 480i and 480p, the resolutions that non-high definition televisions operate at.

720p

Televisions that present at 720p display images at a maximum of 1280 x 720 pixels. Although 720p is the lowest resolution of most HDTVs, the picture is excellent. If you plan to purchase a television with a screen smaller than 37 inches, the quality of images in 720p will generally be indistinguishable from higher resolution sets.

1080i

If you're looking to purchase a larger television and want the clearest picture on a budget, 1080i is the way to go. The "i" in 1080i stands for interlaced, which means that half the lines used to produce images on the screen will be refreshed every 1/60th of a second. While this technique looks great with most media, fast-moving video such as sports footage does suffer slight blur at 1080i.

1080p

As the highest HDTV resolution, 1080p is undeniably the best option for those seeking the ultimate in entertainment clarity. 1080p televisions make no compromises in image quality, meaning you can enjoy media such as Blu-ray movies at the resolution they were created for.

The older standards: 480i and 480p

480i resolution is, to put it simply, standard TV quality. 480p, the progressive-scan version of 480i, was the quality that you got when you plugged a DVD player that supported progressive scan into your TV via component (also known as Y/Pb/Pr) cables. You should be able to expect any high-definition TV to support these resolutions, but you can always check with the manufacturer just to be sure.

Widescreen

When high-definition TVs were newer, it wasn't uncommon to see them in the tradition 4:3 aspect ration that standard TVs have been coming in for decades. Quickly, however, the widescreen aspect ration of 16:9 has become the dominant format for HDTVs. This means that a widescreen 1080p high-definition TV will support a resolution of 1920 x 1080 with progressive scan, the resolution you need to watch widescreen Blu-ray movies in all their glory.

HDTV technology options

The decisions you'll have to make when purchasing your new high-definition television continue with screen technology. While there are a number of options including projection, tube, LCD and plasma TVs, the two most sought-after are televisions with LCD or plasma screens. Both screen technologies have advantages and drawbacks, so it will be worth your time to find which type of television is right for your needs.

LCD

Liquid crystal display televisions, better known as LCD TVs, are the most popular variety of HD flat panel TVs for a number of reasons. One of the primary explanations behind this television technology's popularity, of course, is its attractive pricing. Up until recently, HDTVs were considered expensive luxuries, but thanks to LCD technology, affordable, quality high-definition televisions are now a possibility. Another attractive feature of LCD TVs is their light weight. With one of these televisions in your home, moving your set will never be a source of fear again. Plus, their weight makes them perfect for wall-hanging, which can help save space and add style to any room.

Older LCD televisions have historically had some shortcomings worth noting. Although the weakness is quickly becoming a thing of the past, LCD often has a slower response time than other technologies. (In this case, response time refers to the speed at which the individual pixels can be lit or change color.) For fast-paced media such as sports or video games, a slow response time can cause blurring. Another limitation of older and lower-end LCD TVs is that they may offer their best picture quality only at a narrow viewing angle, meaning people off to the sides of the screen would get an inferior (or, in the worst cases, indecipherable) picture. As LCD technology has continued to develop, however, these issues have been steadily removed. Of course, if you get a chance to watch the LCD HDTV that you're considering before you purchase it, then you can make sure that it'll meet your needs.

Plasma

For those who fret over the minutest of image-quality details, plasma HDTVs are an excellent option. Plasma TVs have lightning fast response times, meaning you can catch the big game in incredible detail without worrying about blur. The range of color on plasma flat panel TVs is also picture perfect.

Although plasma TVs do provide beautiful image quality, they trail LCD TVs in popularity due to their higher price tags. Burn-in, which causes static images to leave a "ghost" on the screen, is another problem that plagues many plasma TVs. Fortunately, newer models feature guards against such damage. However, if you have the budget and demand the best, plasma TVs are hard to beat for high-definition.

LED

Often referred to as OLED or "organic LED," these high-definition televisions deliver the extraordinarily high picture quality of a plasma screen but from a screen that's incredibly thin and light, sometimes as little as a few millimeters thick. However, early implementations of OLED are limited to small screens (often no larger than an 11 inch viewing area). Watch for this growing technology to become a great choice in high-definition TVs.

Optimizing your high-definition experience

A new HDTV is an entertainment investment, so you will want to ensure you're getting the most out of your purchase. There are several accessories that every new HDTV owner should consider.

First, you'll want to check if your new television has a built-in HD receiver. Most new HDTVs do, but if yours doesn't have a receiver, you'll need to purchase one separately in order to receive high-definition television.

The next essential accessory for any HDTV is a good set of cables. With HDMI or component cables, you'll see a major shift in the image quality of high-definition Blu-ray movies or the latest video games. Requirements may vary from one manufacturer to another, but expect to need an HDMI cable to get 1080p resolution from your high-definition TV.