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NEW YORK – If you haven’t yet sprung for a high-definition TV set, the week before the Super Bowl is a good time to make the upgrade. Sports look great in HD, and football in particular is easier to follow on a big, sharp screen.

The bad economy has curbed many people’s appetites for big-ticket purchases, but consider that prices for flat-panel TVs 32 inches and smaller are now very close to what old-fashioned, tube-based TVs used to cost, with some models going for as little as $400. Of course, bigger TVs make for a more compelling viewing experience, but even a smaller HD set is a good step up from a standard-definition set.

Here are some ideas to keep in mind if you decide to go high-def.

• What size screen should I get? A common rule of thumb is this: Take the distance you’ll be sitting from the TV set, in feet. Multiply it by four to get the number of inches of screen diagonal you should get. If you sit 10 feet from the TV, that works out to a 40-inch set. That’s the minimum size — you will certainly appreciate an even larger one.

If you’re choosing between a smaller TV with premium features or a larger TV for the same price, go for the larger one. Advanced features like 1080p resolution (see below) aren’t of much value on small sets anyway, and nothing beats the enveloping feel of a large screen.

• LCD or Plasma? Liquid-crystal displays, or LCDs, have become the default choice for HDTV buyers, with nearly 90 percent of the market. But don’t rule out plasma sets. These can be cheaper for the same size of screen, and yield excellent image quality, with deeper black images than most LCD screens. However, plasma ones are thicker and heavier and use more power than LCD screens. The most noticeable difference is that they have glossy glass surfaces, which can produce annoying reflections from windows and light sources, so placing them requires some care.

Rear-projection sets are still around, accounting for a few percent of the market. Consider these if you want the largest possible screen and don’t mind that they’re not flat, wall-mountable slabs like LCDs and plasma. Image quality can be good, but they’re less bright than flat panels and even dimmer when not viewed straight on.

• When you explore screens that are around 40 inches, you’ll be confronted with another question: 720p or 1080p? This refers to the resolution of the screen, with 1080p being the sharpest. But chances are you won’t notice the difference unless you sit fairly close or the screen is very big. A 720p set is fine for DVDs, which aren’t high-definition. If you plan to get a Blu-ray player or to hook up an Xbox 360 or other video game console to the set, 1080p makes more sense. For LCD screens 40 inches or larger and all rear-projection sets, 1080p is now standard.

• There’s another feature that can have a big effect on the image quality: a 120-hertz “refresh rate,” coupled with image-processing technology variously known as “Motion Flow” and “Smooth Motion.” What does this mumbo-jumbo mean? Well, TV is shot at 30 frames per second, and movies at 24 frames per second. This is fast enough to give us the impression of continuous motion, but not fast enough to make high-action or camera-panning scenes look smooth and steady. High-end TVs now compensate for this by computing extra frames and inserting them between the existing ones. Combined with a screen that refreshes the image 120 times per second, this means smoother football action. However, not everyone will notice it without a side-by-side comparison with another set, so it’s not a feature that will give you many bragging rights.

• So how does the set hook up? You’ll want to have as many HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) inputs as possible. HDMI cables provide the best connection between a TV set and a signal source like a set-top box, DVD player or game console. They’re also simple to connect, with one HDMI cable replacing as many as five video and audio cables. Three inputs have become standard, but some cheaper sets scrimp. HDMI cables can even be used to connect some late-model computers to the set.

You’ll also find a standard antenna input at the back of the set, in case you get your TV signal through an antenna rather than from cable or satellite. If you do, you have another motivation to get a digital set right now. Most analog broadcasts are set to disappear on Feb. 17 (though there could be a delay until June).

• Lastly, once you have your set, don’t forget to hook it up to a high-definition signal! Some people get an HD set and then think they’re watching HD, when in fact they’re watching blurry old standard-definition programming. The cable or satellite company can walk you through getting an HD signal, but if you’re in a hurry to watch the Super Bowl or don’t have pay TV, connect an antenna and tell the set to scan the airwaves. The local NBC station should be broadcasting in high definition. Outdoor antennas are best, but you can pick up a modern indoor antenna designed for digital broadcasts for $50.

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Hey everyone, I decided it would be a great idea to post up the latest news from Google so here it is…

Digital TV Frequently Asked Questions & FCC Form 388

KTVN, NV - 18 hours ago
Digital Television (DTV) is a new form of TV. This new technology allows you to watch High Definition Television (HDTV) programs and multiple Standard …
TV goes digital February 18, 2009 Examiner.com
Learn the difference: HDTV versus DTV, what the conversion means … WKYC-TV
They're about to throw the digital switch in TV Land New Haven Register (subscription)
Minyanville.com - KATUall 121 news articles »  Read More…

Towanda Borough tries to get HDTV for its residents

Towanda Daily Review, PA - 11 hours ago
BY JAMES LOEWENSTEIN TOWANDA ‘ Towanda Borough officials have started to take steps to convince Comcast Corp. to provide high-definition television in the …  Read More…

HD is the name of todays (TV) game

Carlisle Sentinel, PA - Jan 31, 2009
According to Vaughn, even those people who visit his electronics store intending to buy a digital converter box eventually decide on a new HD TV instead. …  Read More…
That’s all the news for today guys, so until next time, thanks for stopping by.

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I’ve had some time to do some reading lately and I’ve managed to come across a few really interesting posts that I thought I’d let everyone know about. Check em out and let me know your thoughts on some of the topics they talked about within -

Panasonic's CES 2009 VIERA HDTV lineup priced and dated… for …

Panasonic's CES 2009 VIERA HDTV lineup priced and dated… for Japan. by Darren Murph, posted Feb 3rd 2009 at 4:02AM. Remember those fancy new VIERA HDTVs introduced at CES by Panasonic? Yeah, well every last one just got a price tag …  Read More…

HDTV Listings for February 2, 2009 - Engadget HD

HDTV Listings for February 2, 2009. by Richard Lawler, posted Feb 2nd 2009 at 5:00PM. What we're watching tonight:. NBC (1080i) brings 3D Chuck at 8 p.m. followed by Heroes and the season premiere of Medium at 10 p.m.; Fox (720p) drops …  Read More…

Releaselog | RLSLOG.net Being Erica S01E05 HDTV XviD-2HD

Comments (3). Feel free to post your Being Erica S01E05 HDTV XviD-2HD torrent, subtitles, samples, free download, quality, NFO, rapidshare, megaupload, filefactory, netload, crack, serial, requirements or whatever-related comments here. …  Read More…

Hope you enjoy the read as much as I did and please if you have something to say, use the comments form below to let everyone know your thoughts.

Have a great day!

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Is 720p vs 1080i worth being concerned about? Yes and no. If you’re a consumer looking for a new TV, you can happily ignore the 720p vs 1080i debate because every TV which is described as HDTV or HDTV Ready is required to support both formats.

NOTE: You should be aware though that lots of TVs which support 1080i have fewer

than 1080 lines and so scale the 1080 signal down. That’s not a huge issue as even

scaled down 1080i is far ahead of a regular NTSC signal. It is worth bearing in mind

that more expensive HDTVs tend to have better scalers than cheaper ones, and this

may be an issue.

However, for broadcasters it’s a live issue. Should they broadcast 1080 lines of

interlaced video or 720 lines of progressive scan? They could just broadcast two

signals, one in each format, but that would use up a huge chunk of bandwidth and

be hugely expensive for very little gain.

To answer the question, it’s important to understand the difference between 720p

vs 1080i. A 720p signal is made up of 720 horizontal lines. Each frame is displayed

in its entirety on-screen for 1/30th of a second. This is know as progressive scan

(hence the ‘p’)The quality is like watching 30 photographic images a second on TV.

A 1080i signal comprises 1080 horizontal lines but all the lines are not displayed

on-screen simultaneously. Instead, they are interlaced (hence the ‘i’), ie every other

lines is displayed for 1/60th of a second and then the alternate lines are displayed

for 1/60th of a second. So, the frame rate is still 30 frames per second, but each

frame is split into two fields, which your brain then puts together subconsciously.

Most of the time interlacing works fine, but for fast moving images, such as sports

like baseball and hockey it can cause problems which manifest themselves as a

’stepping’ effect on-screen. Progressive scan signals don’t have this problem and so

are better suited to sports.

ESPN puts it like this: ‘Progressive scan technology produces better images for the

fast moving orientation of sports television. Simply put, with 104 mph fastballs in

baseball and 120 mph shots on goal in hockey, the line-by-line basis of progressive

scan technology better captures the inherent fast action of sports. For ESPN,

progressive scan technology makes perfect sense.’

Bottom line? For us, as consumers 720p vs 1080i is not a debate worth worrying

about, so you can relax and focus on all the other criteria on your list when you buy

your next HDTV.

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Great Ways To Find A Cheap Hdtv

Are you looking for ways to find a cheap HDTV television set? There are many ways to make big savings and find cheap HDTV sets. As you read this article, you will discover more about the specific ways I go about to make big savings and buy a cheap HDTV set.

* Knowing what you want
The first key to finding a cheap high definition television set is to know what you want exactly. This can be a number of different things, such as price, the size of screen, a particular brand - such as Sony HD TV, Panasonic, Mitsubishi, etc.

You will want to begin by setting a budget. How much do you intend to spend to buy a cheap high definition television? Do you want the best format HDTV 1080p or do you want the 720p range of televisions? 1080p is much better, but comes at a higher price. Also there are 1080i and 720i, but these interlaced models are not going to meet todays needs of having a computer connected to the television, and causes flicker.

* Finding cheap HDTVs through stores
Stores generally have a few sets. These sets come at full retail price. Some stores will have sales on some items, and here is where you can find cheap HDTV sets.

Looking at several stores is a good idea, and can result in some amazing savings. This can be for a number of reasons, such as a high definition television being discontinued, the store buying more, and having extra savings, which they pass onto you, or even that the television has been on display, so they are selling for much lower price than the standard recommended retail price. In either case, you want to make sure that the television has some form of warranty.

* Buying used high definition television sets
Buying a used HD television is a great way to make savings. No way will you find these prices in stores, but then again the sets are used. This can be a good or bad idea over the long term.

It is a good idea to ask why the seller is selling. If the television is about to break, then whatever price you pay for it, is no good! Remember to check the television over, and look at the screen to see if the image looks good.

You can find these offers in classifieds, and even online. Remember to check the television working before parting with your money.

* Finding a cheap HDTV online
Online is one of the greatest ways to make savings. Stores generally have fewer overheads when selling online. These savings are generally passed on to buyers, and can result in you saving hundreds of dollars, and finding a cheap HDTV set to buy!

By: Kozen Huseyin

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Are you buying a cheap HDTV? Find a Sony HDTV. Visit www.sonysupplier.co.uk

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