How to choose an HDTV

So you've decided that you want a new toy. And this time, this toy is a brand new HDTV. But with so many in the market, how do you choose which one will suit you best? These tips are aimed at helping you do just that.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. First, you must know that HDTV has two formats: one with 1080 by 1920 pixels, and one with 720 by 1280 pixels. Any kind of digital TV can convert signals to its own resolution, but to see real HDTV you must feed a HD signal into a HD-capable display (which in a lot of cases means subscribing to the HD channels-- trust me, it's worth it!).
2. Size does matter. As a very loose rule, the screen diagonal should be at least two-thirds of the viewing distance. So choose something that will fir the room that you will put the TV in. Too big or too small and you may compromise your viewing quality.
3. The smallest and cheapest TVs are the direct view. They have a single picture tube. Direct view HDTVs range in size from 27 to 36 inches. But do not assume that every television you see is a high definition television. When in doubt, ask.
4. Find out about the HD content available where you live. Sometimes you will have to make certain adaptations in order to be able to see an HD program.
5. Think of everything you will be connecting to your tv, and make sure that there are enough outputs. Video games, DVD Players, cable television boxes, etc.
6. Shop around. Compare models and prices.