Custom Retailer HDTV Guide

I remember when HDTV was just a blip on the radar at the Consumer Electronics Show—a $20,000 blip in most cases. The canned content displayed on those early sets (from Sencore hard drive servers) look good on those displays, but not nearly as good as what we now get daily from our local broadcasters or cable. Now, seven years into the real HDTV revolution, so much has changed. More than 16 million HDTV products have been sold. The country is blanketed with signal coverage from multiple sources, and we’re even in the mists of a new format war.

What kinds of TVs are HDTVs?

In compliance with a May 2007 ruling from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), retailers are now required to place visible alerts at point-of-sale on all analog-only television sets. These sets will require a digital-to-analog converter box to receive over-the-air broadcast signals after the February 17, 2009 transition to all-digital broadcasts. As of March 1, 2007, all television receivers shipped in interstate commerce or imported into the United States must contain a digital tuner. However, retailers may continue to sell analog-only television equipment from existing inventory.

What kind of HDTV you buy depends on your needs. Here’s a rundown of the current display technologies. Each one has benefits and limitations, so make your choice based on the features most important to you.

The digital revolution is full on, and digital television is leading the charge. What started as a luxury only for the well-off, digital and high definition television is now accessible and affordable for most U.S. households.

Flat panel TVs are among the most popular styles of HDTVs today, but both are subject to myths and misunderstands. Here are a few common misconceptions with today’s flat panels.

We are well into the second year of the biggest format war to hit the consumer electronics business since VHS and BETA. That said, it means manufacturers are working extra hard to outdo each other in quality and innovation, not to mention price. HD DVD and Blu-Ray are the two new high definition next generation disc formats that are poised to replace the standard DVD. They both offer visual and audible enhancements over the old fashioned DVDs. The first HD DVD players were launched last year by Toshiba and RCA, while Samsung launched the first Blu-ray player, followed by several other manufacturers including Sony, Panasonic and Pioneer.

Anyone interested in the quality of their entertainment is a potential HDTV customer. Movie buffs and sports buffs will instantly recognize how HDTV can add to their viewing experience.