Rather than displaying images at 480 lines of resolution| an HDTV is capable of showing up to 1,080 lines, and in many cases progressively, meaning all lines are displayed on the screen at the same time opposed to the older interlaced method of quickly alternating between even and odd lines.
Another, more accurate way HDTVs are measured is in the number of pixels (little dots) that make up the image; a widescreen DVD, for example, is displayed at 852 x 480 resolution, but a high-definition television can offer up to an incredible 1920 x 1080 pixels on the screen.
Confused yet? Don't be. In plain English, the picture quality is much clearer and more vibrant on a high-definition television than an older standard-definition television, therefore upgrading to an HDTV is like putting on a pair of prescription glasses for the first time.
High-definition televisions are also wider (called 16:9 aspect ratio)| which is more akin to a movie theatre screen than standard-definition TVs, which are more like a square (4:3 aspect ratio).
OK| so you're sold on buying an HDTV, but perhaps you're still unsure which television technology to invest in: flat-panel LCD, plasma or rear-projection. You're not alone.
The following should summarize the strengths of each TV type:
Plasma
Many home theatre enthusiasts believe plasma TVs offer the most accurate colour reproduction compared to other television technologies, as well as better contrast, referring to how black the blacks are and how white the whites are (black, on some LCD televisions might look more grey, since a light is still on behind the pixel). Plasma TVs also handle motion very smoothly so its often a pick for sports enthusiasts and video gamers.
Be forewarned, however, plasma TV sizes start at 42-inches so if you're looking to go smaller you'll be limiting yourself to LCD. A shortcoming with plasma televisions is they have a reflective glass that can bounce light back -- say, from a window therefore it might be more ideal in a room with less ambient light (more on this in a moment). Plasma TVs also require more energy to run than LCD televisions.
Despite what the LCD camp might tell you, newer plasma TVs don't suffer from phosphor burn in issues any more, though its still not advised to leave a static image on the screen too long.
LCD
Liquid crystal display-based flat-panel televisions are thinner, lighter and more energy efficient than most competing TV technologies (about 30 percent more energy efficient than plasmas). They come in a wide range of sizes from 13-inches all the way up to 108-inches and its inherent anti-glare screen make LCD TVs more ideal to place in a bright room than plasma TVs.
Similar to plasma TVs, LCD televisions offer wide-viewing angles (up to 178 degrees) so you don't need to sit in the center to enjoy the picture, and offer long life spans at about 60,000 hours.
The three main shortcomings of a big-screen LCD TV relating to motion, contrast and price aren't really issues any longer with the newest models. Specifically, the latest LCD TVs offer low refresh rates (such as 4 milliseconds) and/or with a 120Hz signal (opposed to the standard 60Hz), both of which means they can handle motion compared to a couple of years ago when a fast-moving object on an LCD TV might have noticeable trails or ghosting following it. While the contrast isn't as good as plasma TVs, many LCD televisions are getting better at displaying deep black. And prices for, say, a 50-inch flat-panel LCD screen is comparable to a 50-inch plasma.
Rear-projection TVs
If you'd like a gorgeous and big HDTV picture but don't want to spend a lot of money for a flat-screen model, rear-projection high-definition televisions offer a lot of bang for your buck. For example, a 60-inch rear-projection TV might be half or even a third of the price of a comparable plasma TV.
And while they're not svelte enough to mount on your wall| if you have the space in your family room or basement, a rear-projection television might be the way to go.
Keep in mind, however, rear-projection TVs are only ideal in big sizes (50-inches and up) and some rear-projection DLP (digital light processing) or LCD televisions may take about 30 to 45 seconds to warm up before you see the picture.
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