| Is now the time to buy HDTV? |
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As far as plasma TVs are concerned, a 42-inch TV can
be had for as little as $800, while larger sets top out around $5,000.
Rear-projection big-screen TVs are usually cheaper. Depending on
the type and size, you'll spend anywhere from nearly $1,500 to $3,000.
Outside of price, there are some
other issues to consider. "When I buy a TV, I don't just look
at price, as there are noticeable differences between low-cost,
no-name products available at warehouse club stores and major brands,
like Hitachi, Fujitsu, Pioneer, Panasonic and LG," says Wood.
"This isn't to say that the former are bad, just that you do
get something better when you spend more money."
Baumberger recommends that consumers
spend some time figuring out where the TV will be in their house
and how it will be used before purchasing a particular type of TV.
"I want high definition if
my TV is in the rec room or somewhere where a lot of people are
watching," he says. "But for the TV in my gym, I don't
care. Anyone who is buying a TV good for viewing movies or sports
should be buying a HDTV -- the more lines of resolution the better
because the picture will be superclear."
Also, the type of TV you need depends
on whether you want to put in on a stand or hang it on the wall
-- flat-panel TVs are the type for hanging on the wall.
Available programming
Having a digital TV with nothing to watch on it is the equivalent
of being all dressed up and having nowhere to go. So before you
plunk down the money on a set, make sure you've got options in terms
of programming.
Most cable-TV companies offer at
least some channels in high definition, as do some local TV stations.
Satellite TV is virtually all digital. If you are a cable subscriber,
you have to pay more for a digital package, but without it there
isn't much point in owning a digital TV.
"It's important to note that
in order for someone to take advantage of an HDTV, they need to
have HD signals delivered in some fashion," says Wood. "Both
digital cable and satellite offer a dozen HDTV channels, and many
regions can get HDTV for free with a rooftop antenna.
"Its not typically available
on analog cable -- channels 2 to 79, give or take -- but it is often
available on digital cable, where you'll get hundreds of channels,"
he says. "You also have to tune into the HD channel and not
every network has one. Local networks usually do, as do many cable
networks, including HBO, ESPN, Discovery and TNT." And the
others will certainly be adding HD as the deadline for digital TV
draws closer.
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