HDTV Help

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1080p vs 720p:Most people can't tell the difference between the two. There is definitely a cost difference, 1080p is much higher. All current high definition broadcasts are at best 720p. To take advantage of 1080p you will need HD DVD or Blue Ray DVD, an additional cost. Playstation 3 has built in Blue Ray DVD and XBox 360 has an add on HD DVD for $200. Also remember that you will need an upconverting DVD player to view your standard DVD movies in high definition. This is a must if you have a library of standard DVD movies. With an upconverting DVD player your standard DVD movies will look just as good as the high definition broadcast from cable or satillite.

Plasma vs LCD:If your HDTV will be placed in a room with a very bright light source (i.e. an outside window), you want to buy a LCD HDTV. The glare on the Plasma HDTV will drive you nuts. This is very important! If your HDTV is in a closed room or the basement with no windows, get a Plasma HDTV. The resolution on the Plasma is slightly better but do not place in a room with a very bright light source. I wouldn't buy a Plasma HDTV if I was going to playing video games. Plasma HDTV can suffer from screen burn in. Most of the newer Plasma's have circuitry that prevents burn in, but it is something to watch out for.

Component connection vs HDMI:Buy a HDTV with as many HDMI connections as you can afford. Two HDMI connections should be the minimum. Always connect your high definition components with HDMI. The high definition video and the Dolby 5.1 sound goes through the HDMI. The other alternative is to use component connection or DVI for your video source and use optical cable for the Dolby 5.1.