How do I go about buying a digital TV set?
First, learn about the alphabet soup. HDTV is one kind of digital TV; others are enhanced-definition TV (EDTV) and standard-definition TV (SDTV).
Make sure the set has a digital tuner. Digital tuner labels or words to look for include “Integrated Digital Tuner,” “Digital Tuner Built-In,” “Digital Receiver” and “Digital Tuner.” The words “digital monitor,” “HDTV monitor,” “digital ready” and “HDTV ready” do not necessarily mean the set has a digital tuner, although it may.
Some questions to ask before you go shopping:
Do you want standard-definition TV or HDTV?
How many connections on the TV will you need for additional devices, like DVD and video game players?
Do you want LCD or plasma?
Should you go with interlaced or progressive scan? This is a description of how the TV set "redraws" the picture as the content moves along.
Standard-definition TVs have 480 interlaced scanned lines. Enhanced-definition TVs have at least 480p (progressive scan) quality; high-definition TVs have at least 720p.
Consumer Reports has an excellent TV Decision Guide that can help you work your way through the choices. CNet offers reviews of various brands and models of digital TV sets.
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