Help, I Need a New HDTV! (Part 4 of 5)

Feeling overwhelmed in selecting a new TV? With all the choices these days, you may feel like, "Where do I start?!"

In part 4 of our 5 part article, we the discuss "do I really need an HDTV?"

---

Right now, stations are moving towards HDTV programming. Although available for free over the air in major metropolitan areas, this process will take a few years to fully unfold. To be honest, an HDTV, plus components, plus the service can add up. But, if you are ready for top-notch quality? then dive in!

Do beware? it's more then a choice of size, price, and a few extra features. Many consumers purchase an HDTV thinking that they can plug it in and get HD programming. You must consider how you want to receive your HD programming to know what extra components you will need.

Over the Air. For this option, the HD programming is free, but limited to local stations received by an HD compatible antenna (approx $20-$100). Also, either a HD tuner that is built into the TV or a external tuner (approx. $250) is required.

Local Cable Provider. For this option, the HD programming is an additional fee per month. Typically this will include your local and any premium channels (such as HBO) that you already subscribe to. No HD tuner or antenna is required, the cable provider will lease you a HD cable box.

Satellite. The monthly fee is generally a bit less then the local cable provider. For this option, you need buy the HD satellite receiver (approx $400-$800) and replace your old dish with a slightly larger elliptical-shaped HD capable dish.

Even if you decide that HD programming is not right for you? you may still benefit from purchasing a HDTV if you watch a lot of DVD movies. Although not all DVD's are in true HD format, you will realize a higher clarity. Also, TV's last for 10+ years, so why not be ready for the technology if you change your mind down the road?

* Next in Part 5 of this article: TV recommendations by room

©2005 Architechtronics, Inc. All rights reserved.

To stay on the cutting-edge of home automation, theater, and technology join "The EDGE" today-it's free! http://www.architechtronics.com/edge.html

Brett Griffin lives and works in Philadelphia, PA. Brett has 12 years of experience in the technology industry and strives to seamlessly blend high performance technologies into one easy to use system. As co-founder of Architechtronics, Brett uses his creativity and experience to help builders, dealers, and homeowners meet their technology desires in their home.

In The News:
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table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/sports/mizzou/story/0b7697087137b1bf862574d8000e0464%3FOpenDocumentcid=1256160515ei=f5XxSP7NDKjk6gPqwui7Bwusg=AFQjCNFABSFPyz5aoxUMpr5PIm-sLjP-PQimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=SAlc9OUpaIsJimgurl=images.stltoday.com/stltoday/resources/ganz300oct4.jpg width=58 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2St. Louis Post-Dispatch/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://nebraska.scout.com/2/799941.htmlcid=1256160515ei=f5XxSP7NDKjk6gPqwui7Bwusg=AFQjCNGmn9sz6tnl4f5ip3LeugQ1UrWJ_QNo moral victories at Nebraska/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fBig Red Reportnbsp;-/font nobr5 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The story of the game for Nebraska wasn’t that they were able to stop bTech/b’s potent offense. The story was that they did just what you have to do against an b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/10/06/sports/FBC-Nebraska-Penalties.phpcid=1256160515ei=f5XxSP7NDKjk6gPqwui7Bwusg=AFQjCNECLDphaIWfRksg9PKbgKm-DlHNHwPelini says players need to show restraint/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrInternational Herald Tribune/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.theindependent.com/sports/x1261519841/Huskers-HQ-Is-the-past-really-in-the-pastcid=1256160515ei=f5XxSP7NDKjk6gPqwui7Bwusg=AFQjCNFdCe2y9S8qkEOYUBwHIcRrcMFkWQHuskers HQ: Is the past really in the past?/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrGrand Island Independent/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php%3Ft%3D467633cid=1256160515ei=f5XxSP7NDKjk6gPqwui7Bwusg=AFQjCNGiIEYvgqUg6XYDeiobhGEDrVYnuQGanz says Huskers must get better, and fast/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrSportingNews.com/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.omaha.com/index.php%3Fu_page%3D3918%26u_sid%3D10452988cid=1256160515ei=f5XxSP7NDKjk6gPqwui7Bwusg=AFQjCNGicgnPrEUfRE2puZuHuM11APh-jwnobrOmaha World-Herald (subscription)/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.theindependent.com/sports/x1272962181/Huskers-aim-to-reduce-penaltiescid=1256160515ei=f5XxSP7NDKjk6gPqwui7Bwusg=AFQjCNEl-EXgoxUtK1JqS5I9BW9KBO9F3QnobrGrand Island Independent/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1256160515hl=ennobrall 202 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
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