Buy HDTV

Choosing a HDTV LCD or HD-Ready Plasma screen can seem a bit intimidating. With so many options in the shops, with so many features just knowing where to start can be a challenge. However, buying a HD-Ready Plasma or HDTV LCD TV doesn't need to be painful. Simply follow the steps below to make shopping for a HDTV easy. If your looking for the cheap option, you can buy ex-rental used plasma and LCD TVs.

The BBC plans to provide all of it's free HDTV channels (probably on Freeview), when analogue TV is switched off, which if all goes to plan will be between 2008 and 2012. The BBC already shoots most of it's footage on HD camera's, as the US and Japanese markets are already advancing with HDTV technology. By 2010 the BBC aims to move all production to high definition. SKY TV, on the satellite network will also be introducing HDTV to it's customers, and has already launched it's high definition broadcasts to subscribers on SKY, cable, satellite and NTL.

1. Buying a massive HDTV? Consider it's size carefully
What's the best thing about buying HDTV? Easy, it's the fact it looks wonderful on large TVs above your fireplace. Viewing your favorite show in HDTV on a 42" plasma or LCD is incredible. But don't make the mistake of spending spending thousands of pounds on a 42" HD-Ready Plasma TV if you only have a small room to put it in. With so much choice in smaller LCD HDTV's going a small as 23" get a screen that fit's your room. Remember to be realistic when deciding how large your new HDTV will be. Not sure if you want to choose LCD or Plasma? Read our LCD vs Plasma TV guide.

2. Always check it's connections
For a TV to comply with HDTV specifications, it must have either component (analog), DVI or HDMI (both digital) inputs. Beware, if a TV being sold as HDTV with only S-video, composite video, or VGA - this means it is not HD-Ready. Another thing to check is that the HDTV has the right connections to hook up your DVD player, video or PVR. You may need a HDTV with both component and DVI inputs. Remember not to forget about audio connectors if you are planning on using a home cinema style surround sound with amplifier.

3. Know the TV's contrast ratio
The general rule with contrast ratio is the higher, the better the HDTV picture. Blacks will be darker and whites brighter with much clearer colours in between.

4. Check the screen resolution
If you've read our page about HDTV technology, you'll already know that the HDTV specification covers two different resolutions: 720 lines and 1080 lines. So any LCD or cheap plasma TV with the HD-Ready logo should have a native resolution which has at least 720 lines. However, a resolution of 720 or more doesn't always mean the TV is HDTV ready. The HDTV specification states that HDTVs should support 16:9 widescreen. This means that to display signals with 720 lines, your HDTV must have a horizontal resolution of 1280 pixels and a HDTV with a vertical resolution of 768 pixels, must have a 1366 pixels horizontal resolution. It's worth remembering that a TV with a resolution of 1024 x 768, is not technically HDTV-Ready. In this case the HDTV signal would have to be reduced below the HDTV specification to be displayed. The best way to be sure is to look out for the HD-Ready logo on the screen itself.

5. The viewing angle
Unless you mount your TV above a fireplace, or have the perfect spot for your Plasma TV Stand you will need to check the TV's viewing angle. It is worth noting that HDTV LCD TVs in particular have limited viewing angles. When viewing a HDTV that you like move to one side to view it at an angle, notice how the colours shift and the image becomes poorer.