HDTV stands for High Definition TV which means movie
quality pictures and CD quality sound, a transition from analog to digital TV
pictures. The push over the next few years will be to convert the American
public to the new HDTV standard, a move encouraged by the FCC.
What this
means to you, average American, is that you are going to own an HDTV television
sooner rather than later.
Currently, they come in two flavors.
HDTVs and what are known as HDTV-ready TVs. I know, groan. The
difference is a gizmo called an ATSC receiver which pulls the digital
signals off the air, decodes them, and renders them as images on your screen.
While an HDTV-ready TV has the resolution capability you need to view HDTV
shows, it doen't have an ATSC receiver. HDTV lite, so to speak. While you
wouldn't be able to watch HDTV television shows, you would only need to
additionally purchase a separate ATSC receiver when you are ready to move to
the newer standard. But your DVDs will perk up considerably if you buy a
Progressive Scan DVD player.
A Progressive Scan DVD players works
great with only an HDTV-ready TV. You don't need a full HDTV set. What is a
Progressive Scan DVD player? Do you want to know about interlaced scanning? I
didn't think so. Suffice it to say, it delivers a much better
picture.
Buyer Beware. The super duper qualities of an HDTV-ready or
HDTV television is maximized the closer you sit to the TV set. If your sofa is
more than 8 feet from the TV, well, you're gonna need to rearrange the
furniture.
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