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• HD TV 101: A beginner's guide

HD TV 101: A beginner's guide

By David Katzmaier on 27 February 2007

Quick access

• Introduction
• What else to consider
• TV types and resolutions

You've been watching television all of your life, and all of a sudden, along comes HD TV.

This new technology might seem incredibly costly, confusing, and unnecessary, but for the space of this article, we'll ask you to take a deep breath and try to forget all of that. HD TV doesn't need to be an incomprehensible morass of technical terms, jargon and marketing hype, because at heart, it's pretty darn simple: HD TV is a better picture. It does have some unique requirements, however, so we'll guide you through what to expect.

To HD TV or not to HD TV?

When you're deciding whether to get an HD TV, ask yourself the following questions.

• Am I unhappy with the TV I have now?
• Do I want something bigger, flatter, sharper or brighter?
• Am I willing to pay hundreds of dollars more to get that something?

If the answer to any of these questions is no, then you're probably not ready for an HD TV. Go ahead and get a normal television, save a few bucks, and rest assured that in the next few years, technology prices will continue their inexorable fall, and you can get an HD TV when you're good and ready.

If you answered yes, however, then it's probably time for you to consider buying an HD TV. Here's where your choices begin to multiply, but don't lose heart. We'll take you through all you need to know.

The falling price of HD TV

HD TV prices have fallen so far in the last couple of years that most TV shoppers can afford to go high-def. We're often asked when HD TV prices will "bottom out," but we really can't say. By this stage, however, prices have gotten low enough that we feel safe saying that, if you're buying now, you won't feel too burned by next year's prices.

What kind of HD TV to buy?

HD TVs come in all shapes and sizes, but there's a general hierarchy in size from smallest to largest.

	Typical size	Notes
Direct-view CRT (not flat)	26, 30, and 34 inches	This is the kind of tube we've all come to know and love. The majority of these are not HD TVs, but there are a few around. If you're on a really tight budget, they're a fine choice, but LCD prices are getting so low that tubes are not going to have a big slice of the market.
Flat-panel LCD	17 to 56 inches	These are the most popular kinds of HD TVs, mainly because they're relatively affordable and flat. If you just want to replace your tube with a similarly sized flat TV, then LCD is the way to go. Latest LCD TV reviews
Flat-panel plasma	37 to 65 inches	There are a lot of myths about plasma, and most are untrue. The fact is, they cost less than LCDs at the 50-inch size, so if you want it big and flat, plasma is still king. At 37 and 42 inches however, you may need more information. Latest plasma TV reviews
Rear-projection (not flat)	42 to 73 inches	If you want a picture larger than 50 inches, you're talking rear-projection. This is also where the alphabet soup of technologies gets really thick: DLP, LCoS, SXRD, and so on. They can all produce fine HD TV pictures, so don't be afraid to shop on price.

In-depth information on the different varieties of television can be found in our quick guide to TV types.

• What else to consider »

Topics: 1080i, 1080p, hd, hdtv, tv, 720p

• Digital TV in Australia

• Big Screen Buyers' Guide: UPDATE

• Must-have HD TV add-ons

• HD TV resolution explained

• Is it worth buying an HD set top box for an SD plasma TV?

• Tips on buying a digital TV

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  rachi commented on 28/09/2009 20:41

  my current tv is HD ready and HDMI and i cannot get any of the new channels...i keep just trying to re-tune it but still nothing,someone tell me what to do please its driving me insane and the tv is about to go flying out the window

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  aitchbee commented on 04/07/2009 13:19

  what are the ch numbers for
  ch 2 ch7 ch9 I am getting ch 1 on channel 12 on my set bit I can't find the others please help

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  ponndddd commented on 26/05/2009 10:06

  footy looks awesome in HD. =)

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  spunky marianne commented on 24/04/2009 16:33

  why can't we just stat with the tv's we have had for the last 10 yrs, seems like we are always having to be forced to update to the latest technology as if money grows on trees, a lot of elderly people can't afford all these upgrades. plus what about people who have more than one tv set in their homes it can be very costly for them not to mention confusing etc there should be a service available where if you buy a new tv you should be given a trade in on your old tv if there is nothing wrong with it what do other people think ?

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  davet commented on 22/04/2009 14:21

  Does a HD set top box require an outdoor / indoor antenna also?

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  Bob commented on 08/04/2009 17:02

  I have a ten year old JVC. Goes well. Will I be able to use an HD set top box with this set?

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  danmc commented on 19/05/2008 21:29

  Yay Foxtel HD is here! The HD boss the HD!
  I ordered it today - see here http://www.dan.net.au/?p=9
  
  Oh and byrdman45 - I think the new IQ2 might solve your HDMI problem. It has HDMI built in. Otherwise, If you are on Free to Air or some other sat service then there are adapters you can get and different set top boxes with HDMI. If your box has DVI then there is an easy adapter that works well in most cases. Otherwise, depending on your TV, you may be stuck using RCA or other inputs which will be slightly less good for image quality but still ok.

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  mike commented on 23/12/2007 16:36

  try to use the language of the ignorant buyer.NOT that of the consumer who has some level ofknowledge. think of the older customer etc

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  byrdman45 commented on 26/08/2007 05:56

  i think it's great but i need to know how to connect hdmi to my satellite

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