Since a HDTV is not as expensive as a while back, more and more consumers spend their money towards the latest wide screen craze - a high definition (HD) flat screen television. More and more people are becoming aware of the terms LCD, HDTV and Plasma and for especially the younger working generation the main question is not if they will spend hard earned cash towards a HDTV of choice but when they will spend it.



1. Realize that your HDTV purchase will give you a product that should under normal circumstances last up to 20 - 30 years. Rather buy a HDTV tv of higher quality so that it will not be outdated within 10 years.

2. Realize that technology products are becoming cheaper than ever to manufacture and that the market response drives the prices down at a phenomenal rate. Buying the more expensive model may not be the best HDTV to buy.

3. Realize that you may suffer severely from self-inflicted injuries kicking yourself afterwards if you have not taken the time (about 2 minutes) to learn what makes one HDTV better than the next one.

4. Know the difference between the main types of tv screens: CTR, LCD and Plasma and each of their advantages and disadvantages.

5. Know that the higher the resolution of a television screen the most likely the quality of the display may be better than a HDTV with a lower screen resolution.

6. Know that the television screen is made up of tiny particles that display color. These particles are calls pixels. The more pixels fitted into a screen, the higher the resolution.

7. Know that there were major technological advances made towards the way that the tv screen manages the pixel colors to create better flowing movements. Choosing an older type may make your "new" tv age faster and you may have to replace it earlier than you might have expected to.

8. Know the latest display type, called a progressive scan type as well as that "interlaced" refers to earlier technology. Of these a number of 1080i would refer to the term “interlaced” and 1080p would refer to a "progressive scan" television.

9. Know that a bigger screen size not always refer to a better television. Other than knowing the effect of screen resolution on your budget, you will become aware of the fact that bigger costs more but does not necessarily means better picture detail. Just a quick warning - do not put a very large screen in a small room. The larger the screen the further you have to sit from it.

10. A higher Color-depth constitutes a wider assortment of colors that can be displayed. The more the merrier. A 2-million pixel resolution is a minimum I would recommend.

Considering both the fact of the risk you are taking if you buy the first HDTV that you see (because you may fall in love with it), and the fact that the prices are coming down the longer you wait, then ultimately you are safer waiting but then if you never make the decision you may loose out on the experience of HDTV.