Since the introduction of color TV in the 1950s, televisions ranked right up there with toaster ovens for consistency, remaining essentially the same year in and year out. All of a sudden, that’s all changed. TV purchasers now find themselves dealing with a regulatory and technological revolution that has presented them with an overwhelming series of confusing choices, only made worse by the confusing terminology that accompanies them.
The fact of the matter is that there are not one but several changes under way at the same time. Here’s how you can sort them out.
From Conventional Resolution to High Definition. Digital signals come in a variety of resolutions, from the 480i resolution of standard TV programming to the ultra-sharp 1080p resolution of the new high-definition DVDs. The numbers correspond to the number of horizontal lines stacked on top of each other that make a TV picture, while the letters i and p, which stand for interlaced and progressive scan, describe how these lines are projected on a screen. High-definition digital television sets upconvert signals to their native resolution. For instance, most digital cable has a resolution of 480i. If you have a 1080i high-definition TV, it will upconvert that signal to 1080i, creating a better picture.
From 4:3 to 16:9. Traditional television screens had an aspect ratio of 4:3—and most television shows were shot with cameras that produced images with these proportions. Movies use an aspect ratio of 16:9, and virtually all high-definition TVs have screens with these proportions. If you order high-definition programming from your cable or satellite company, most of the images on the HD channels will be wide-screen.
From Tube to Flat-Screen. For decades, the gold standard for picture quality was the cathode-ray tube found in most TVs. Now plasma and LCD flat-panel displays are providing this level of quality in thin displays that can be mounted on a wall. Generally speaking, plasma TVs produce a slightly more lifelike picture while LCDs are less prone to burn-in and require less energy. Regardless of whether you buy a tube or a flat-panel TV, it should be digital or digital ready.
Certainly, this change—which can be summed up as a transition to high-definition, wide-screen, flat TVs—has been a great boon for consumer electronics manufacturers. At the same time, the actual experience of watching television, especially if you like movies or sports, has been greatly enhanced. And with prices dropping all the time, you can get a great deal on a new set, especially if you can wait until after the holiday season to make your purchase.
consistency, remaining essentially the same year in and year out. All of a sudden, that’s all changed. TV purchasers now find themselves dealing with a regulatory and technological revolution that has presented them with an overwhelming series of confusing choices, only made worse by the confusing terminology that accompanies them.