High-Definition TV: An Introduction

It’s been over 80 years since John L. Baird and Charles F. Jenkins bequeathed to mankind one of life’s most treasured innovations: the Television. We have all come to adore the tiny tube that keeps us all entertained and brings everyone together.

You may have heard of the words HDTV, plasma, flat-panel TV or high-definition TV which seem to be very confusing and inexplicable. Many people think of these new technologies as ludicrously expensive, gaudy and even unnecessary. Moreover, the numerous technical terms, jargon and marketing hype makes it incomprehensible. But we all agree on one thing: the picture quality of these new sleek TV sets is undeniably first-rate. You will be surprised at the simplicity behind the HDTV concept.

Are you unhappy with your current television? Don’t you just wish you could get yourself one of those big, high-tech TV sets? Like the ones we see when those flashy celebrities flaunt on MTV Cribs. You are probably on a tight budget and need to save as much bucks as you can. You can either choose to purchase a standard television and wait for a few more years when prices hit rock-bottom or simply get yourself a fairly modest HDTV set for a couple of hundred dollars.

In recent years, the prices of HDTV sets have come tumbling down. More and more people are now going high-definition. You can acquire a 32-inch flat panel LCD TV for under $US 1,000 or even a 50-inch Plasma TV for about $2,000.

Before getting yourself overwhelmed by this excitement of high-def TV and start rushing to the nearest dealer, it is important to get yourself acquainted with the basics of HDTV. So what is HDTV anyway? High Definition Television (HDTV) is a television broadcasting system which produces a higher resolution than traditional television standards. Unlike normal television systems which are analog, HDTV transmits in digital form. In the past, a standard TV screen had a resolution of 525 lines (US) or 625 lines (Europe). HDTV has a much higher resolution starting at 720 lines on the television screen. Furthermore, HDTV uses a wide-screen format and is capable of scaling higher or lower to fit onto a TV screen. The resulting effect in HDTV is a sharper, clearer picture and sound with little imperfections. To relish the ultimate experience of High-definition TV, you not only need a television set with this capabilities, but also receive transmissions in High-definition format. Major broadcasting companies such as ABC, NBC, Fox and CBS offer a myriad of television shows in high-definition format, including commercials and sports coverage. Regular TV programs don’t look good in HDTV because the relative “inferior” quality of standard-def transmission is highlighted. It is important that in addition to acquiring a HDTV set, you will also require an appropriate HDTV source and channel.

If you really want to jump into the HDTV bandwagon, you need to understand the different kind of television sets available. They come in different shapes, sizes and makes but they generally fall into four broad categories:
• Direct-view CRT – This is the more familiar variety and the one you most probably own. Most of them are not High-definition TVs. They are fairly-priced and most appropriate for those on tight-budgets. The CRT is rather bulky and will soon be replaced by the slimmer LCD TVs whose prices are constantly falling.
• LCD Flat Panel TV – The most popular and least expensive high-def TVs. Liquid crystals and color filters are used to create colors. Popular sets are the 32 inch varieties which go for US $ 800. They are a popular choice for those making their first switch from traditional CRT to HDTV.
• Plasma TV – A much bigger HDTV with typical sizes ranging from 37-65 inches. A typical plasma television is an emissive flat display panel that contains tiny cells lined with phosphor. Plasma TVs use gas and phosphors to create colors. If you really crave for a massive and flat TV, Plasma is the way to go. There has been a raging debate over which is better between Plasma TV and LCD. Plasma TVs are generally relatively cheaper compared to LCD TVs of the same size.
• Rear Projection TVs: If you are thinking big and have designs for a perfect home-theatre, then RPTV is your thing. These range from 42 inches to the enormous 73 inches. Earlier models used the CRT, but this is fast fading out, making way for the favorable lighter and innovative micro displays. Newer technologies include DLP (Digital Light Processing) and LCoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon). RPTVs provide superior picture quality, and are constantly getting cheaper and popular everyday.
The concept of HDTV may appear perplexing at the beginning. With the fast-changing tech scene and the rapidly falling prices, millions of people are now ditching the old CRT sets and opting for the very best in high-definition home entertainment.