Two factors make HDTV superior. First, it provides more scan lines on the TV screen, resulting in higher detail and picture clarity.  And secondly, HDTV provides you a wider picture which more closely resembles a screen at the local cinema.

How many scan lines will you get with your HDTV?  It depends on which format you watch, one format is the 1080i, and the other one is 720p.  This does not mean you have to buy either the 720p or 1080i.  This does not refer to the type of set you get, but rather to the broadcasting format of the TV stations. Any HDTV will receive either format, either format will also look a lot better than standard TV, although one will look slightly better, depending on what kind of program you use.

The better answer to the question Why HDTV? might well be Why NOT HDTV? Whereas a few years ago, only a few shows were broadcast in high definition, today there are enough to make the investment in the HDTV a good choice.  Even some old shows, broadcast well before the HDTV revolution, have recently been modified to feature the crispness of high-definition. Many favourite shows which can now be seen in high-def including imported US dramas and the big Soap’s and sporting events such as football matches.

HDTV prices are coming down considerably.  In fact, the price of a high-def TV right now is not that much higher than a standard TV of the same size just a decade ago. The government has made it plans clear, that traditional TV broadcasting is to be phased out and replaced by HDTV transmissions. The verdict is clearly that this is a great time and a great choice to move up to high-definition in your living room.

1. First, plasma televisions have a better picture quality than LCD TV’s have, when in a room with low or normal lighting. If you watch television primarily at night time, plasma almost always gives a superior image (LCD sets are great, on the other hand, for a sunny-room type of environment).
2. A plasma television is the better choice for fast-moving video play-back. True, there are a few no-name manufacturers who have plasma products with inferior displays. These inferior models might have a dragging effect as the scene goes from brights to darks, or perhaps they’ll have some phosphor lag.  However, in 90% of the situations, if you want good quality images for fast-moving scenes, you will need a plasma set.  An LCD television, on the other hand, suffers from a trailer effect, in which the TV pixels are a bit out of line with the screen image, especially when the image moves fast.
3. If size really does matter to you, then you’ll probably want a plasma TV, you can find the large screens in both plasma and LCD. However, there is a lot more variety in the large screens for the plasma sets.  As a result, it’s much more affordable getting a big screen in plasma than it is getting the same size in LCD.  To give you an idea of what’s available, LG and Pioneer both produce 61 inch plasma TVs, and Panasonic has a whopping 65 inch model. And coming soon is a Samsung plasma TV of 100 inches. Keep in mind, that these huge displays can also consume a lot more power.  For instance, whereas a 42 inch plasma screen might consume 330 watts, the 65 inch screen takes a whopping 675 watts. However, with each passing year, manufacturers are taking steps to reduce the power intake, making their televisions more efficient.

For these and probably a few other good reasons, more people are selecting plasma as their 21st century television of choice.

If you’re getting ready to buy your first plasma TV, here is some advice that will hopefully help you in the process.

First, consider that you can save a lot of money if you do your shopping online. And usually you can get the same models you’ll find in local retail outlets.

One possible drawback of shopping on the Web, though, is that you can’t always trust the credibility of these Internet dealers. Therefore, make sure you deal only with those that you know are reputable and who will honour a decent warranty.

Wherever you buy your plasma TV, it’s a good idea to go with a known brand name. Companies like Samsung, Sony, Panasonic and Pioneer are known to have plasma TVs of high quality and performance. If you go instead with an unknown brand model, you might find yourself disappointed with the TV picture or with how long the television lasts. Repairs on these not so well known brand sets are possibly more common and can be quite expensive.

As you’re doing you are shopping, keep in mind these important questions.

1. Is it HDTV compatible? Throughout the world, HDTV is rapidly becoming the global standard. It’s a waste of money ordering a plasma set from some where online that you have never heard of, only to find out they provide televisions for some obscure corner of the world where HDTV is not the standard and therefore, their plasma sets are not high-definition.
2. What size do you want and how man can you spend? There are many sizes for plasma TV’s, going from 14 to 63 inches, and larger sizes coming. A good plasma set can run anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand pounds for a large-screen. It is important that you are sure of your budget before you make your purchase.
3. Should I get an extended warranty? It’s never a bad idea for high-priced electronics to pay out for the extra warranty period.

Plasma TV’s have a vivid picture and sleek design along with cinema-like surround sound abilities. It’s well worth doing your homework, and reading up on reviews before making your purchase.