High definition television has been heralded as one the greatest advancements in the television viewing experience since the addition of colour back in the early 1950s. High definition televisions are a significant leap in visual clarity particularly when viewing DVDs and playing next generation consoles such as the Xbox 360 and PS3.

As technology prices for high definition televisions continue to fall, these streamlined, wide-screened, high-resolution visual treats are increasingly a fine compliment to modern day condominium aesthetics and sophisticated home theatre experiences. There is only one problem – how do you make heads or tails of that alphabet soup that is technical television jargon and choose the right TV for you?

The Source

There is nothing quite as disappointing as bringing home an HDTV and not having a proper source to show off the power of your new tech toy. While HDTVs do give a better picture, they are only as powerful as the source they are fed. Regular television will look very disappointing on your new HDTV.

Check with your cable or satellite provider to find out which shows are presented in high definition or if you require a high definition package before you head out to the store. You might need a special source box to deliver HD content to your television.

Channels like Discovery and ESPN are known to broadcast in HD and many major prime time shows are also presented in high definition.

Standard Definition DVDs, HD DVDs, Progressive Scan DVD players, Xbox 360 and other current-generation and next generation consoles with the appropriate cables should all look great immediately.

Number and Letters

One of the reasons choosing an HDTV can be so intimidating is that manufacturers throw around more numbers than a tenth grade math teacher. What does this 480p, 1080i, 720p stuff actually mean?

The answer is resolution.

The two major competing high definition resolutions used by broadcasters are 720p and 1080i. The p stands for progressive which typically gives a smoother image during moments of onscreen action while the i stands for interlaced which technically allows for more lines and pixels, a higher resolution.

Higher quality models of HDTV television offer 1080p, however there are very few sources outside of Sony’s claims for the PS3 that actually output content at this resolution. Owning an HDTV of this caliber at the moment is more about bragging rights than anything else, but if it is in your budget, it might be worth considering.