21st Century TV

Have you watched a football game broadcast in high definition television (HDTV)? It¿s amazing. Not only do you see an endzone-to-endzone widescreen field of view on every play, you get in the action with close¿ups that spray your screen with all the glory of NFL sweat, tears and turf. The pictures are so clear that you can literally read the plays and the tattoos on your favorite player¿s forearm. Digital TV will replace our 60-year-old analog system in a very short while as television stations, under FCC mandate to make the switch by 2006, phase out their old analog transmission systems. The good news is that you don¿t have to wait until then. Today, you can purchase a digital TV and enjoy its widescreen theater- style picture quality along with surround sound plus still receive ordinary analog signals as well. In fact, over 30 of the top local markets are already broadcasting HDTV signals with more on the way.

Allow me to note that you¿ll probably have to wait until the playoffs and the Super Bowl to see Pro Football in HDTV. The networks have yet to commit to full time digital broadcast of NFL games.

In the major markets now broadcasting digitally, you can receive the signal with a simple pair of rabbit ear antennas just like dad used to have. However, unlike dad¿s antenna, the digital 1¿s and 0¿s of HDTV eliminate the need for aluminum foil or someone to constantly move the antenna to get good reception.

Perhaps the best way to enjoy HDTV now is with either of the two small dish satellite providers DirecTV or EchoStar/DISH Network (see below). Each allows you to receive over-the-air as well as satellite HDTV broadcast all day, every day. What about cable TV? The cable companies are late to the HDTV party, but expect to see a fast transition when consumer demand increases.

HDTV sets come in several flavors. Do you want a space saving tabletop widescreen set of around 34-to38-inches? How about a truly flat 42-60-inch plasma receiver (like the ones in the TV ad mounted on the ceiling), or maybe a 40-to 65-inch rear projector, or perhaps a really big home theater-size wall mounted projector that delivers up to 100-inch screen size?

Which HDTV products have the right stuff to be the Best Stuff? Our editors have made some specific product suggestions to help you in this decision.


Panasonic Plasma (PT-42PD2-P)
The future of TVs is flat. While there are still issues with brightness on gas plasma type TVs, the Panasonic shines in this category, plus it adds an industry first 3000:1 contrast ratio. Only 3.5-inches thick, this state of the art 42-inch wide screen TV sells for $11,000.




Samsung Tantus 43 (Model No. HLK436W)
Stylish, thin 43-inch rear projection LCD HDTV features new LCD technology for brighter pictures, an internal HDTV decoder and killer 30-watt built-in speakers. Great price at under $5,000.




RCA (Model No. F38310)
HDTV solution in a box. Features the world¿s largest glass widescreen tube, an integrated HDTV tuner, and a built-in DirecTV HDTV satellite receiver for only $4,300.




Hitachi 55-inch widescreen (Model No. 55MXO1W)
This ultimate HDTV projection TV delivers the goods. Features new Digital Light Processing (DLP) technology that recreates super bright images in all of HDTV¿s glory, as well -- $12,000.




Sony Overhead Projector (Model No. VPL-VW10HT)
With a screen sizes up to 100-inches, this overhead projector offers HDTV quality in a small form factor. Built especially for HDTV not data, it incorporates the ONLY native 16 x 9 LCD chips on the market, outperforming overheads three times its size and price. $8,000.



Instant HDTV
When you decide to take the digital plunge, you can do so for as little as $3,000 to $5,000. Here¿s one approach we highly recommend.

• Subscribe to EchoStar/DISH Network and ask for its model 6000 HDTV satellite receiver ($499), and equip it with the optional over the air module ($150).
• Buy one of the better direct view HDTV sets.

That¿s it, you are ready for over-the-air HDTV, satellite HDTV, and as a bonus amazingly better, clearer, widescreen pictures from your DVD player.