High-definition television has arrived in a big way. HDTVs were a huge seller last Christmas, and now that all major networks offer high def programs, this year is expected to finally be the year of the HDTV.

What is HDTV?

High Definition Television comes in three major resolutions, 720p, 1080i and 1080p. The 720p resolution has a display format of 1366 x 768 pixels. The 1080p and the 1080i both have display resolutions of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The p stands for progressive which means the image is drawn starting from the top, and every line is drawn until the bottom is reached. The i stands for interlaced which means that all the even lines are drawn in the first frame and all the odd lines are drawn in the next frame. Progressive is considered "better" than Interlaced. Just to put things in perspective, your analog television has an interlaced resolution of 648 x 486. So the 720p has 3 time more pixels than your current TV.

LCD vs. Plasma

The two most popular HDTV display technologies are LCD and Plasma. LCD displays were originally on smaller, low-cost displays, but are now common on larger, mid-level displays, and will eventually be common on large, high-end screens. Plasma displays currently dominate the larger, more expensive HDTV sets. At one time Plasma screens suffered reliability issues after a few years of use, but this is no longer an significant issue. Rear-projection HDTVs were once the prime technology for larger screens. Sony and Hitachi have recently stopped making rear-projection HDTVs, but Mitsubishi and Panasonic still manufacture them.

What is the Best HDTV?

Selecting the best HDTV is a fools move. But I can say that our best selling brands are currently the Olevia 27 LCD HDTV, the Sony Bravia Flat Panel TV, and the Sharp Aquos 32 inch high def television. If you're looking for specific models the 32 inch Samsung LN-T3253H, the 42 inch Panasonic TH-42PZ700U, and the Sony KDL-46XBR4 are excellent choices.

Here are Some Recently Sold HDTV Specials

Specials on Kolin Olevia 50 Inch LCOS DLP

Sony Bravia 52 Inch KDL-52WL135 Deals

Sony Bravia 40 Inch KDL-40SL130 On Sale Now

Bargains on Sony KDL-32SL130 HDTV