HDTV or LCD Introduction to Technical Terms

The plain old television set is now called a Standard-Definition Television, (SDTV), which is the same analog Cathode Ray Tube, (CRT), design that hasn't changed in decades. Two kinds of High Definition TV, (HDTV), technologies are Liquid Crystal Display, (LCD), and plasma flat panel.

In a plasma display, every pixel is made up of three separate subpixel cells, is very bright and looks good from almost every angle, but image quality isn't as good as a high quality CRT. Plasma TV produces reds that look orange and the color black has too much brightness. Some differences between LCD versus Plasma are that LCD displays have a limited viewing angle and slow pixel response time that leaves artifact pixels during fast video motion.

In February 2009, a mandatory HDTV deadline will occur when broadcast analog signals will cease and TV viewers will need to upgrade. The government are giving away HDTV coupons to consumers beginning 2008.. The following is a introductory explanation of technical terms for the novice buyer.

The difference between a HDTV and an LCD monitor is that the PC monitor costs less with only two types of connection ports, VGA and Digital Visual Interface (DVI) connector. Your computer 's Video Graphics Array, (VGA), with the 15 pin ''D' connector has a lot more resolution than the three color composite signal of a old style TV.

The HDTV costs more becuase it has a tuner and more than twenty connectors that includes Video Graphics Array, (VGA). With HDTV Picture In Picture, (PIP), it would be possible to use the computer and watch television at the same time but only if using the HDTV's internal tuner. POP means the display screen is divided in half with the two channels shown side-by-side.