CET Digital Television Guide
Before You Go to the Store
... Some final notes...

Before you venture out to look for a new set, take a few steps back and think about how you use TV. Where do you do the most watching? If you enjoy performance, highly produced documentaries and nature programming and you have the space, you may wish to look at the TVs with very large screens and high end audio. If, on the other hand, you watch news and public affairs and do so while in the kitchen or workshop, you may not want to invest in a DTV set at all right now. The new sets, especially when they are displaying High Definition Programming, are impressive. To experience this quality difference you really need a screen of at least 32" (diagonal)

Let your eye be the judge. And be sure to ask to see the type of program you will watch. If you do not use DVDs, it makes little difference to you how good the DVD looks on the set. If you are going to watch over-the-air or on cable, demand that the salesperson show you the set displaying that programming.

Don't be intimidated by technical jargon. In most cases the "Big Box" retail salesperson will have less knowledge than you after you read this paper. If you can afford it, some of the local high-end dealers do have very knowledgeable and responsive staffs and will provide good service.