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If I buy an HDTV set now, will it be obsolete in a couple of years? The answer is a qualified "no." The biggest potential "gotcha" is that some future high-def programming sources probably will require an HDCP-compliant DVI (Digital Visual Interface) or HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) digital connector to provide full HDTV quality. (HDCP is a copy-protection protocol designed to ease Hollywood's worries about movies being pirated and distributed over the Internet. HDMI is a compatible variation of DVI that adds audio capabilities.) Future high-def sources would include, for example, any high-definition DVD, or HD-DVD, format. It's also possible that some pay-per-view and premium cable or satellite programming might be available in full resolution only via that sort of interface - and not through analog wideband component-video connections - unless the tuner is built into the set. To play it really safe, make sure the set you buy has at least one HDCP-compliant DVI or HDMI input, a built-in digital tuner, or both.

Should I wait for the dust to settle and prices to come down before I buy an HDTV? First of all, prices are already way down from just a year or so ago. In the accompanying product listings, more than 50 models have a list price of $2,500 or less. Second, if you're looking to buy a set for your living room or home theater and really want HDTV now - don't wait. If you buy a non-high-def set today, you'll probably end up replacing it with a high-def one in a couple of years anyway. And you'll be missing out on the striking realism that HDTV brings to TV and movies. Remember, even DVDs look great on an HDTV. On the other hand, if the set is for a secondary space like, say, your bedroom, you might want to wait because your investment there will be smaller and prices will continue to fall for at least a few more years.

Are flat-panel displays the best way to go? "Best" depends on your needs and preferences. Big-screen flat-panel displays - the kind you can hang on a wall - are almost exclusively plasmas, which can be very expensive but do look great. Plasma now has some serious competition, though. For relatively small screens, direct-view LCD is an increasingly attractive option, and rear-projection sets using LCD, DLP (Digital Light Processing), or LCoS (liquid crystal on silicon) technology can deliver excellent large-screen (typically 46- to 61-inch) images. Better yet, these sets tend to be tabletop models that are only 18 inches or so deep and weigh 100 pounds or less. Traditional cathode-ray-tube (CRT)-based rear-projection sets can give you terrific pictures at prices starting under $2,000 - you just have to be willing to deal with their size and weight. And don't forget about tried-and-true CRT direct-view TVs. They might be bulky and heavy, but they still produce excellent pictures.

Is there anything special I need to know about front projectors? You don't want to get home with a projector only to find that you can't set it up far enough away from the screen, so make sure you know the minimum and maximum distances between projector and screen for the screen size you want.

Light output is also critical. The screen can't distinguish between light from a projector and light coming in through the windows, so your projector is competing with ambient light any time you're not watching in total darkness. Low light output isn't normally a problem in dimly lit rooms, but it can result in an unwatchable picture in a bright room. A related matter is contrast ratio, the difference in light output between a totally black image and a maximum-intensity white one. Good contrast ratio is necessary to produce deep blacks on the screen and to resolve detail in dark portions of an image.

Finally, you'll notice that the listings include specifications for horizontal and vertical frequency ranges. These indicate the range of video signals a projector can handle. Unless you have some unusually fancy video processing gear or want to use the projector with a computer, the only vertical frequency of interest is 60 (or 59.94) Hz - the number of frames per second. For regular TV, the horizontal frequency can range from 15.75 kHz for 480i video to 45 kHz for 720p HDTV.

So now you have the advice you need to go out and buy an HDTV. Having so many options means that shopping for a high-definition set can be more complicated than it ever was for an analog TV. But doing your homework will help you find an HDTV that's not only right for your budget and your home, but will provide years of enjoyment. Getting HDTV over the Air Display Formats Decoded

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The product listings that follow are representative of what's in stores but do not include every model on the market. PDF: HDTVs & HDTV Monitors