"I can see clearly now..."

I borrow from the song by Johnny Nash. You might just be ready for that new High Definition TV. You are not alone. The period from Thanksgiving until the Super Bowl is peak season for TV retailers. As you begin that quest for the perfect (and affordable) set I have a few pointers that might help.

There is good news to report, as long as you don’t have stock in “Best Buy” or “Circuit City.” There continues to be a price war in the digital TV market. Many of the big retailers will report soft quarterly profits because they have deeply discounted the new sets. It’s bad for them, but good for you.

There are several types of new “flat screens” from which to choose. Liquid Plasma, Liquid Crystal and DLP are all types of “flat screens” now on the market. All can provide excellent pictures. I do not recommend any of the older style rear projection models. These are usually the least expensive. They are very large, since the projection system is housed in the box about the width of a refrigerator. Of all your options, this type of display will provide the least satisfactory picture.

Shop with your eyes. While numbers and specifications may look great on paper, what the picture looks like to you is more important. While 720 lines of resolution is not as good as a 1080 line display, if the screen measures only 27” it might look fine and be much less expensive.

Bigger is not always better. While the neighbors might go wild over that new 65” behemoth in your living room, your enjoyment of the programs might well be enhanced with a smaller screen. As discussed above, a TV picture, standard or high definition, is made up of discrete pixels. On the small screen they are closer together and thus will look sharper. If you have a large family or media room, go with the big set. If it is for a smaller living room, den or bedroom, think smaller.

Ask to see a demonstration of programming you watch. If you watch NASCAR, ask to see that programming. The same holds true for movies or concerts. Many stores will have all the sets displaying some high energy fast paced video with the subwoofer rattling your teeth. It is all part of the sales ambiance. Take the time to watch what you normally watch and then make your decision.

In the store make sure you watch a set connected to the source of your programming. If you are a cable subscriber ask to see cable programming. If you view off the air or via satellite, ask to see that programming.

Look at the remote. If you are a “techie,” the more buttons the better. If you are not, make sure that you will be able to easily navigate the options. This is especially important if the set will be used by someone not accustomed or comfortable with new technology.

Forget the extra warranty. If it is going to fail it will do so early in its life, well within the standard manufacturer’s coverage.

One last tip, don’t let the salesperson intimidate you. If you read the above information and the material on http://www.cetconnect.org/digital/guide2.asp ,you most likely already know more than he or she does.

Neat Speak for Non-Geeks

This is the first of what I hope will be a weekly column covering new technology from a consumer’s point of view. First a test is in order. The new ATSC standards adopted by the FCC will assure that both interlaced and progressive scanning can coexist in the 8VSB transmitted bit stream and as long as all the PIDS are present the video can be displayed on monitors with resolutions ranging from 480p/i to 1080i. If you completely understand the last sentence you will find what I plan to write in future columns much too basic. You already know more than I do. You can stop reading right now.

On the other hand, if you feel that the sentence might have just as well been written in some Klingon dialect, I think you will find the columns informative and entertaining.

Recently Bill Gates proclaimed that this is the Digital Decade. Who can disagree? Hardly any facet of our daily life is untouched by some digital gizmo. Cars that park themselves, maps that talk to you, cell phones that double as credit cards … all made possible because some machine is able to put “0s” and “1s” together.

Wading through the hype and “geek speak” can be intimidating and expensive. Do I really need to upgrade now? Will my TV still work in two years? Unfortunately there are few places to turn for clear unbiased information and advice. The “big box” stores have legions of staff ready, willing and able to tell you why you need a 1080i TV set rather than a 720p model. The recommendation, of course, will have little to do with the fact that the 1080 set has a higher price tag and better mark up.

I plan to cover the gamut. We will look at home entertainment systems, mobile phones, and the latest in high definition TVs. I’ll point you to good online web sites and give you a peek at what might be the next “must have” device. I promise to keep the jargon to a minimum and also respect the fact that your intelligence should not be measured by your ability to understand everything your pocket-protector-clad know-it-all next door neighbor might utter.

I want to hear what you would like to read. I don’t plan for this to be a question and answer forum, but I will address topics that spark comments and responses. You can contact me at - jack_dominic@wcet.pbs.org.

Jack Dominic, a Harrison Twp. resident, is VP & COO at CET, Cincinnati’s Public Television station, a pioneer in broadcasting and online video services. www.CETconnect.org.