HDTVs don’t come cheap.  However, if you think your family needs some quality get-together time, you can vouch that having a new 50 in. 1080p Plasma sitting in your living room, that you and your family can enjoy watching primetime shows together with will make this possible – then every dollar you spend will be wise. So before investing your good money for an HDTV, you should know several things.

Such as:

• See what’s available online.  Know the brands, product lines, specifications, discounts and promotions being offered in the market.  There are different types of digital TV with different technology that you want to compare first to get yourself the best HDTV deals.
• In watching HDTV, size does matter.  In getting the best HDTV, there are three things that must always come together: the size of your room, your TV and your budget.  Note that the bigger the LCD of your HDTV, the higher it will cost.  So know exactly the size of HDTV you want.  Also, keep in mind that sitting too close or too far away from the screen defeats the true pictures you get from any HDTV.  That is why you should measure your viewing distance against the size of the screen of your HDTV.   Although there is no rule of thumb, the viewing distance of two or three times the size of the screen is generally good. 
• Know the features and characteristics you want from your HDTV (e.g. resolution capabilities, display type, display format, audio, etc.).
• Locate the controls in your HDTV. It is always advisable to know the proper buttons and their correct purpose especially if you plan to mount the HDTV against a wall.  Ask all the questions you can think of to your sales representative so that you can properly operate the HDTV at home.
• Ask about resolutions. HDTVs come with one of three highest resolution capabilities: (720p, 1080i, and 1080p. (‘p’ for progressive scan and ‘i’ for interlaced) 
  • The best is 1080p because of its capability to display full-HD content at 1,920 x 1,080 pixels.
  • 1080i offers the same display potential but interlaced rather than progressively scanned where the odd-numbered and even-numbered lines appear alternatively
  • 720p is the lowest standard.  This is fine for most content but not future-proofed for Blu-ray contents and other high-definition broadcasts which are becoming more common.
• Know your goal to know your output.  Whether HD TV or a mix of SD and HD, whether you will be gaming on it or otherwise, determine your purpose outright to get the right console capable of giving correct output at high resolutions for PS3 and Xbox 360, or Wii, thereby fitting your intention.
• Test the color quality of your HDTV.  This defines the expensive models against the inexpensive ones.  You can get the sales staff show you optimal image with the proper digital HDMI high-resolution video source to check different contrast and brightness for the LCD.  Also, you can tell the staff that you are inspecting it at upon delivery and will be returning it in case it doesn’t give the same output at home.
• Ensure compatible connection ports.  Every HDTV comes with a variety of connection ports.  Inputs such as S-Video, composite video or VGA are necessary for connecting older equipment to the television.  Scart will still probably be the standard for most of your devices. HDMI, on the other hand is the current standard for connecting HD equipment (e.g. PS3, Blu-ray player, etc.). Simply put, ensure of your current equipment and devices will be compatible to the HDTV you buy.
• Purchase from a trusted manufacturer.  There are multitude brands in the market and finding the right one is a task in itself.  Don’t invest with an unknown brand and expect superb picture quality or features.  Get good deals from the top-performing industry leaders to really get the most from your money, warranty and all.  The cheapest HDTV may not be the best deal for you in the long run.

Lastly, if you are really planning to invest in an HDTV, take time to visit retail stores as well as online shops to educate you with the different brands, models, sizes, resolutions, and picture quality of the wide selections of HDTV in the market.  When you finally get the right one, you’ll be sure to enjoy watching TV with your family for a long, long time.