HDTVs, Ripe for the Picking

FALLING prices, improved technology and more programming choices have made this year absolutely, positively and finally the time to jump in and buy a high-definition TV.

Wait a minute. Wasn't that what they were saying last Christmas?

According to the industry's boosters, when it comes to HDTV, every year is the best year to buy such a set.

But this year seems better than the others - really.

Those waiting for lower prices do not need to wait more than a few weeks. The equivalent high-definition set from Sony that cost ,000 five years ago now costs ,000. In the last three months, the cost of flat-panel HDTV sets has dropped 12 percent on average, said Tamaryn Pratt, the principal owner of Quixel Research of Portland, Ore.

And Consumer Reports has enthusiastically recommended HDTV for the first time since the magazine began covering the technology. In terms of price, programming and quality, "HDTV has reached a tipping point," said Paul Reynolds, the magazine's electronics editor.

Yet those who want to upgrade from their once-giant 27-inch TVs are still in for sticker shock. While less expensive today, a high-definition set of comparable size costs hundreds of dollars more than a standard TV.

For many people, it will cost even more after they experience the superior picture quality, Dolby Digital surround sound and wide-screen image. They will be enticed not just to replace their aging tube set, but to trade up to a flat-panel or rear-projection model the size of a Smart car.

Today, 50-inch and larger flat-panel TVs are finding their way into more dens and living rooms. And larger rear-projection sets are producing images approaching the size of art-house movie screens.

Here is a look at some trends in HDTV pricing, features and technologies.

PRICING

HDTV-set prices are in free fall. "Prices are dropping literally by the week," Ms. Pratt said. "We call it the pricing Armageddon."

A Panasonic 42-inch plasma set that cost ,000 last Christmas is ,800 today (and can be found at Amazon.com for ,450). Similarly, Panasonic's 50-inch model was ,000 last Christmas, but is now ,800, and can easily be found for ,250.

Liquid-crystal-display sets, which used to cost much more than plasma TVs of the same size, are reaching price parity in the smaller sizes.

The prices of larger-size L.C.D. sets will continue to fall as manufacturers improve their ability to carve out more L.C.D. panels from a single piece of glass.

While the price drops have been steep, they are not finished. "The price decline is accelerating," Ms. Pratt said. She predicted that a typical 42-inch flat panel TV would drop to ,400 retail by this time next year, and a 50-inch model to ,000.

720P VS. 1080I VS. 1080P

Depending on the model, HDTVs display images at different resolutions. The highest is known as 1080p, and is now featured on many large-screen high-end sets.

While 1080p creates the best high-definition image, no programs are broadcast in that standard because too much bandwidth is required.

So the only way to see a true 1080p image is to watch an HD DVD that has been recorded in one of the high-definition formats: high-definition DVD or Blu-Ray. Otherwise, HDTV images from broadcasters are converted to 1080p, with pixels added to the image to improve the resolution.

Whether you can see the difference between a 720p, 1080i or 1080p picture depends on the set's quality, screen size and the distance you are sitting from it.

L.C.D. VS. PLASMA ...

The performance of L.C.D. sets has been plagued by blurred images during fast-moving scenes. But L.C.D. pictures appear to have better contrast than plasma sets when viewed in bright light.

On the other hand, plasma TVs have traditionally come with a wider viewing angle. But the sets weigh considerably more than L.C.D.'s, so they are more difficult to hang on a wall. (Not many people do that anyway.)

With Sharp's newest generation of L.C.D. sets, motion-blurring problems have been solved, said Bob Scaglione, the company's senior vice president for marketing.

Two new Sharp models (a ,200 46-inch set and a ,300 52-inch unit) feature a four-millisecond picture response time, half that of previous models, Mr. Scaglione said.

He called the reduced response time "a major seismic shift in technology," adding, "This takes the wind out of the sails of the plasma camp that has long said L.C.D. TVs were not good for watching sports."

... VS. REAR-PROJECTION SETS

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