VideoSecu Tilt TV Wall Mount Bracket for Most 32"- 65" LED LCD Plasma TV Flat Panel Screen Free HDMI Cable and Magnetic Bubble Level MF607B 1QH Sale Price: $19.90
	This low-profile tilt mount MF607B is designed for most midsize to large size flat-panel TVs weighing up to 165 lbs. VESA compliant for simple installation, supports TV with mounting hole patterns up to 26" horizontally, and 16" vertically (VESA 660X400mm)...

	VideoSecu LCD LED TV Wall Mount Full Motion with Swivel Articulating Arm for 23-37, up to 42 in TV Flat Panel Screen With VESA 200 100, 20 in extension and Post-installation Leveling System A35 Sale Price: $22.90
	The VideoSecu articulating mount ML530B is a mounting solution for most 22"-37" midsize flat panels and some models up to 42inch with VESA 100x100/200x200/200x100mm mounting hole patterns. Its 9 lbs heavy gauge steel construction provides safety loading up to 66lbs display...

	LUXOR Mobile Flat Panel TV Stand - Black Sale Price: $291.29
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	Introduction to Flat Panel Displays (Wiley Series in Display Technology) Sale Price: $80.89
	Flat Panel Displays (FPDs) are a frequent feature in our daily lives, used in mobile phones, laptop computers, desktop computer monitors and TVs. Several display technologies have been developed for FPDs, such as liquid crystal display (LCD), plasma display panel (PDP), light emitting diode (LED), organic light emitting device (OLED) and field emission display (FED)...

	Vornado CR1-0118-06 Flat Panel Air Circulator Sale Price: $28.49
	Vortex Circulation/ Moves Air Up to 55ft/ Saves Energy

	VideoSecu Mounts Tilt TV Wall Mount for Mid to Large Size Plasma LCD LED TV Flat Panel Screen Slim Mounting Bracket for Samsung LG Sony Panasonic Vizio Sharp AQUOS Toshiba Westinghouse KDS Magnavox Philips Pioneer ProScan RCA Displays 3N9 Sale Price: $18.90
	The slim tilt mount is compatible with majority of 32-47 inch LCD plasma TV and some LED TV up to 55 inch. Handle screen up to 66 lbs. Support all VESA mounting standards 200x100 mm up to 600x400 mm and many odd size mounting patterns (mounting holes on the rear of the TV or panel should be no more than 24" inches apart horizontally and up to 16" vertically)...

	New Dell Flat Panel E Series Monitor Stand Sale Price: $19.40
	Make the most of your valuable workspace with this new Dell flat panel monitor stand with ergonomic height adjustment and tilt for select Dell Precision and Latitude E-family laptops. This stand will mount standard Dell flat panel monitors 17"-24", and features weight torque adjustment depending on the size of your monitor...

	Bass Men's Logan Flat Panel Loafer,Black,12 M Sale Price: $60.53
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	PYLE PLVW10IW 10.4'' In-Wall Mount TFT LCD Flat Panel Monitor w/VGA Input Sale Price: Too low to display
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	Magpul XTM Rail Panels / Covers - Set of 4 panels - Flat Dark Earth- MAG410-FDE Sale Price: $7.88
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reen TVs have been a godsend to many home theater enthusiasts who wanted to get away from the bulky and heavy rear projection units. While rear projection televisions are still popular as alternatives to flat screen HDTVs, there is little doubt from a quality and appearance factor, the flat screen reigns supreme.

The two new era technologies which have enabled flat screen HDTVs to come into play are Plasma and LCD. In fact, the two have developed their own band of supporters with many home theater purists either devoted to one or the another.

Flat screen HDTVs have trumped rear projection for several reasons. They are sleeker, less bulky, provide better images and are more power efficient.

Differences Between Plasma And LCD

While Plasma and LCD are now all the rage it should be noted there are definite differences between the two. Really, the only similarities lies in the fact they they are sleek sets without any bulk. But that's where the similarity virtually ends.

Both have the capacity to display extremely high quality 1080p resolution however, they achieve their images in a different manner. There's been little doubt that Plasma has led the popularity stakes because many consider they provide a better image quality among video enthusiasts.

Whether this is true today is debatable because LCDs have made rapid inroads into the Plasma domination. Other claims in favor of Plasma are that they can achieve deeper blacks which in turn has a significant bearing on the output of the image quality of the picture.

Don't get too hung up though on this because as we said, LCDs are rapidly overhauling Plasma in terms of popularity and this is set to continue. In fact, some major manufacturers have made the important decision of concentrating wholly and solely on the LCD market.

LCD Flat Screen HDTVs

LCD flat screen HDTVs in recent years have nearly reached the contrast ratio of plasma screens though, and they are generally much cheaper than plasma televisions as well.

In years past, LCD screens were not as large as plasma screens, but this has also changed in recent years so that LCD flat screen HDTVs can reach sizes or 60” (five feet diagonally) or even larger.

Also, both technologies have matured, and as with all other technologies (computers, for example), LCDs and plasma screens have dramatically fallen in price to the point where they are a fraction of what they used to cost.

However, some new exciting technologies are about to be released which are set to beat plasma and LCD flat screen HDTVs in terms of power usage and image quality.

The most talked about one is the organic light-emitting diode (OLED). Not only will they draw significantly less power and produce better visuals, but they can also be used with many different materials, and they are expected to be significantly cheaper to produce, resulting in greater affordability for the consumer.

If you are looking to watch high definition content, look no further than flat screen HDTVs.

	HDMI to VGA and Audio Converter ( Support 1080P, Input HDMI, Video Output: VGA, Audio Output: 3.5 mm-outs ) Sale Price: $32.03
	Features: Video input: HDMI 720P, 1080I, 1080P Video output: VGA 640×480@60hz,800×600@60hz, 1024×768@60hz,1280×720@hz, 1280×768@60hz,1280×800@60hz, 1280×1024@60hz,1360×768@60hz, 1600×1200@60hz,1920×1080@60hz, 1920×1200@60hz, Audio output: 3...

	HDMI to Composite 3RCA / S-video Converter Adapter (Input: HDMI; Output: 3 RCA + S-video) with 3RCA Cable S-video Cable Sale Price: $35.99
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	AmazonBasics Digital Optical Audio Toslink Cable, 6 Feet Sale Price: $5.49
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	MHL Adapter Micro USB to HDMI TV-Out HDTV for Samsung Infuse 4G, Samsung Galaxy S2 I9100 (Non-Retail Packaging) Sale Price: $4.82
	This adapter has the capability to convert micro USB connectors into HDMI, and vice versa. This is a two way cable and is a necessity for any electronics guru. Get yours today and save!

	Digital AV Adapter - iPad / iPhone / iPod audio / video / charging / data adapter - HDMI - Dock connector (M) - Dock connector, 19 pin HDMI (F) DIGTL AV ADPT ZML Manufacturer Part Number MC953ZM/A Sale Price: $29.75
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	Belkin Y Audio Cable (12-Foot) Sale Price: $1.98
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	Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter (female) Cable Sale Price: $1.99
	This is a cost effective solution for adapting your new Mini-DisplayPort equipped laptop to your current display--HDTV, projecter, etc.--with HDMI input. Connect your new Mini-DisplayPort-equipped laptop to your current display--HDTV, projecter, etc...

	Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Female Adapter Cable for Apple Macbook, Macbook Pro... Sale Price: $0.50
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	NEW 5 Input x 1 Output HDMI Switch, HDMI 1.3b Certified (Remote Control Included) - 41H1-501HD Sale Price: $72.98
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	Xbox 360 HDMI Cable Sale Price: $4.60
	Handling up to 1080p resolution in a single wire, the Xbox 360® HDMI cable brings you HD entertainment in all its eye-popping glory. High-def movies and TV from Xbox LIVE and Netflix, plus all your favorite HD games, come through in picture perfect clarity...

Compared to setting up all the connections, buying a flat screen HDTV is the easy part. Indeed, connecting the correct cables to the right inputs and outputs of the proper equipment can be a challenge, especially for those who aren't tech-savvy, so make sure you read the basics first before you take on the task.

Types of Connections

Usually, a flat screen HDTV carries two basic types of connections - analog connections and digital or HD connections, although some new ones only come with the latter. Analog connections are comprised of radio frequency (RF), composite video and S-video connections, which can be used to connect cable boxes, VCRs, DVD players, antennas and some game consoles, of which S-video has the capability of delivering the highest video quality. There are also analog audio connections for older audio receivers and stereo components.

HD connections, on the other hand, consist of component video or YPbPr, FireWire or IEEE 1394, VGA or PC input, DVI and HDMI connections, which are what you should be looking for if you want to enjoy the highest video and audio quality from your HDTV. Check for HDMI connections, in particular, since these allow you to get superb video and audio quality from most HD sources, including HD cable boxes, Blu-Ray players, surround sound speakers, HDTV tuners and newer game consoles.

Connecting Your Cable Box

To get cable on your HDTV, you simply have to connect the wire running from the cable outlet to the box then plug the box to the back of your HDTV using an RF, composite, S-video or HDMI connection, depending on the type of cable box and the input you have available on your HDTV. If you want to record your favorite shows on an HD DVR like a TiVo box, you have to connect your cable box to the DVR first instead of connecting it directly to the HDTV, then connect the DVR to the HDTV via the connections provided.

Connecting your Speakers

To enjoy the superior sound quality offered by your HDTV, it is recommended that you connect external speakers, whether a pair of stereo speakers or four, six or seven surround sound speakers. You cannot connect them directly to your HDTV, though. Rather, you have to connect them first to the AV receiver that comes with the system then connect the AV receiver to the HDTV. Make sure you connect the wires to the right ports on the receiver. For example, if the pair of wires are coming from the front right speaker, they should be connected to the inputs labeled front right, specifically to the ports that match the color of each.

Connecting Your Computer

You may also want to use your flat screen HDTV as your computer monitor. If you do, you will need to get a high quality video card for your computer then connect the CPU to the HDTV via the output provided on the card. If the card only has an S-video, component video or VGA output, you will need to run an audio cable from the soundcard of the CPU to the HDTV, as well. You can also connect your laptop to your HDTV if you want to use it as your DVD or Blu-Ray player, which is especially a good idea if your laptop has an HDMI output.

Connecting Your Game Console

You can also enjoy playing video console games on your flat screen HDTV. In fact, most HDTVs have a dedicated gaming mode that disables video processing to eliminate controller delay. There are two ways to connect your game console - through your AV receiver or directly to your HDTV. Either way, the type of cable you need depends on your game console. Wii game consoles have component video outputs while Xbox and PlayStation consoles have HDMI for superior video quality.

As for your other equipment, simply look at their available outputs then shop for the correct cable. Don't hesitate to ask at the electronics store if you're not sure about which cable you are looking for. Your set-up depends on the types of equipment you have as well as how many of them you want to use with your flat screen HDTV. If you are using a lot of equipment, you might want to go with a wireless hub so the back of your HDTV isn't too crowded. You might want to get a universal remote control, as well.

Learn more about HDTV connections in Edward McKellen's guide to HDTV at HDTVReviewLab.com.

Will Microsoft make a adapter for the Xbox 360 that doesn't have HDMI output?

Hi I have the original white Xbox 360 & I think it is NOT fail that other Xbox 360 consoles like Elite & HALO 3 console have there own HDMI output. Do you agree?

MS can't make an adapter for HDMI because HDMI is a hardware thing. The old premium doesn't have the hardware to output at HDMI signals.

I think it's fair that the new 360 have HDMI output. That's one of the disadvantage of getting a system as soon as it comes out. You know that in the future, newer generations are going to be better than the original generation. If you think not having HDMI output is unfair, what about Sony dropping the PS3 by 100 bucks less than 1 year after its release. Or what about Sony including 5 free Blu-ray movies just for buying a PS3.

My fiance and I bought a 32" Westinghouse and LOVE IT! It's flat screen LCD and is an HDTV as well. I'm not sure how much they normally run - we got it the day after Thanksgiving at Best Buy for $450 or so. It's a great TV though, and we have no regrets. I'd highly recommend it.

	VideoSecu Tilt TV Wall Mount for 23" 24" 26" 27" 32"37" LCD LED Plasma HDTV Flat Panel Screen Display Max Load Capacity up to 165 lbs Built-in bubble level 1QJ Sale Price: $9.95
	The slim 1.9 inch profile tilt mount MF408B designed for majority of 23" to 37" LCD LED Plasma flat panel display with mounting hole pattern within 18.1" horizontal and 14.2" vertical included 200x100, 200x200, 300x100, 300x200, 300x300, 400x100, 400x200, 400x300mm...

	VideoSecu Low Profile TV Wall Mount for Most 32" - 65" LCD, LED, Plasma, HDTV Flat Panel TV with VESA up to 600x400 mm, Universal Wall Mounts Bracket ---Compatible with Sony Bravia, Samsung, LG, Haier, Panasonic, Vizio, Sharp AQUOS, Westinghouse, Pioneer, ProScan, RCA, Toshiba MF602B WA8 Sale Price: $17.90
	The low profile mount MF602B is compatible with LED, LCD, Plasma TVs and other flat panel displays measuring between 32 and 65 inches. Supports all VESA mounting standards up to 680x400 and many odd size mounting patterns (mounting holes on the rear of the TV or panel should be no more than 26...

	VideoSecu Tilt LCD LED TV Wall Mount for Sony Bravia, Samsung, LG, Haier, Panasonic, Vizio, Sharp AQUOS, Westinghouse, Pioneer, ProScan, RCA, Toshiba, Magnavox, Sanyo 32-60" LCD LED Plasma HDTV Flat Panel Screen Display C83 Sale Price: $23.49
	This heavy duty steel mount fits most 32" to 60" Plasma TV or LCD monitor. This Universal Flat Panel Mount offers quality, versatility and security for 32" to 60" Flat panel televisions. It features a high capacity and low profile design and adjustable tilt for optimal viewing...

	Wiremold C210 White Cordmate II Kit Sale Price: $16.21
	The Wiremold White Cordmate II kit contains everything you need to hold wires and cords within a space-saving cord channel that's flexible and hinged, and easily snaps opens and shut. The peel and stick self-adhesive backing is easily attached onto baseboards or walls, and the white PVC components can be painted or stained to match a room's color...

	VideoSecu Mounts Tilt TV Wall Mount for Mid to Large Size Plasma LCD LED TV Flat Panel Screen Slim Mounting Bracket for Samsung LG Sony Panasonic Vizio Sharp AQUOS Toshiba Westinghouse KDS Magnavox Philips Pioneer ProScan RCA Displays 3N9 Sale Price: $18.90
	The slim tilt mount is compatible with majority of 32-47 inch LCD plasma TV and some LED TV up to 55 inch. Handle screen up to 66 lbs. Support all VESA mounting standards 200x100 mm up to 600x400 mm and many odd size mounting patterns (mounting holes on the rear of the TV or panel should be no more than 24" inches apart horizontally and up to 16" vertically)...

	Cheetah Mounts APTMM2B Flat Screen TV Wall Mount Bracket for 32-65-Inch Plasma LED LCD TV Sale Price: $23.95
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	Panasonic TH-50PH9UK 50" Plasma Display
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Newnes Guide to Television and Video Technology, Fourth Edition: The Guide for the Digital Age - from HDTV, DVD and flat-screen technologies to Multimedia Broadcasting, Mobile TV and Blu Ray Sale Price: $22.46

This book provides a full and comprehensive coverage of video and television technology including the latest developments in display equipment, HDTV and DVD. Starting with TV fundamentals, the bulk of the book covers the many new technologies that are bringing growth to the TV and video market, such as plasma and LCD, DLP (digital light processing), DVD, Blu ray technology, Digital television, High Definition television (HDTV) and video projection systems...

	EXPOSED: What Coby Doesn't Want You to Know About Their LCD LED Flatscreen HDTV (Includes 19 22 32 40 inch 1080p but not DVD combo)
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Is 720p vs 1080i worth being concerned about? Yes and no. If you're a consumer looking for a new TV, you can happily ignore the 720p vs 1080i debate because every TV which is described as HDTV or HDTV Ready is required to support both formats.

NOTE: You should be aware though that lots of TVs which support 1080i have fewer than 1080 lines and so scale the 1080 signal down. That's not a huge issue as even scaled down 1080i is far ahead of a regular NTSC signal. It is worth bearing in mind that more expensive HDTVs tend to have better scalers than cheaper ones, and this may be an issue.

However, for broadcasters it's a live issue. Should they broadcast 1080 lines of interlaced video or 720 lines of progressive scan? They could just broadcast two signals, one in each format, but that would use up a huge chunk of bandwidth and be hugely expensive for very little gain.

To answer the question, it's important to understand the difference between 720p vs 1080i. A 720p signal is made up of 720 horizontal lines. Each frame is displayed in its entirety on-screen for 1/30th of a second. This is know as progressive scan (hence the 'p')The quality is like watching 30 photographic images a second on TV. A 1080i signal comprises 1080 horizontal lines but all the lines are not displayed on-screen simultaneously. Instead, they are interlaced (hence the 'i'), ie every other lines is displayed for 1/60th of a second and then the alternate lines are displayed for 1/60th of a second. So, the frame rate is still 30 frames per second, but each frame is split into two fields, which your brain then puts together subconsciously.

Most of the time interlacing works fine, but for fast moving images, such as sports like baseball and hockey it can cause problems which manifest themselves as a 'stepping' effect on-screen. Progressive scan signals don't have this problem and so are better suited to sports.

ESPN puts it like this: 'Progressive scan technology produces better images for the fast moving orientation of sports television. Simply put, with 104 mph fastballs in baseball and 120 mph shots on goal in hockey, the line-by-line basis of progressive scan technology better captures the inherent fast action of sports. For ESPN, progressive scan technology makes perfect sense.'

Bottom line? For us, as consumers 720p vs 1080i is not a debate worth worrying about, so you can relax and focus on all the other criteria on your list when you buy your next HDTV.

Kenny Hemphill runs Discounted Web Hosting and is the editor and publisher of The HDTV Tuner - a guide to the kit, the technology and the programming on HDTV.