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: $25.00
	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)...

	AVF Super Slim ZL8601-A Flat and Tilt TV Wall Mount for 30-Inch to 65-Inch Flat Panel TV Screens (Black) Sale Price: $49.01
	The AVF Super Slim ZL8601-A Flat and Tilt TV Wall Mount for is built to hold 40" - 65" flat-panel HDTVs. Designed to complement the latest thin TV's, the AVF Super Slim range of wall mounts are AVF's most technically advanced and lowest profile mounts to date...

	VideoSecu Articulating Arm LED LCD TV Wall Mount for Mid Size VESA 200 100 Flat Panel Screen, Full Motion Mount Bracket with Post-installation Leveling System A35 Sale Price: $30.99
	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...

	Soleus Air HGW-308R Flat Panel Micathermic Heater with Remote Sale Price: $61.13
	This silent Micathermic Radiator as 2 heat settings; high (1500 Watts) and low (750 Watts). Includes an adjustable digital thermostat, remote control, 12-hour auto-off timer, overheat protection and tip-over safety protection...

	Datacomm 50-3323-WH-KIT Flat Panel TV Cable Organizer Kit with Power Solution - White Sale Price: Too low to display
	Our Home Theater products provide all the flexibility installers or experienced do-it-yourselfers need to create sophisticated media environments. Our plates mount into a standard NEMA enclosure or on to a low-voltage mounting bracket...

	Flexible Flat Panel Displays (Wiley Series in Display Technology) Sale Price: $118.78
	Flexible displays are currently one of the most researched topics within the flat panel display community. They promise to change our display-centric world by replacing bulky rigid devices with those that are paper-thin and can be rolled away or folded up when not in use...

	Artec AN2 Digital Flat Antenna Sale Price: $9.99
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	Indus-Tool CL Cozy Legs Flat-Panel 150-Watt Radiant Heater Sale Price: $40.49
	The Cozy Legs CL-R radiant panel helps you reduce office heating costs by providing efficient, low-energy heat right where it's needed. The low-profile unit can be mounted directly to a desk or table, or you can use the optional stand (not included) for full portability...

	Wii Energizer Flat Panel 2x Induction Charger Sale Price: $26.00
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	GSI Super Quality Television Mount Stand Cart For Plasma, LCD, Flat Panel, LED TV's Screens And Monitors, 23" Inch To 42" Inch - For Office Presentations, Conference Rooms Or Entertainment Centers Etc. Sale Price: $164.99
	Introducing The New Portable Mega Stand From GSI, Designed For Use In Hotel, Lobbies, Conference Rooms, Hospitals, Laboratories, Office Buildings, Etc. Safe, Secure And Well Designed, It Will Serve The Purpose For Years To Come, And Will Keep Your TV In Shape...

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.

	ViewHD Wii to HDMI 720P / 1080P HD Output Upscaling Converter Sale Price: $34.95
	Introduction: A Must Have for Larger Screen HDTV The Nintendo Wii is the only major gaming console that does not have HDMI output. The console's output resolution is only 480i/p, the lack of an HDMI output on the Wiii makes installations and wiring more complex and troublesome...

	Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Female Adapter Cable for Apple Macbook, Macbook Pro... Sale Price: $1.88
	Moshi's compact and stylish Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter seamlessly connects DisplayPort-equipped MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, Mac mini or Mac Pro systems to any HDMI display. It supports both video and audio output to your HDMI display.

	AmazonBasics Digital Optical Audio Toslink Cable, 6 Feet Sale Price: $7.31
	The AmazonBasics TOSLINK Digital Audio Optical Cable helps you connect audio components when clear sound quality is your priority. This digital audio TOSLINK cable can be used to connect your CD and DVD players, digital satellite, and more to your preamplifier, receiver, audio processors, and digital-to-analog converters (DACs)...

	Optical Audio Adapter for Xbox 360 HDMI AV Cable Sale Price: $1.40
	Package Include: 1 X Optical Audio Adapter For HDMI AV Cable

	HDMI to 5 RCA component AV Converter Sale Price: $30.50
	This kind of converter is an HDMI converter.It converts HDMI input into analog YPbPr video and R/L audio signal.It allows users to enjoy their high definition image and sound when watching movies or playing games on the traditional YPbPr monitors or projectors...

	ViewHD Premium 3D HDMI 4x2 Matrix v1.3 for HD 1080P with SPDIF Digital Surround or Hi-Fi Stereo Audio Output (The most versatile HDMI 4x2 Matrix for Home Theater!) Sale Price: $74.95
	From ViewHD, this is the latest HDMI 4x2 matrix with SPDIF optical output to support SURROUND SOUND home theater or Hi-Fi stereo audio with 3.5mm headset output for powered headset application, flexible for advanced home theater setups...

	Motorola Standard HDMI Cable for Motorola DROID X, ATRIX 4G, and XOOM Sale Price: Too low to display
	Show off your captured HD content on your HD compatible TV

	Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI Adapter Sale Price: $2.49
	Use this cable adapter to connect your Mac with a Mini DisplayPort video output port to an external monitor, TV, projector or other display device with HDMI input. Plug the Mini DisplayPort end into your Mac, and connect the HDMI end to an HDMI (male to male) cable, then plug the cable into your HDMI input input jack...

	Belkin Y Audio Cable (12-Foot) Sale Price: $1.98
	This Y Audio Cable from Belkin connects multimedia devices (such as stereo speakers and CD-ROMs) to your PC's sound card. You can also use it to easily connect mini-stereo components to stereo equipment...

	Fosmon HDMI to Micro HDMI Cable (6 Feet) Sale Price: $0.01
	Bring HDMI capabilities to your smart phone or other mobile device with this Micro HDMI (Type D Connector) cable. Even with its small form factor, this cable supports the full HDMI specifications including: high speed 10...

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.

	Universal 32-60" Wall Mount Bracket Tilt TV HDTV LCD Flat Screen Panel Plasma Low Profile LED Mounts Mounting Adjustable Sale Price: $18.49
	Features: - UNIVERSAL TV MOUNT CAN WORK WITH TV SIZES: 32" - 60" - TILTS 12 DEGREES -MAX LOAD: 60 KGS /132 LBS - Profile TV TO WALL: 50MM/2" -Product Size: 29.53" X 17" X 2" (750x430x50mm) -Bubble level included - The color is black - Unit weight 6 lbs - Assembly hardware & instructions included - Max VESA:600x400mm

	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: $24.00
	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...

	TCL L40FHDF12TA 40-Inch 1080p 60 Hz LCD HDTV with 2-Year Warranty Sale Price: $329.99

	VideoSecu Low Profile TV Wall Mount for Most 32" - 55" LCD, LED, Plasma, HDTV Flat Panel TV, Universal Wall Mounts Bracket ---Compatible with Sony Bravia, Samsung, LG, Haier, Panasonic, Vizio, Sharp AQUOS, Westinghouse, Pioneer, ProScan, RCA, Toshiba MF602B WA8 Sale Price: $24.99
	The low profile mount MF602B is compatible with LED, LCD, Plasma TVs and other flat panel displays measuring between 32 and 55 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...

	Cheetah Mounts Plasma LCD Flat Screen TV Articulating Full Motion Dual Arm Wall Mount Bracket For 32-65" Displays Up To 165LBS Black With 10' High Speed HDMI Cable With Ethernet Fits Up To 24" Studs Sale Price: $39.95
	This is a very substantial mount with Dual arms and heavy gauge steel. The arms extend over 20" from the wall yet fold to less than 4.25". Even at full extension, this mount has very little sag or twist...

	VideoSecu Tilt TV Wall Mount for Most 32"-60" LCD LED Plasma TV Flat Screen, Sturdy Steel Wall Plate Free HDMI Cable and 6" Bubble Level M43 Sale Price: $20.00
	The VideoSecu MP501B is compatible with LED, LCD, and Plasma TVs and other flat panel display between 32 and 60 inches weigh less than 165lbs. Supports all VESA mounting standards up to 710x450mm and many odd size mounting patterns (mounting holes on the rear of the TV or panel should be no more than 28" apart horizontally and up to 17...

	Cheetah Mounts APTMM2B Flat Screen TV Wall Mount Bracket for 32-65-Inch Plasma LED LCD TV Sale Price: $21.29
	The APTMM2 flat tilt mount features a slim 1.4-Inch profile from the wall to the back of your display. Additionally it has 0-15 degrees of tilt. The APTMM2 mount is constructed with 8LBS of 100% High Grade Steel providing a sturdy and reliable mount...

	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: $25.00
	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)...

	Kinect TV Mount Clip Sale Price: $7.32
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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: $19.60

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...

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.