[nealconner]

Looking at new televisions and realised I didn't know the difference betwixt HDTV and HDTV-Ready. Can anyone explain?

[nana4]

HDTV has a built in ATSC HD tuner, enabling it to display OTA transmissions in HD straight out of the box. An HDTV monitor on the other hand has no built in HD tuner, usually they have either a DVI or Firewire port, for attaching a seperate STB decoder. A monitor is of course cheaper.

Your choice depends on your budget and the method in which you will be watching HD. If you will be watching via Sat or cable, then you will need an HD STB in any event. I would say go with the monitor, you can get an OTA receiver later if you require it.

[Montezuma58]

Don't forget about component video inputs. All HD ready sets and HD tuners (satellite , broadcast, and cable) will still use them for at least a few years. There is just too big of an already installed base of equipment that use component video for it to just go away. Firewire and DVI are relatively new and are really just starting to roll out this year. And not without controversy(the guy at circuit city or best buy will probably not enlighten you to this). There are advantages to each kind of connection. There are also political and economic intersts driving the adoption of certain types of connections. The consumer is kind of stuck in the middle and the roll out of HDTV is set back even further in my opinion. For more info go search aroung on www.avsforums.com.

Also you will start to see more and more television with built in digital tuners due to FCC mandates which says all TV will have digital tuners in so many years. The larger TVs must have them sooner than smaller ones.