HDTV - truth or fiction? - newtoHT

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HDTV - truth or fiction?

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Holy crap am I confused!
Here's what I knew (or thought I knew)...
1. HDTV is a new kind of transmission that - once it takes off and the networks broadcast in HDTV - it will dramatically improve your picture.
2. An HDTV was necessary to receive the transmissions.
3. Standard TVs could not decode an HDTV transmission.
4. TVs marketed as "HD Ready" or "HD Compatible" meant that I would have to buy the HDTV decoder before receiving HDTV transmissions.
5. TVs marketed as "HDTV Monitors" are complete and good to go. I wouldn't need anything else.
Here's what I learned from a few salesmen recently...
1. TVs marketed as "HDTV Monitors" means that the television's "monitor" is capable of over 1000 lines of resolution compared to a standard television's 300 lines.
2. TVs marketed as "HDTV Monitors" will NOT tune in an HDTV broadcast because they do not have an HDTV "tuner". No television marketed as HDTV today contains the tuner.
So herein lies the confusion: Why the hell would I want to buy an "HDTV Monitor" if it will be rendered useless when HDTV transimissions are broadcast? Is the "HD Compatible" or "HD Ready" TV better because I could "add" the tuner to it? What is the difference among HDTV's "monitor" vs "tuner" vs "decoder"?
Final questions:
Does a TV exist today that will allow me to immediately realize an improvement in my viewing pleasure over standard TV when watching DVD and digital satellite? And will this TV receive HDTV broadcasts in the future w/o me having to buy anything further for it? Can I get this for under $2000?
TIA!!!
Confused Newbie

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Parts Connexion

Topic - HDTV - truth or fiction? - newtoHT 21:34:37 07/23/02 (5)

Dear Confused... - Harmonia 00:14:22 07/25/02 (2)

thanks! (also an oh oh) - newtoHT 11:34:35 07/25/02 (1)

Are you defeating the purpose . . . - Auricle 07:55:55 08/01/02 (0)

Re: HDTV - truth or fiction? - Lasermeister 17:26:11 07/24/02 (1)

Thanks! - newtoHT 11:36:10 07/25/02 (0)

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