I am first to admit that the idea of owning a new HDTV LCD is enough to make me drool. But when these things cost almost the same as a car, well, I’ll have to settle for putting that on my X-mas list, instead.

Reality check: No one needs an LCD High-Definition (HD) TV. Most of us grew up with television sets that didn’t have a remote control (and chances are, you were the kid assigned to turn the knob), let alone HDTV quality. But just like cable TV vastly improved variety of televised entertainment, HDTV improves the quality of the viewing experience. And with the ever growing HD channels out there, there more reasons than ever to get an LCD HDTV and enjoy the best of television experience possible.

Keep in mind, LCD HDTVs aren’t cheap, so you have to shop smart to make your purchase a good one. Make sure the LCD TV has DVI or HDMI digital inputs, and that the digital inputs support HDCP content protection. It’s also a good idea to make sure the HDTV has component video inputs. (You’ll want them for DVD playback.) Also, if you want a unit with a built-in tuner, make sure that tuner is CableCard ready. For more on what to look for when purchasing an HDTV, check out our HDTV buying guide. [Read the rest]