High definition is not going away. It’s here to stay, like it or not. I received a TV for Christmas this past year and thought I’d share a top 5 list of things to keep in mind when purchasing a HDTV.

1. Size. While this may seem obvious, it’s important to keep in mind where your TV is going to be placed - and how much room you have. There is a huge difference between standing in the store looking at a wall of TVs and actually seeing it in your house. So, bottom line - make sure you measure before you buy.

2. Type. There are two major types of high definition TVs - LCDs and plasma. An LCD TV is based off of the same technology that most modern computer monitors use. However, a plasma works by vibrating gas particles inside the TV. Traditionally, plasmas have been able to achieve higher contrast ratios (although LCDs are starting to catch up now). The best way to decide is based on what size TV you’re considering. For smaller sets, LCD is usually the way to go, and for larger sets, plasma would be the better choice. But - if the TV is going to be used in the mountains, or anywhere at a high altitude, get an LCD. Plasmas installed at high altitudes will not produce a good picture because the gas particles will have to work harder in order to form an image.

3. Supported Formats. HD video generally falls into two categories - 720p and 1080p/1080i. In order to get the maximum experience from your TV (and especially your Blu-Ray player/gaming console), 1080p is the way to go. Even though most (if not all) HD broadcasts are currently in 720p or 1080i, you never know what the future will hold.

4. Contrast Ratio. For those of you who do not know, the contrast ratio on a TV is a ratio of the brightest color to the darkest color that the set is capable of producing. Simply put, a higher contrast ratio will result in a richer picture. The brights will look brighter, and the darks will look darker. Always shoot for the highest possible contrast ratio in order to maximize your viewing experience. My Samsung 32″ has a 7000:1 - and believe me, the difference is there!

5. Sources. Nothing is worse than connecting a brand-new HDTV to an analog cable signal (That’s what I had to do for a couple months before getting HD programming). Make sure you remember to stop by your local cable company, pick up an HD set-top box, and sign up for the service. Also, if you want to watch movies in HD, a Blu-Ray player is a nice addition to a new TV.

High definition television is the entertainment of the future. And with new technologies on the horizon, like 2160p “Quad HD”, there’s no time like the present to go out and grab an HDTV (if you don’t already have one)!