| For the last 5 or 6 years the media (and therefore | | | | against getting one is the fact that more and more TV |
| also the public) has focused either the huge television | | | | shows are being produced in the HDTV format. |
| sets or the extremely small televisions that can be | | | | Secondly many TV distributors are preparing to offer |
| carried around in your pocket. On the tiny end of the | | | | more HDTV channels over the next couple of years. |
| scale you have the portable players with 2-4 inch | | | | As the popularity and availability of HDTV |
| screens that can pack enormous amounts of video | | | | programming increases, we are likely to see a great |
| into a piece of hardware the size of a wallet or even | | | | (and expanding) effect in the number of TV channels |
| a credit card. | | | | and TV shows that will change to High Definition |
| On the other end of the spectrum there are the large | | | | Television. The more channels and programs that |
| HDTVs where anything smaller than 42 inches isn't | | | | make the switch, the more people will watch the |
| even worth talking or writing about if you ask much of | | | | programs on these channels and the public will begin to |
| the popular media. You are sometimes left wondering | | | | ask questions why the rest of the channels haven't |
| if there's still anything in between these two extremes | | | | also made the switch to HDTV and will put pressure |
| - while both of these types of technology are | | | | on them to do so. |
| impressive nonetheless. | | | | This is not to say that standard definition TV will be |
| Finding a normal television with a 4:3 aspect ratio in a | | | | nonexistent in the future. But it is more likely that the |
| similar size between twenty to thirty inches is actually | | | | TV programs and shows that are produced in the |
| becoming more and more difficult. That is unless you | | | | High Def format will be "down converted" to standard |
| are then compensation by going for digital televisions | | | | definition format and be shown on standard definition |
| like LCD screens or plasma screens. The most | | | | television channels, at least for some years to come. |
| significant difference between the TV's that are | | | | This is actually already happening to some extent as it |
| available today and those that were available ten | | | | was seen in the most recent Star Trek series which |
| years ago is the fact that modern standard definition | | | | was shot in high definition. Because this was still a very |
| television sets typically have digital tuners built in. The | | | | popular show for people to watch on normal standard |
| TV manufacturers are preparing for the change to | | | | definition channels and while it originally aired in |
| digital television (planned for 2009) even though it's | | | | standard definition a lot of its fans probably didn't even |
| unclear whether or not it will actually happen on | | | | realize that it had actually been shot in HD. This brings |
| schedule. | | | | us to another of the many advantages of HDTV sets |
| There is a bigger question than whether or not | | | | - Even if you are not watching HDTV on it, there's an |
| standard TV sets are still available. There are many | | | | increasing trend to broadcast normal television shows |
| arguments against investing in a standard definition | | | | in the wide screen format that looks good on HDTV |
| television right now and the most obvious argument | | | | screens. |