An HDTV isn’t required to enjoy an Xbox 360 or PS3, but it does make a pretty big difference in the experience these systems offer and is a worthwhile purchase for a number of other reasons besides just gaming. Find out all about it right here.
In addition to playing your Xbox 360 games in high-definition, you can also (with the proper players and connections) watch progressive scan DVD movies, upscaled DVD movies, HD-DVD movies, Blu-ray movies, or even use your HDTV as a huge computer monitor. Satellite TV providers have a huge amount of high-def content as well that you can take advantage of. Buying an HDTV now isn’t just an investment in better quality videogaming, but an investment in an overall higher level of visual entertainment and is well worth it.
Does It Really Make A Difference?
Yes. Absolutely. You can immediately tell the difference between movies and videogames on an HDTV vs. a standard definition TV. Everything is much sharper and crisper and clearer. Little details jump out at you and movies look lifelike and realistic. Videogames also see a big improvement in overall clarity and viewing distance. Also, if you have poor eyesight, gaming in HD can make a pretty big difference in how you play and experience games since you can now see further and with more detail in games than ever before, which is something I can speak of from personal experience.
HDTV Basics
Some basic things to keep in mind when buying an HDTV: For Plasma or LCD or DLP, you generally get what you pay for. If you want one of the budget TVs like an Olevia or Vizio, you aren’t going to get as good of quality out of it as you would have if you went with a Sony or Samsung. The cheap sets are still decent, but not really in the same league with one of the midrange or upper tier sets. Also, at this point, dollar for dollar, CRT TVs still have the best picture quality. You can get a decent CRT for well under $1000 that will look absolutely stunning. The downside is that they weigh a ton and take up quite a bit of room. If you are on a budget and going for picture quality, though, I’d go with CRT for now.
HDTV Resources
We have only scratched the surface on the benefits of HDTV. For more information on HDTVs, including reviews, recommendations, FAQs, and more, please check out TV.About.com. I'm not an expert when it comes to this stuff, but About.com's Guide to TV and Video Matthew Torres is, and he can answer any questions you may have.
- Glossary: What does HDMI or 720p mean? Find out here.
- HDTV FAQs
- TV Reviews
