Shopping for a new HDTV set can be confusing and intimidating, but if you break the process down into smaller parts, it will start to make sense. The main factors to consider are:

Budget Range
Screen Size
Style (Plasma, LCD, etc.)
Special Uses
Options

Budget Range

First things first. HDTV costs are most closely linked to screen size, but also to display type, picture quality, and brand name. You’ll have to read the reviews of individual sets to get all the details, but here is a general idea of what you will get in each price range:

Shopping for a TV these days sure isn’t what it used to be. In the old days, all you had to do was find out how big your next-door neighbor’s TV was, then go to Sears and buy one a few inches bigger. Now, with HDTV technology exploding in every direction, you need a deeper understanding of the options available before you decide what to get. It doesn’t need to be intimidating, though, if you break the decision process down into a few steps.