To HDTV or Not

Although I have a few favorite TV shows, I could probably get rid of my TV and be okay with that. There’s enough on the internet to inform and entertain me. My family, though, is another story.

For the past year, my kids have taken turns explaining to me why we need to purchase a plasma or LCD HDTV. They insist that if we don’t get new TVs we won’t be able to see any TV at all. They try to lure me into their madness by tempting me with home theater seating and room layouts because they know I like to redecorate my house every so often. Of course, my kids forget that I can read and I know how to search. And so I searched. And I read.

Here’s the scoop on digital TV. If you have cable or satelite TV, chances are you won’t need to do a darn thing. If your TV is really really old, you can call your cable company to be sure you’ll be okay.

If you don’t have cable or satelite, you’ll have a few choices. You can buy new TVs or you can get a converter box. The great thing about the converter box is that $40 coupons are available for them until March 30, 2009. There is a limit of 2 coupons per household.

You may know all of this already but I’d bet that there are people in your life who don’t know the details. My mom has asked me repeatedly about this and she’s so worried that shw won’t be able to get any TV channels after the transition. Just between us, I have to wonder if the wording for some of the new TV’s has been crafted in a way that will bring panic to those who don’t understand. Maybe not but it sure seems like people are clamoring to get TVs that they don’t need and really don’t want. Once again, it’s a marketing thing.