We all know the situation, there's a series of impossibly large numbers on the spec card, the quality of the lighting is questionable, and a salesman who may or may not know anything about televisions is droning on about the death of plasma. Still, you want a new HDTV, and this is where the televisions are. What Sean wants to know is, how do you figure out the right set for you in a retail setting?

"Can anyone recommend video test files used to check the capabilities of HDTVs? It would be great to walk into an electronics store with a USB stick loaded full of video files to test color, contrast, motion etc. and see which performs best. Has anyone ever had success bringing in some of their own equipment to test with the televisions in-store? When I'm checking out different televisions, what differences should I be looking at to pick the right one?"

We've gotten a few handy anecdotes on how to evaluate televisions in even the worst store conditions, and we've seen enough specs to know they're never to be trusted without an independent evaluation, but as an informed buyer, what are you doing to tip the scales towards your specific interests, and not just what pads the stores sales or salesman's commission?


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Did the upconverted video QVC HD was offering get you to flip the channel right to Matlock? If so, the network wants to lure you back with its 100-percent native HD signal, which went live early this month -- we somehow missed the transition, and based on the lack of tips, we're not alone. Now we'll wait and see how long it takes QVC to figure out how to leverage HD in peddling its wares -- those HD cameras don't spare TV personalities any kindness, so expect to see some soft focus techniques applied on those dazzling CZs while things get sorted.

A perfect storm of the slow economy and seasonal affect of new televisions coming in while old models still sit unsold is making right now the time to buy, according to the L.A. Times. It's the answer to the question many of us are constantly asked "when can I get the best deal?" and there's plenty of answers, Black Friday, Super Bowl, or right now during the slow period, but strictly on a dollar sense, from now through the next several months is generally easy picking for bargain hunters, with clearances driving prices low if you can manage to resist the pull of brand new models with their slick features sitting right next to the ones on sale. Any tips on where to look, or at least self control before we pass our own stimulus package?

David Berman, director of training and public relations for the Home Theater Specialists of America, is clearly not a far of bargain bin HDTVs. We're not talking Vizio and the like, we're talking Sansui and these crazy labels you've never, ever heard of outside of the occasional Black Friday mention. According to him, he'd steer clear of any low-end HDTVs, as "the primary methods low-end manufacturers use to cut manufacturing costs are to remove key technologies and features that reduce performance, reliability, and service." It's tough to say exactly how accurate that is overall (at least in a "blanket statement" type sense), but in theory, we tend to agree. Particularly these days, when one can find a name brand set with decent specifications and a respectable warranty for next to nothing, there's hardly a reason to cut corners for an extra $25 to $50 savings. Just do Top Ramen for a few nights and you're even stevens!

Let's face it -- it's easy to get overwhelmed when it comes to Black Friday. For starters, it's the day after Thanksgiving, a day in which you're likely already stressed out about what to cook, where to clean, who to invite and how to get off work early. The last thing you need is more stress when thinking about what HD gear you'll be adding to your collection a few days from now. Thus, we've scoured the intarwebz and scrubbed the deal sheets in order to present a slimmed down, easy-to-digest guide of where the best buys on high-def-related kit will be on November 28th. Hop on past the break to start making your list.

[Image courtesy of SmackShopping]

Back in May, TiVo's VP of product marketing got all of our hopes up that the next announcement involving it and Amazon would include HD Unbox content. As you can very clearly see, this is most certainly not the case. Instead, we have the immense pleasure of informing internet-connected Series2, Series3 and TiVo HD owners that they can now buy wares from Amazon without leaving their couch. If browsing through Amazon's extraordinarily huge store with just a remote sounds appealing to you, you're in luck (and mildly insane). Also of note, the new Product Purchase feature will enable advertisers to "market products sold through Amazon on any broadcast or cable network, any TV show, or via any of TiVo's extensive interactive advertising features." In other words, next time you see Dwight using that iconic shredder, you can buy that bad boy right then and there. Take that, Staples.

[Via Zatz Not Funny]

For some strange reason, we can't say we're surprised by the latest J.D. Power and Associates report. Maybe it's how LCD HDTVs seem to be highlighted in most retail locations, or maybe it's just because the negative burn-in stigma attached to earlier PDPs has yet to wear off. Whatever the case, said research firm has just produced an article claiming that "retail electronics salespersons are recommending LCD TVs instead of plasma TVs at a rate of more than three to one." The research focused on shoppers looking for sets 40-inches and up over the past six months, though it didn't specifically mention where it went undercover to source such data. Really though, it's not shocking to hear that B&M salespeople aren't totally adept at explaining pros and cons -- after all, we'd recommend doing your own independent research and ordering online -- but hopefully this will beat the message home to those who've been blindly believing anything they hear when shopping for a new set.

[Image courtesy of Exceptional Innovation]

Now that big brands are hacking their MSRPs down to more manageable levels, are you suddenly forcing yourself into the market for a new set? Yeah, Black Friday 2008 is closing in by the minute, but waiting is tough, is it not? And heck, with a well received 32-inch plasma going for just north of five bills, it's a great time be a buyer. So, are you looking to take advantage of the lowered prices and snag a new / secondary HDTV, or are you waiting for one reason or another? Speak up!

[Image courtesy of StarTribune]

QVCHD joined in with the Cable Show announcements, unfortunately (or fortunately, for those hoping their already-packed coax lines add a network with actual programming) still carrier-less, but now available to cable providers via SES AMERICOM's HD-PRIME satellites.That's right, the AMC-11 bird is all set, ready to deliver trinkets of varying quality and worth to all of the households demanding the ability to shop armed with only TV & phone. We just died a little inside.

Because there's not one single SD-only channel still out there that needs to make the leap to high-def, we're seeing QVC take its home shopping extravaganzas to the next level. Right on cue, the famed home shopping network has announced an HD simulcast of its domestic broadcast, though no operators have been announced just yet. According to QVC's Senior Vice President of Affiliate Sales and Marketing Al Ulozas, the company is "presently in negotiations with [its] affiliates for carriage," and you can bet your bottom dollar that this steaming pile of waste will hit the EPG long before ESPNews HD (or any other mildly relevant channel) ever shows up en masse.

Here's a timely one. Just days after one reader in particular voiced his concerns about now being the right time to choose one format to support, along comes research claiming that the stalemate is still on. The new data was gathered from over 2,000 online shoppers in mid-January (read: after Warner's blockbuster decision), and apparently, 63-percent of those polled indicated that "they plan to wait to make a purchasing decision until one format leads the market." Potentially more interesting, however, was the note that some 56-percent of participants stated that "they would purchase a Blu-ray Disc player if they saw significant price drops," though just about 40-percent of folks said they didn't anticipate "purchasing any high definition product in the near future." Food for thought, sure, but don't go taking these results too seriously, okay?

Unsurprisingly, surveys these days can often have very interesting results, which may not necessarily represent the general population in a factual manner, but nonetheless, if the "Big Game Survey" is to be believed, more people would rather watch the Super Bowl on an HDTV than actually going to the event in-person. Conducted on behalf of Circuit City, the survey found that 48-percent of all respondents would rather catch the big game from the comforts of their couch compared to just 26-percent who would rather cheer from the nosebleed seats. While it wasn't directly stated where the other 26-percent fell, we can only assume that those were the folks who'd rather pressure-wash their entire house than suffer through four hours of non-stop partying over a game of pigskin. Nevertheless, it's certainly not a surprise to find that sports offerings glue Americans to their couches like no other type of programming can, and the survey also found that around 60-percent of men (and 49-percent of women) were more likely to throw down for an HD set solely because of the Super Bowl (and hosting a subsequent party). While we'd probably have no qualms accepting an all-expenses-paid trip to see the biggest NFL game of the year, we have to assume that folks were taking total cost into account when answering the questions, and considering the dough you'd likely lay down just to get a seat for this primetime event, wouldn't you rather bring home a svelte HDTV instead?

Okay, so it's probably not exactly shocking, especially considering the skyrocketing sales of RPTVs in the most recent quarter, and the (presumed) riots over cheap LCDs and plasmas on Black Friday. But the fact still remains that even though Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft are off tooting their own (console-based) horns, consumers are still eying those big screen televisions above all else. Reports suggest that TVs don't seem "very complicated, and they're not terribly expensive," which makes sense considering the plummeting prices of HDTVs over the past few months. Notably, the holiday's dust collectors are none other than "DVD players / recorders," presumably including those still pricey HD DVD and Blu-ray units. So if a svelte new set is atop your holiday wish list, rest assured, you're not alone.

Considering Blockbuster is already trialing HD DVD and Blu-ray rentals in brick-and-mortar locations, Netflix's full backing of the formats, and the record-setting performance of Paramount's M:I III, we'd say that opening up a bit more shelf space for next-gen flicks is a fairly intelligent business move. The Video Buyers Group's 1,700 members will launch HD DVD and Blu-ray sections this month in anticipation of holiday sales, and numerous Targets are going out of their way to not only provide easier access to next-gen store displays, but to educate consumers on the technology behind the buzz as well. Reportedly, the bullseye-clad stores will boast "signage highlighting key differences between the formats," including clear alerts that signify what hardware is necessary to play back the snazzy HD discs. So when perusing the (presumably crowded) aisles this holiday season for those must-have titles, don't be alarmed to see next-generation setups placed front and center in the electronics department -- well, behind the Wii and Playstation 3 goods, of course.