Ultimate HDTV buying guide

Video gaming and computer tips

DVDs aren't the only non-TV content that's likely to be shown on the tube. Here are a few other pointers on what to look for in a television that'll do multimedia duty.

Game consoles
The sweet graphics of the Xbox, the PlayStation, and the GameCube, not to mention the Xbox 360, the PlayStation3, and the Wii, can take full advantage of high-end televisions, but even inexpensive sets do best with a few added features in the mix.

• Front-panel inputs. A set of A/V inputs on the front or side panel of a TV makes hooking up and disconnecting a game console--or a camcorder--much easier.
  
  
• Picture preset. Many TVs come with picture presets that affect the contrast, brightness, and other controls. Some presets crank those values sky-high to provide a more intense picture. If you like that bright image, check out sets with Game, Vivid, or Sports presets.
  
  
• S-Video inputs. Console graphics look best through better connections, so you should at least your hook up your game system via an S-Video connection instead of the standard composite-video cable that ships with the system.
  
  

• Component-video inputs. For a big improvement in gaming video quality, step up to a TV with component video inputs. The downside is that you'll have to buy a special adapter and cables that run between $10 and $60. Some of these adapters also include connections for digital sound, but you'll need a home-theater system or a surround-sound setup with an optical digital connection and support for Dolby Digital sound to take advantage of the superior sonics.
  
  
• HDMI inputs. For now only the PlayStation3 has an HDMI output, providing the best-quality video connection to compatible HDTVs. In reality though, most people have a difficult time telling the difference between a picture delivered over component video and one that comes via HDMI.
  
  
• Burn-in. Some high-end TVs, namely plasma and CRT-based rear-projection sets, can become permanently scarred by very bright, stationary images that remain on the screen for a long time; think of a paused game or that constant score/life-bar/ammo-count graphic. However, we consider the danger of burn-in to be greatly exaggerated and plasmas and CRT-based RPTVs to be fine candidates for all but the heaviest gaming situations.
  
  

Computers
Today's televisions have plenty of connections and capabilities, and fixed-pixel displays usually make excellent computer monitors. If you want to use your TV as a big monitor for games, Web surfing, and other tasks, here are a few tips:

• Get S-Video at least. S-Video inputs will improve the look of the desktop on a TV, although it still won't look nearly as good as your standard monitor.
  
  
• 640x480 is the max. 640x480 is the max for tubes. You won't get a higher resolution than 640x480 with most tube televisions. DLP and LCD-based rear-projection TVs and flat-panel LCD and plasma televisions, on the other hand, can almost always display computer images at higher resolutions.
  
  
• VGA input = computer-friendly. Speaking of high-end TVs, if you're serious about using your set as a big monitor for standard software, look for a VGA-style RGB input, just like the kind your computer monitor uses. Digital DVI inputs are even better, and often you can use a TV's HDMI input with a special adapter and maybe a little tweaking to display images from your computer's DVI output.