HDTV in a word? Brilliant. And I mean, really brilliant.

High Definition Television or HDTV is a step up from standard TV. Yes, HD is digital, but not all digital TV's are HD. It is the resolution that makes HDTV brilliant.

At the lower end, and low in the this case is a very relative term, HDTV has a minimum resolution of 1,280 pixles by 720 pixles and up to 1,920 by 1,080 pixles. Compare that to 872 x 480 for standard definintion television (SDTV).

In real terms, the difference in resolution amounts to a brighter, sharper image with increased detail like you have never seen. With HDTV, colours really pop out. Even sound improves with HD.

bad rap

If you've been on the fence before, then this is the time to invest in HD. Your main options include LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or plasma. There was a time that plasma got a bad rap for on-screen burn out, higher electricity consumption and lower life spans. But as technology has improved, so has plasma. Blacks are black with plasma, the viewing angle is wider and image quality is second to none.

Plasmas, especially at larger sizes, are consistently more expensive than LCDs. LCDs look great, are super thin and very durable. Sure, they have a smaller viewing angle and dull blacks compared to plasma, but can you really tell? The average user cannot. Spend a little more to cop an LED LCD and you may never miss a plasma screen.

There are so many choices; just about every major TV manufacturer offers an HDTV. But, having the set top box alone is not enough, you need an HD source. Meaning, your need HD going into your TV to get HD out.

good source

Sure, regular cable, DVDs and other images will look better on an HDTV as opposed to SDTV. But to really enjoy the fabulous high definition picture, you will need a high- definition source.

Roll out the Blue-ray player and plug in the special cables to immerse yourself in a high definition viewing experience. Not prepared to invest in a bunch of environmentally unfriendly discs? Then perhaps an HD cable box is your best bet. Currently only Flow offers HD cable boxes that allow you to watch up to 20 HD channels.

In addition to the box, you will need the right cables. HDTV requires HDMI cables to take the signal from the source to the TV, but you can save money and get the cheaper HDMI cables, since price doesn't affect quality. And you also need HD content; though the channel is HD, not every single programme is broadcast in HD. Understandably, some programmes are still aired in SD (that will change soon enough).

There was a time to wait. I still wouldn't buy a 3D TV. But HDTV is fast becoming the new standard TV. If you are going to wake up and turn on the TV, get home and turn on the TV and leave the TV on while you fall asleep in bed, don't you think you should get the best TV there is? I definitely agree.

Tech Glitch: Billy wants to know, "how can I reboot my BlackBerry without doing a battery pull?"

Tech Fix: A soft reboot is much easier than a hard battery pull, but requires some creative finger work. Press the Alt key, the right Shift key and the Delete key simultaneously then wait up to 15 minutes for your handset to restart.

Got a tech glitch, get your tech fix at: facebook.com/carlettedeleon. Listen to Tech Time on FAME FM each Tuesday morning at 8:15 a.m.