But for a lot of people, HDTV hasn’t delivered a ready-made source for transcendent experiences in front of the tube. Instead, people have gone shopping for a TV and found themselves surrounded by confusing abbreviations and too many choices. Some have even hooked up their new HDTV sets only to discover that the picture doesn’t look good. Fortunately, a few basic facts easily dispel all of this confusion.

In this article, we’ll look at the differences between analog, digital and high-definition, explain the acronyms and resolution levels and give you the facts on the United States transition to all-digital television. We’ll also tell you exactly what you need to know if you’re thinking about upgrading to HDTV.