Television buying guide

clipped from reviews.cnet.com Key television features and connectivity options Updated February 13, 2009 Inputs and outputs Perhaps the single most confusing item on a TV spec sheet is the forest of inputs and outputs used to hook up the set to other equipment. The following trail of breadcrumbs, arranged in order of video quality, should help put you on the right connectivity path... Jack Cable Name Typical use Level of video quality RF aka radio frequency; antenna; cable; screw type; F-pin Antennae, VCRs, cable and satellite boxes Lowest, Highest (digital) for HDTV tuners Composite Video aka yellow video; video; A/V (when combined with audio jacks) Cable and satellite boxes, VCRs, DVD players, game consoles Low S-Video aka DIN 4 Cable and satellite boxes, S-VHS VCRs, DVD players, game consoles Medium Component-video aka component; Y, Pb, Pr; Y, Cb, Cr; broadband component; 1080i; 720p; HDTV HD cable and satellite boxes, DVD players, HDTV tuners, Blu-ray and HD DVD players, game consoles, other HD sources High RGB Connections can also be made through RCA or BNC-type connectors, and adapters are available between all of them aka PC, computer, VGA; 15-pin D-sub; RGB-HV Computers, video processors High FireWire aka IEEE 1394; iLink some HDTV tuners, D-VHS VCRs Highest (digital) DVI-D with HDCP aka DVI-D; Digital Visual Interface; High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection Computers; older HD cable and satellite boxes, HDTV tuners and DVD players Highest (digital HDMI FAQ Antennae, VCRs, cable and satellite boxes aka High-Definition Multimedia Interface HD cable and satellite boxes, DVD players, HDTV tuners, Blu-ray and HD DVD players, game consoles, computers, other HD sources Highest (digital)