Tips for Holiday HDTV Shopping

As someone helping relatives purchase HDTVs this holiday season, I thought it would be worthwhile to post some of the things I’ve learned:

1. Prices have dropped into the highly-reasonable range. You can easily get a 32″ HDTV display for under $1,000, and I’ve already seen Black Friday ads for sets over 40″ in the same range.
2. CNET Reviews is still the best place I’ve found for comprehensive HDTV coverage. Even if the site doesn’t have a review of the exact model you’re looking for, the editors often compare models to ones they have reviewed by the same brand, giving you a good sense of what you’re likely to get. (Samsung gets high marks.)
3. Among models of the same size range and comparable picture quality, some of the most common differentiators include the number of HDMI ports, whether or not there’s a USB port, and whether or not there’s a swivel stand.
4. Looking for the best-selling HDTVs? EngadgetHD points out that Samsung takes the cake with HDTVs overall in North America, squeezing out Vizio, which has dropped to second.
5. HD Guru has a great post on what to look for when you’re browsing HDTVs in person. Print it out and take it with you to the store.
6. EngadgetHD is a phenomenal source for overall HDTV info. Yeah, that’s kind of obvious, but if you’re looking to become an expert on HD beyond the holiday season, this will give you the wisdom you need.