HDTV For Dummies (Paperback)

by Danny Briere (Author), Pat Hurley (Author) "Since the transition to color TV in the 1950s and '60s, nothing - nothing!! - has had as much impact on the TV world as..." (more)
Key Phrases: professional calibration, component video cables, external tuner, Audio Audio, Dish Network, Geek Stuff (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Get HDTV and get connected without getting confused!

Buy wisely, surround yourself with sound, watch your movies in HD, and more.

If HDTV looks appealing but the mountain of mumbo-jumbo has you peeling out the door, take heart! Finally, here's a plain-English explanation of what HDTV is and how to choose one, hook it up, locate and access programming sources, and even how to connect your movie machines and Xbox for even more HD fun.

Discover how to:

• Plan your HDTV system and choose the right equipment.
• Connect to programming sources.
• Add A/V entertainment gear and accessories.
• Access HDTV over your home network.

From the Back Cover
Get HDTV and get connected without getting confused!

Buy wisely, surround yourself with sound, watch your movies in HD, and more

If HDTV looks appealing but the mountain of mumbo-jumbo has you peeling out the door, take heart! Finally, here's a plain-English explanation of what HDTV is and how to choose one, hook it up, locate and access programming sources, and even how to connect your movie machines and Xbox for even more HD fun.

Discover how to

• Plan your HDTV system and choose the right equipment
• Connect to programming sources
• Add A/V entertainment gear and accessories
• Get HD action on your Xbox®
• Access HDTV over your home network

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies (November 19, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764575864
• ISBN-13: 978-0764575860
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #770,737 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Full of valuable info-- read it cover to cover, January 12, 2005

By	M. Layne (Indianapolis) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I can't stress enough what a great book this really is. If you're going to spend $$ on an HDTV, you owe it to yourself to buy this book first and make sure you're making the best choice for you. This book clears up all of the confusion you'll be faced with at the store-- unscrambles the acronymns, explains the difference between HDTV, EDTV, and SDTV and defines all of the confusing features.

Also great for explaining how to set up your connections to all of your other home entertainment devices and your home network if you want to do that-- getting the right cables, configuring them optimally for your application.

And the diagrams!-- so easy to understand! So much better than what you'll see in the manuals-- worth well over the price of the book on their own.

Information in here on selecting the right DVR options for you, too-- and good stuff for the DIY'er if you already have broadband and don't want to purchase your DVR and service from the cable company.

Anyone who sells HDTVs should read this book cover to cover and have it on hand as a recommendation to customers.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HDTV Confusion Erased, February 3, 2006

By	Frank Depalma "Frank" (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews

I know that for me the price was a drop in the bucket compared to my equipment and I enjoy the confidence that I'm getting the most from my investment - I even understand what 1080i means!

If you're even thinking of making the jump to HDTV this is the right guide for you. It'll take away the confusion of acronyms, interconnections, and formats to let you get the most out of whatever set you buy.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Education, March 1, 2006

By	R. Barry Bischoff (Peoria, AZ USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I ordered HDTV for Dummies, expecting to learn a little bit about purchasing an HDTV and got a much better education than I expected. Thanks to the book I will now, 1) wait for a 1080P quality set, 2) make sure I use digital connections and 3) know how to connect a surround sound system. I recommend this book to anyone thinking about upgrading to HDTV.