HDTV: Which comes first, programming or sets?

The number of HD channels is still small. But the recent inclusion by networks of prime-time offerings has put HD on many people's radar. BY FRANK AHRENS Washington Post Service
For much of the past decade, there has been something of a chicken-and-egg scenario with high-definition television, or HDTV: Consumers weren't buying the very expensive HD television sets because there was so little HD programming. On the other side, television networks said it was not worthwhile to produce pricier HD programming because no one was buying HD sets.
Now, that standoff is starting to change.
The number of channels delivered in HD is still small -- usually about a dozen or so on a cable or satellite lineup. But the recent inclusion of the major networks and their prime-time offerings -- American Idol, Desperate Housewives, CSI and ER, among others -- has put HD on the radar of mainstream viewers.

Get HDTV on Your Laptop

So your buddy with the new plasma TV won't shut up about how great the game looks in high-def. He's right it is like watching a whole new sport. But you don't have to splurge on a 50-inch flat screen to quell your HD envy. Stations across the country broadcast HD signals over the air, absolutely free. And since most laptop screens already have enough resolution to display high-def, all you need is an HD tuner that plugs into a USB port on your Mac or PC, and you can enjoy the ultracrisp picture at home or away. Let's see Mr. Plasma do that.
How to get more stations and better reception: Depending where you live, a bigger indoor antenna, like the Zenith ZHDTV1 ($40; zenith.com), may improve your HD signal. Place it in a window and point it toward the nearest broadcast tower. Find more antenna tips at antennaweb.org.