Long before he was my grandfather, Grandpa splurged on an expensive piece of new technology called a television because his beloved Detroit Tigers made the World Series. My not-so-beloved Dolphins didn't make the Super Bowl this year, so I didn't follow suit and buy a pricey high-definition television (HDTV) set. But I borrowed one for my Super Bowl party to preview my generation's TV transition. The early verdict: a helluva TV, but not much HD.
One does not tread lightly into HDTV. Just handing over the credit card for a TV that costs $5,499--the price of my Panasonic 56-in. projection set--takes...