Integrated HDTV Can Work Without Additional Equipment
For those who remember when television first came out that were considered cable ready, they know that it meant more than having the connector for the coaxial cable built into the set. Essentially meant that most cable channels were accessible through the tuner built into the set and similarly, an integrated HDTV means that the tuner for high definition programming has been included into the television. While this may not be important to those who subscribe to cable or satellite television services, it can be important to those that rely on broadcast television for their signals.
Confusion may enter the picture since many of the integrated HDTV sets available today are also capable of receiving either digital or analog signals, even with the understanding that all broadcasts will be in digital after the beginning of 2009. The need for analog tuners will basically be obsolete following the change, but with many consumers unable or unwilling to buy a new digital high definition television set, the sales of integrated HDTV only makes sense.
Even those with a high definition television will not be able to take advantage of the new technology without a digital input signal. Despite the mandate of all digital broadcasting, owners of analog sets will still be able to watch television with an integrated HDTV, provided they have a converter box that transforms the digital input into analog.
Integration May Put End To Additional Converters
Those who subscribe to digital television services may better appreciate owning an integrated HDTV as it should eliminate the need for additional converter boxes. With the tuner built into the television set, the channels can be selected using the built in tuner. Unlike today, where a cable or satellite box is required to select the channel for viewing, while the television's tuner remains on one selected channel, typically channel three of four.
An integrated HDTV should also have inputs for other devices to be viewed through the television such as video games, digital disk players, even some of the older videocassette players. Without these capabilities, many of the components often connected to a television will become useless with a new integrated HDTV.
One of the biggest advantages to owning an integrated HDTV is the lower number of remote controls that will be required. Some televisions are not capable of working will all other devices so consumers will have a remote control for their television, the cable or satellite box, their DVD player and their video player, causing confusion and frustration if one of them becomes lost.
