Your pure old fashion analogue tvs are not compatible with those converter boxes. So yes, your still going to have to buy a new set. Btw, your old fashion analogue tvs already display a 480i picture. To display a 480p piture
(converted from 480i) involves a digital tv my friend.

I was expecting you to say Philips!

It seems Sony has done very good job with marketing.

I don't know why but I both love and hate Sony but I feel that some of their products are overpriced.

I don't know if the systems are different on that side of the Atlantic, but here in Finland (where analogue TV will be gone next year) all you need is a converter box and you'll be fine. If the U.S. system is indeed going to be HDTV only then the case is of course different.

I'm currently putting off buying a new TV until I know I can buy (a reasonably-priced) one that has a built-in digital cable tuner which will work glitch-free with the Finnish system... something that not many manufacturers can currently offer.

I edited my reply to klier. You won`t need to convert a 480i signal. Your analogue tvs does that already. This is why you see those vertial black lines
in the set because it`s an analogue signal. To convert to a 480p signal
you will infact need a digital tv because a progressive image requires at least
800 lines of resolution. An analogue tv can`t display 800 lines. Converter boxes cannot add more lines to an analogue tv set.

HEY hey!!

I would wait a moment before buying a flat screen!!!

wait for the first HDMI's one if you want that your screen to be compatible with BlueRay or HD DVD's movies!!!

If you don't....you could't watch them in full HD images....
so,.,...

All the models i 'm looking at have HDMI.

I 'm also considering Samsung lately. This model is an award winner:



It's the LE32M61B that won an EISA award for best LCD:

- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

It has nothing to do with marketing for me. I love the look of the system, the specs are all-inclusive and it is a Sony, which just looks cool with my Sony surround/entertainment system.

Overall, I'd go with Panasonic, Samsung, Philips or Sony for my tv. Very good quality!

Almost every new HD tv has HDMI ports (here in Europe at least) The Samsung Yannis showed and 'my' Bravia both have it, along with every other port you can think of (composite, scart, s-video, component, PC hookup, etc, etc.)