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Planning to buy an HDTV? Slow down, make sure you get what you want without spending a fortune!

In your typical home theater system, you have a few key pieces:
* A receiver for getting antenna, cable, or satellite signals from the world outside into your TV
* A device for recording shows (a digital video recorder, like a TiVo, or VCR for those still languishing in the 20th century)

* A device for playing pre-recorded movies (a DVD or VCR)
* The television for watching it all.
* Optionally, speakers to get better sound out of it.
* Cables and wires to connect everything together

Each of the above items is considered a "component" of your home entertainment system. What you have to understand about high definition television, or HDTV, is that it changes the ballgame for every single component in your system. And in 2010, standard network television companies are required by law to stop broadcasting low-definition signals. That means your old system won't work without some modifications.

Sounds like an economic recovery package for the electronics industry? It is. But it's also a chance to take a leap forward in entertainment and get the best visual signal for your buck. HDTV looks and sounds better than standard television, but it sure has some quirks. Here's a run-down of some of those quirks:

* Your HDTV receiver or tuner is either provided by your cable or satellite provider, or you can buy one that hooks up to your television if you don't have cable. That's not such a tough one, but you need to be aware that you might need special cables between your receiver and the antenna or satellite dish. And you'll definitely need a special cable going into the HD television itself.
* Your recorder, even your brand new DVR that you just bought three years ago, might not work with HD. The best way to tell is to ask the manufacturer. Even if it has a special HDMI cable plug in the back, it might not actually record in high definition.
* Did you run out and buy that $70 DVD player when it went on sale at Wal-Mart five years ago? Guess what? Obsolete! In fact, DVDs are where the battle lines have been drawn, and in a very confusing way! More on that in a minute.
* The television must be a HDTV. With many high definition TVs, you can plug in your computer to use it as a high definition monitor.
* Your speakers are probably fine, but you can, in fact, buy high definition speakers for your HDTV theater.
* Finally, the cables. I mentioned this earlier, but you need a special HDMI cable running

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