Today I finally broke down and bought a high-definition TV. Our 15 year-old Sony 27" finally died, and it just wasn't worth fixing anymore. So I figured I should get something that we can use for the next 10 years. We only get Time Warner's "Standard" package: about 75 channels of analog programming that doesn't require a set-top box (I hate the whole concept of a set-top box). No HD programming, and I don't see any in our immediate future. But I want the option, hence a HD TV.
I settled on the Vizio VX37L, a 37" LCD TV that does 720p. It's a good entry-level HD TV and it was relatively inexpensive. My HD expert at work recommended it. I figure that if we ever get HD programming, I can move it into the bedroom, and get a bigger, better set for the living room. In the meantime, I can watch letterbox films in full wide screen mode.
The VX37L has decent specs and gets pretty good reviews. It's got HDMI inputs, and has a built-in QAM tuner, so I was able to just hook it up to my cable outlet and see all the digital channels Time Warner transmits free in this area. That includes HD for all the local channels, so I can see some HD programs. The problem now is that I'm so used to my TiVo that I can't watch TV in real time, and our model won't do HD. I thought about springing for the TiVo HD, but there are issues with it and our cable system because Time Warner is ignoring the rule that they have to support CableCard devices: in this area they use switched video network (SVN) that makes CableCards completely useless. TiVo and the cable industry just announced a dongle that will be available in 1Q2008 that will allow the TiVo HD to work with SVN, but I'll wait to see it before I jump. Maybe then I'll spring for one of the HD cable packages, and send even more of my money to Time Warner each month.