The week before the Super Bowl is one of the biggest sales periods for retailers for televisions.

But this year, things are a lot more complicated for those wanting to upgrade before the big game.

That's because high definition television, or HDTV, has made it into the national lexicon, with a lot of confusion as to what that means.

Well, consider this a primer if you want to get a new set and see the game in the best way possible, and get it done by kickoff about 6:25 p.m. Sunday. (That's the reason that this column is running a few days earlier than normal. I'll be glued to the set watching the New England Patriots, my childhood team).

First, a word about the technology. On the proper set, it's everything you could ever imagine. It makes the picture from a DVD look fuzzy; it's that sharp, bright and clear. In fact, an HDTV signal carries 10 times the information of a standard TV signal or even a commercial DVD, making the picture sharper but also wider.

The sound signal is also bigger, creating true surround sound.

Bryan Bellerjeau, a West Chester computer programmer, is planning to stay home with his wife to watch the game on his HDTV, preferring the great picture to plates of Buffalo wings and crowds around the TV.

"Oh yeah," he says with glee when asked if he is pleased with the product. "I am more than satisfied. I'd rather do this than go out with the crowds to a bar or someone's house."

But the key phrase here is "on the proper set." Don't expect to buy a new 28-incher with a standard tube and expect to be able to get HDTV. There's a reason why my local Circuit City has moved the traditional projection big screen TVs to the back of the store. A lot of TV ads may say a set is "digital-ready," but ask to see if it is truly HDTV compatible with component video inputs (three different plugs for video alone).

From there, think at least three feet diagonal width and go from there, upwards of 50 inches. And expect to pay at least $2,500 for a decent set, and that's before you even consider which kind you want.

Pros and cons

Currently, there are three major styles that are HDTV ready, and all have positives and negatives.

The one that catches everyone's eye is plasma, especially since these sets are less than a foot thin and can be hung on the wall much like a picture.

Such sets wear out eventually, however, just like a tube, with the color fading and no possibility of repair. And if one image is left on for a long period of time, it can "burn" into the screen.

And to my eyes, the picture looks a bit fuzzy with an HDTV signal compared with the other two options.

Those are liquid crystal display (LCD), which uses the same technology as old Casio digital watches, just a whole lot better, and something called digital light projection (DLP), which to me, had the best picture.

The last technology uses a light bulb and micro mirrors to project onto a perfectly flat screen.

DLP and LCD sets are about the same price as plasma, but their projection light bulbs burn out after a couple of years and have to be replaced for at least $200, but with no loss in picture quality. And while at 17 inches thin and 70 pounds, they are relatively tiny compared to their projection big screen ancestors, they are not as sleek and sexy as a plasma set.

There are some tube TVs that are HDTV ready as well, but they are bulkier and do not have a true flat screen. Nor do most have the 16:9 wide screen resolution that HDTV features.

If I had the cash, I'd get the 43-inch Samsung Tantus DLP I saw at Circuit City for about $3,200. Sealing the deal: I saw the same set in the showroom at M. Alan Associates Inc., the Blue Ash-based Ferrari of home theater installation, which is like a playground for audio/visual geeks like myself.

Make your own decision, however, based on what looks good to you and how much room you have.

By the way, M. Alan president Mark Laine also pointed out that beginning in July, all TVs over 36 inches are required to be HDTV ready, for those of you wanting to wait.

Signal choices

Confused yet? There are more choices to make, specifically getting the signal.

Since the cable/satellite industry is just now starting to cope with the possibilities HDTV presents, the industry is in the process of reinventing itself, making the selection process tougher.

If you want to get the signal in time for the game, cable is the only way to go. Satellite providers such as DirecTV require HDTV customers to buy a new decoder and dish that can go for as much as $400 combined, excluding installation fees. The Dish Network is offering a free HDTV receiver and a digital video recorder with its $10 monthly service, however, for new subscribers.

Local channels also are not included. In fact, local satellite subscribers in towns that do not have stations owned by the networks, such as Cincinnati, need waivers to get local feeds via satellite.

It's either that, or use a roof antenna or "rabbit ears" to get the signal, which then probably requires a new HDTV tuner if your new set is only a monitor, as most are nowadays.

Still, the overall quality and price of satellite might make it an alternative over the long run for current subscribers, especially if the antenna option is chosen for local channels.

As for cable, Time Warner Cable and Insight Communications both offer free HDTV programming as well as premium packages, while Adelphia has not yet upgraded to offer HDTV.

All the network stations, except the local Fox affiliate, are broadcasting in HDTV, as are the local public television stations, but only on cable. CBS appears to offer the most shows on HDTV, and that network has the Super Bowl this year, although I'm hoping they don't use a lot of shots from "cable cam."

Cable and satellite offer HBO and Showtime in HD at no extra charge to those already subscribing to those premium channels, and satellite and Insight offer ESPN and some sports for extra charges.

Program offerings

As for other programming, nature stuff looks really cool on the Discovery Channel's HD offering, while the other channels are an amalgamation of old movies and different programming including NHL hockey and NBA basketball. It kind of reminds me of the early days of cable, which featured a lot of bad programming, even on the early HBO. But that will get better quickly, especially with federal regulators pushing to improve the product.

Insight and Time Warner Cable say that they can get someone hooked up by game time if someone were to buy a new set this weekend. Time Warner Cable says to go to one of its area service centers to switch out their digital cable box for an HDTV box. Northern Kentucky customers on Insight can get HDTV installed free up until 2 p.m. Sunday by making an appointment, with that company saying it prefers to install the new technology itself to cut down on customer disappointment if a self-install doesn't work. Insight's local operations director Jeff Seidensaden says that he even has a special team of installers on call for HDTV installations for the Super Bowl.

So if you do want to catch the game in its full glory and have the money to spend, I've got two words for you:

Go Pats!