4 Reasons to Buy a High-Def TV Now

Nearly a quarter of U.S. households already own a high-definition television, according to market researcher Frank Magid Associates. And consumers are expected to buy another 23.7 million HDTV sets this year, predicts trade group Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). "At this point, HDTV almost is standard TV," says David Katzmaier, senior editor for electronics review site CNET (CNET). "Consumers have embraced it."

Part of the draw: the government-mandated switch from analog to digital television broadcasts slated for next February. Even though the new format has nothing to do with HD — digital TV is a standard definition signal that offers better sound and picture while using less of the broadcast spectrum — some consumers see the changeover as a good excuse to upgrade to a high-def set, says Megan Pollock, a spokeswoman for CEA. Sweetening the deal, cable and satellite providers plan to offer more HD content post-switch because digital signals allow for simultaneous broadcasts of a show in standard- and high-definition.

Even if shoppers wish to forgo buying an HDTV, they won't have much of a choice. "Just try to find one that isn't HDTV these days," says Rob Enderle, president of technology advisory firm Enderle Group in San Jose, Calif. "There aren't that many left anymore."

Typically, the best time to buy televisions and other electronics is around the holidays when retailers offer bonanza sales, from Black Friday door-busters to post-holiday clearance sales. This year, however, both Enderle and Pollock believe bargain-hunters shouldn't wait until the end of the year.

Here are four reasons why it's best to buy a high-def TV now: