My husband and I bought a high-definition-capable television two years ago or more now. Our old television was simply getting old, with little glitches and a low-quality picture, and it was time to look in to getting a new model. At the time, it seemed that HDTV was right around the corner, so it would have been remiss to not pick up a new TV that was capable of receiving high definition transmissions. So we put out the extra money in the hopes of saving money later when we didn't have to buy an HDTV-converter. I have to admit that I had to be convinced, whereas my husband was sold on the idea before we even entered the store. In the end, though, I saw the value of purchasing the high-definition model, even if it cost quite a bit more.

Yet the deadline for high definition transmissions keeps getting pushed back. I don't remember the exact dates, but it seems like HDTV was already supposed to be here by 2005, if not a year or two before. But now I hear that stations still have a couple of years or more before they will be forced to convert to the digital format for their broadcasts. I can understand that there are difficulties involved in the switch, but I feel like this has been dragged on way too long. But maybe I'm just bitter because I paid extra money for a feature on my television that I can't use yet.

Now I'm not a huge television watcher, but I'm intrigued by the possibilities of high-definition television. From what I've heard, HDTV offers crystal-clear pictures and channels of specialized programming enabled by the digital transmission. I think it could definitely make for a better television-watching experience.

Yet even though my television set hasn't been able to fulfill its high-definition promise, televisions that are equipped for high-definition digital transmissions are helpful in other areas. First, since HDTV will be broadcast in widescreen, HDTV-capable televisions come with widescreen-dimension screens. This is perfect for watching DVDs of the latest Hollywood releases as they were meant to be seen. But you can also change the screen settings to the standard 4:3 ratio so that you can watch network television and pan and scan DVDs without having to watch strangely stretched-out characters.

The picture quality of an HD television is also superior. Now, if you use an antenna, the picture won't suddenly be crystal clear, but digital cable and satellite transmissions should look great. The value of this would depend on what kinds of programs you prefer to watch, but imagine a nature show or sporting event that looked like it was taking place right in front of you.

I believe that some digital cable and satellite providers currently provide high-definition channels. So while you're buying an HDTV for future use, you can also take advantage of some programming right now.

So overall, I wouldn't go out of your way to buy a high-definition television, but if you're otherwise in the market for a new TV set, you should definitely consider an HDTV, especially as prices continue to drop.