I can't really offer much on the Computer to TV connection, but there are actually several things that "TV type" people probably need to know about, and that seem to be getting mixed up and mangled in the news media.

The first thing to consider is that all major broadcast TV - the kind you get with an antenna - will be required to be digital in about a year. If you receive TV using an antenna, you will need a converter, or a "digital TV," to receive most stations.

Broadcast stations below a certain power level are not required to go digital, so you'll have to determine whether there are any "indy" stations that you want to be able to watch after the switch, in order to know whether a simple converter (digital only) will work or whether you need a "passthrough" converter to allow you to continue to receive analog broadcasts along with the new digital ones. There are expected to be very few passthrough capable converters available - quite probably not enough for all who will want one.

Since at least some stations already are broadcasting digital signals on separate "new" channels, those who want to convert early may want a passthrough converter to continue receiving both kinds of broadcast until the "official switchover date."

The FCC is offering "rebate coupons" worth $40 each to defray the cost of purchase of converters for those who need one. "Coupons" are supposed to be mailed this week, to those who've asked for one. If you haven't asked, it's probably too late until a "second round" issue comes up - at some unknown time. Prices for converters are estimated to be $50 to $70 by the Fed, but those appearing in stores thus far run toward - or above - the higher end, so far as I've seen.

The "coupons," which reportedly resemble a "prepaid debit card," must be used within 90 days of issue. There is some question of whether converters will be available in all areas to permit buying them by all the people expected to have coupons. There has been no information that I've seen on whether you can use a coupon for a purchase made prior to receiving it.

A bill is in Congress to extend the time for using the coupons, but isn't getting much interest. The FCC is "resisting" an extension, because they want to recover the funding for unused ones immediately in order to issue a "second round" of rebates for those who didn't get one. (hint - that means the second round will be at least 90 days from now, or possibly longer if the period for existing coupons is extended?)

Cable TV users, and probably Satellite users, don't need to worry about the change (they say).

The second thing to consider is the appearance of "High Definition TV." Digital does NOT NECESSARILY mean High Definition. In most cases, it just means that your TV gets the picture in a different way, but the picture is the same.

Some broadcasters, especially cable providers, already are providing "HiDef" channels with some programming in this format. You must have a "HiDef" TV set to receive and display them in the High Definition mode. Theoretically all High Definition broadcasts must default to a viewable picture on "normal" TV sets, so upgrading to the higher resolution is sort of optional. You should be able to receive the High Definition channels with your regular (digitally capable or converted) TV, but won't benefit from the "super pictures." Reliable comment on how well this actually works is "sparse."

A third thing to consider is related to the High Definition for "home movie" users on DVD. A "standard DVD" does not record enough information for "High Definition" movies, so a separate DVD format is required. There are currently two separate and incompatible "standard" formats for High Definition DVDs.

HD-DVD© is the format being pushed by some. The competing format is called "Blue-Ray©." (Blue-Ray is also seen as Blu-Ray or BluRay) Your player/burner must be specifically designed to use either of these formats in order to be able to play/record in the format chosen. There are many "players" that claim to be able to play either format. There are some "burners" that claim to be able to record in either format. There is much debate about whether any of the claims are true at a practical level.

Regardless of which DVD format is used, a High Definition TV is required to benefit from either. Again, theoretically a DVD in either format is supposed to display in "reduced definition" mode on any TV, although the player may have to be "high-def capable" in order to play the DVD. This "default signal compatibility" is debated quite a lot, with heated opinions about how well it works.

Some DVD distributors have allowed you to choose which High Def format you want, and have distributed all High Def DVDs with an accompanying "normal" DVD for those without a suitable player. This "dual distribution" appears likely to end sometime, possibly fairly soon.

Some distributors have recently decided to use one or the other format exclusively. In most recent cases the choice has been Blue-Ray. The most recently announced switch to "all one kind" was by WalMart, who says that in future they will sell only Blue-Ray High Definition DVDs.

Microsoft has recently stated that they will continue to use HD-DVD for XBox, and "it's not a problem."(?)

Although Blue-Ray High Density seems to be gaining, it's still not clear which format will ultimately "win" and both may persist for some time, perhaps indefinitely. If you don't have a dual-format high def player/burner that you've confirmed works with either the only suggestion possible is to be careful when buying (High Def) DVDs to be sure you get one you can use.

John