Oddly, if you're into DVDs, that's the HD medium that will more quickly support the 1080p standard that most of the better LCDs are offering this season. Watching 1080p video played on a 1080p DVR to a 1080p LCD is a transforming experience; it leaves 720p high-def cable TV on a plasma screen far back in the dust.

Of course, next year, plasma HDTVs will probably be available in 1080p. The question is, how much of the future do you want to buy? LCDs are more expensive too.

Some advantages of LCDs you might not hear about at Best Buy or its ilk are that they use less power, throw off less heat and weigh less. LCD is also a far more proven technology when it comes to reliability. We don't know how long plasma TVs will really last in the real world. That's a test in the making.

Confused? You can't go wrong with either of the HDTVs in the Cool Stuff Gift Guide. And the Sony KDL-46XBR2 (available online from $2,650 to $3,800) is an excellent choice.

-- Scot Finnie