Flat panel televisions are quickly becoming quite commonplace on store shelves and in consumers' homes. Amongst the two types of flat panel televisions, LCD and Plasma, the one that is making the biggest market impact is LCD. On the following page I answer the question: Can I use an LCD Television as a Computer Monitor? Also, be sure to check out my complete LCD Television FAQs.

Wal-Mart continues to make inroads into Best Buy and Circuit City territory with an increased emphasis in consumer electronics, specifically flat panel LCD and Plasma televisions. With Wal-Mart's massive buying power and store presence in both large cities and smaller rural communities, the competitive pressure on mainstream consumer electronics retailers continues to increase. For all the details, check out the report from Business Week.

Related Story: JVC and Kenwood Join Forces - Japan Victor Corporation (JVC), the developer of VHS and a well-known maker of camcorders and home video products, and Kenwood, one of the most familiar brands in car audio products, have consolidated to form a new company: JVC-Kenwood Holdings. For more details, check out the report from Audioholics.

Pioneer is a very recognizable brand name in Home Theater Receivers, DVD players, and Plasma Television, but they now hope to make a mark in Video Projection with the introduction of its Elite Kuro Projector, the PRO-FPJ1. Specifics are still to come with regards to Lumens, Contrast Ratio, and other features and functions. So far, Pioneer has revealed that the new projector is based on LCOS technology (which is a variant of LCD), and will have 1920x1080 (1080p) native pixel resolution, two HDMI 1.3a inputs, and an extensive Lens Shift function. The expected price for the new projector will be $9,000, which is actually reasonable for the high-end market that Pioneer is targeting. Stay tuned for more details as they become available. For more information that is known so far, check out the Official Pioneer Kuro Projector Announcement.

If your desire to own a large screen HDTV has dampened due to an econmonic downturn, don't fret. The Westinghouse Digital TX-42F430S may just be the answer. Featuring a large 42-inch screen with (1920x1080) 1080p native resolution, and a street price less than $1,200, this LCD TV has been getting a good response from consumers. Amongst its features are 1080p processing and input capability, 4 HDMI inputs, and a hi-res VGA PC monitor input. Also, the TX-42F430S also has built-in ATSC and QAM tuners which allow access to both over-the-air and unscrambled cable High Definition content. This set doesn't quite the deliver the impressive black levels you might find on a Sony or Samsung, but it produces very good detail and color for the price.

Is price the main thing that is stopping you from buying a Blu-ray Disc player? If you are willing to forgo brand names, such as Panasonic, Samsung, and Sony, you may be able to find a Magnavox or Sylvania (both made by Funai) branded Blu-ray Disc player at Wal-mart for less than $300. The question is whether this move by both Funai and Walmart will convince other Blu-ray Disc player manufacturers to lower their prices to stay competitive. For more details, check out the report from TV Predictions.

Related Story: New Study Sheds Light on Blu-ray and HDTV Ownership Trends (Audioholics)

For those that are not familiar with Criterion, they are the leading distributor of classic films from around the World on DVD that emphasize quality transfers, remastered picture and sound, and excellent historcial supplementary materials that are a cut above the traditional DVD releases from mainstream studios. I for one, have been waiting to see what Criterion does with access to high definition disc release capability. This move promises to be a welcome addition to the home theater experience. For more details on the Criterion's upcoming high-def releases in Blu-ray, check out the report from High Def Digest.

A subwoofer is a speaker that is specifically designed only to reproduce the lowest of audible frequencies. For more details on subwoofers, refer to my reference articles: Subwoofers - What You Need To Know and Before You Buy A Subwoofer.

For additional terms and definitions, check out my Home Theater Glossary

A new entry in the Home Theater-in-a-box category is the Pioneer Elite HTS-LX70. With its glossy jet-black subwoofer-receiver combination module and extra-small cubic-style speakers, this system is well designed to partner with Flat Panel Televisions and Blu-ray disc players. The HTS-LX70 is very functional for home theater applications with its built-in Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoders and HDMI 1080p pass through connectivity. However, is it right for you? For more details, check out my Short and Full Reviews and also my HTS-LX70 Photo Gallery.

Looking for a great gift for your favorite Grad? If so, then consider giving a home theater gift. Check out my list of practical and affordable Home Theater Gifts For Grads.

Flat panel televisions are quickly becoming quite commonplace on store shelves and in consumers' homes. Amongst the two types of flat panel televisions, LCD and Plasma, the one that is making the biggest market impact is LCD. On following page, I answer the question: Do LCD TVs Come in Larger Screen Sizes, Like Plasma TVs? Also, be sure to check out my complete LCD Television FAQs

If you own an LCD TV, what size screen does it have? Let the rest of us know by clicking on the "comments link" below.