An HDTV primer from...Slate?
I'm just as surprised as you to think that a quality guide to buyer's basics in HDTV and related technology could be found in a political/social rag like Slate, but it's true. Fred Kaplan's article deftly navigates the acronym-infested waters of your local hi-def retailer's showroom and arms you with easy answers to the basics of display technology (DLP vs. plasma vs. LCD vs. projecton variants vs....ah, forget it), price points, and even a good tip on professional HDTV calibration (hint: have it done).
I haven't taken the plunge yet myself, but this was definitely helpful. I had a feeling "EDTV" was crap, and this piece removed all doubt!