Michael Patrick Brady

My article on HDTV holiday deals ran today at Forbes.com. In it, I cover the best buys in budget, mainstream, and cutting-edge high-definition televisions. The rough distinctions between these three classes are 720p, 1080p, and 120 Hertz, respectively.

Size is not much of a limiter, as there are big-screen plasmas still available for bargain prices, allowing consumers to grab decent, 50-inch TVs for well under $1,000.

I do dig into 120 Hertz a little bit, basically casting it much the same way I would have for 1080p last year: while technically helpful, most consumers probably won’t see the benefit as worth the price premium that comes along with it. Particularly on smaller or medium-sized televisions. It’s a nice option to have, but not at all essential for most viewers. So people shouldn’t feel like they’re shortchanging themselves if they decide to pass on 120Hz.