As your faithful and dutiful technology reporter, I am required to get hands-on experience with a myriad of tech toys.  One such toy, about which I did painstaking research (some of it shared with you in this space), is the high definition television (HDTV).  In pursuit of excellence in journalism (and, of course, having nothing to do with the Red Sox World Series run or the impending Super Bowl appearance by the New England Patriots), we recently replaced our six-year-old standard-definition TV with an HDTV model.  As inferred by the title of this column, the experience has been filled with frustration, exhilaration, anticipation and disappointment.

AGONY.  Deciding which HDTV to get.  So many specifications.  Projection or flat panel?  We chose flat panel.  LCD or Plasma?  We chose LCD.  New 120 Hz refresh rate and LED (Light Emitting Diode) backlight?  Since the 120 Hz and LED models exact a $900 premium, we chose 60Hz and light bulbs.  What about size?  Big on the wall of the local electronics superstore is HUGE in the family room, that’s all I can say.

ECSTASY.  Viewing programming in high definition (especially sports in the 1080i format) is breathtaking.  You’re there.  On the 50-yard line.  On the Serengeti plains.  Stunning.

AGONY.  Standard definition programming, viewed on an HDTV, is ugly.  No way around it.  It’s watchable, and if you didn’t have the glorious HD channels just up the dial to compare it to, it would be passable.

While we’re on the subject of channels – SUSCOMM - I MEAN – COMCAST - IT’S TIME TO GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER!  Twelve channels of HD isn’t going to cut it.  Especially when you’re missing FOX HD, which, yes, broadcast the World Series, and yes, is scheduled to broadcast the Super Bowl in February.  Those “satellite guys” your commercials impune have 70 HD channels right now.  Amazingly, they’re able to include FOX HD, by some miracle of orbital technology.  They say they’ll have over 100 channels by year’s end.  Comcast, shed those Susquehanna shackles and get with the program (pun intended)!