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HDTV is Digital Confusion to Consumers

USA Today reports that digital confusion frustrates TV buyers -- Consumers snapped up millions of high-definition TV (HDTV) sets this holiday season. Now if they can only figure out how to use the darn things. More than half of HDTV owners lack the knowledge or gear to actually watch digital high-definition on their new sets, recent surveys show.

Others are dismayed by the sometimes-poor picture quality of analog shows on sleek digital screens. Given the dent in their wallets from shelling out $2,000 or more for a TV, it can lead to "buyer's remorse," says Mike Vitelli, senior vice president of consumer electronics at Best Buy. HDTV returns are "notably higher" than for analog sets, he says.

The good news: HDTV should take off its training wheels in 2006. Cable companies and retailers plan to ramp up consumer education and fix the analog picture problem.

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