HDTV stands for High Definition TV. This is the actual television unit we're referring to.

In the US, a standard TV has 525 scanned lines for each image. An image is refreshed every 30th of a second, however only half the image is refreshed every 30th of a second, so a full image is refreshed every 60th of a second. This format of refreshing an image is called interlaced. Progressive is when an image is refreshed in its entirety every 30th of a second. Out of the 525 lines of resolution that are scanned, only 480 lines are visible on the TV. Standard TV is also known as 480i (480 lines of usable resolution, interlaced).

A digital tuner will allow a 480i nonHDTV to receive HD signals.

Pixel response time is the amount of time a pixel in an LCD monitor takes to go from black to white and back to black again. It is measured in milliseconds (ms). Lower numbers mean faster transitions and therefore fewer visible image artifacts.

Whether or not you need a v chip depends on the content you have available in the house & how much you trust your kids to not watch what you deem inappropriate.

So if you're watching content off an antenna you'll either need an HDTV or a digital tuner http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Atsc-Box-Tuner-HDtv/dp/B001IWOB2W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1245126663&sr=8-1

If you're on cable or satellite, you can decide if the better picture is worth upgrading the television.
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