Buying an HDTV for the big game?

It's the weekend before the Super Bowl, and that means a lot of people will spend the weekend shopping for a new television.

It's amazing how many people buy a new TV to watch the game. The Retail Advertising and Marketing Association says about 2.5 million households will get a new TV before Super Sunday. That estimate is an increase of nearly 50 percent from last year.

We don't know how many of these sets will be hi-definition, but electronics retailers report double-digit increases in sales of these high-end sets in recent months. The Consumer Electronics Association of America estimates that sports fans buy almost 60 percent of all HDTVs. In a study last month, the group found the Super Bowl is responsible for 13 percent of sales, the most of any sporting event.

These new HDTV sets are not cheap, and for shoppers not familiar with the new technology or lingo, it can be a totally confusing experience.

If you want an HDTV, you need to make sure you're getting an HDTV. While all hi-definition TV's are digital, every digital TV is not high-definition. So you need to make sure you know what you're buying.

What do I need to buy? You can buy a integrated HDTV set with a built-in tuner or a monitor (without a tuner) that will need a stand-alone tuner, HDTV cable box or an HDTV satellite receiver.

If you plan to use an antenna to get your HD signals through the air, you’ll want a tuner. If you have cable or satellite service, you can save money by getting a monitor without a tuner.

Do I have to do anything other than plug in the set to get those beautiful HD pictures? Yes. If you're on cable or have satellite service, you'll need to sign up and pay for HD service, and get a new digital receiver box. So you need to plan ahead. You can't decide on Sunday to get digital service.

Crazy man drops $230k on a flight simulator

If you really, really want to fly, but the damned FAA won't let you anywhere near a cockpit due to your serious unreliability and the whole not being a licensed pilot thing, don't despair. There are other options. Just ask this crazy Aussie who deemed it financially logical to drop $230,000 on the fanciest flight simulator ever.

It's got 13 quad-core machines hooked up to his 42-inch Philips Ambilight TV, all running a rig sitting on top of a crazy hydraulic setup that moves with the action. Seriously, $230,000 is more than some flying lessons would cost? Seems to me if you have that much cash to toss around and you really want to fly, you can fly. But hey, as long as he's happy, that's what counts. Right?

Gravitonus: gaming control for the disabled

Gaming is a lot of fun. Few people will argue with that. But for people who have been paralyzed, it's not as easy as just sitting down at the computer and playing. That's why the Gravitonus was created — to allow the disabled to enjoy gaming as much as anyone else.

The system is controlled using the tongue, allowing for precise control without needing to use one's hands. The system can also be used to control standard computer applications such as surfing the Internet and making VoIP calls. I'm not really sure what the benefit is of the lounge action, but it looks comfortable to me. There's no word on release dates or prices on the Gravitonus as of yet.