When it comes to a new HDTV, most of us want a big screen. We end up having to settle for the biggest screen that fits the room we want it in and the budget we have to spend. It can be hard to find a decent TV if what you need is a smaller screen.

Viewsonic has announces its first 24-inch full HDTV called the VT2430 that is perfect for smaller spaces like a bedroom, dorm, or office. The set offers 10,000:1 dynamic contrast and has integrated ATSC, NTSC, and QAM TV tuner along with multiple connectivity options. The set features HDMI 1.3 connectivity and a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080.

Today is one of the busiest shopping days of the year with holiday shoppers flocking to stores and malls for good deals. Despite the poor economy, electronics are still expected to sell well this holiday season and Vizio has announced some of the deals on its HDTVs for today.

Vizio is one of the top shippers of TVs in America. Costco will be offering a 19-inch VA19 LCD HDTV for $199.99 with a coupon through 12-7. At Walmart the 32-inch VP322 plasma HDTV, (the set credited with bringing plasma bask by many research firms) will retail for $437.

The nationwide switch from analog to digital broadcasts will be here before you know it. While the switch won’t affect most TV watchers in the U.S., there are some who are still not ready. As a result of old analog TVs not functioning after the switch, many have been upgrading to digital flat panel TVs. This has been one of the major factors pushing growth in the TV market.

DisplaySearch has released its quarterly reports on the number of TVs shipped worldwide for Q3 2008. Despite the poor economy, TV shipments grew by 11% quarter-over-quarter and 6% year-over-year. Over 53 million TVs were shipped worldwide in the quarter. Shipments in North America grew more than expected with a 12% increase compared to last quarter to 10 million units.

Most of us are probably familiar with the series of books called For Dummies. The books try to teach various topics in formats easy for the new user to understand. The For Dummies series is branching out with a new non-book offering.

The HDTV Cable Kit for Dummies and the HDTV Premium Cable Kit for Dummies are now available to purchase. The kits promise to provide all of the cables a user needs to connect an HDTV to components. The normal kit retails for $99.99 and includes two 8-foot HDMI cables, one 8-foot component cable, an 8-foot coax audio cable, and three management ties along with a book the help with connections.

Sharp dropped their AQUOS DX series, the first LCD TVs with built-in Blu Ray Disc Recorders. It’s a series of 16 new models ranging in size from 26-Inch to 52-Inch screen sizes in a variety of colors. All are compatible with BD-RE V2.1 (Single / Dual layer), BD-R 1.1 (Single / Dual Layer) recordable disc, and most available playable discs. The HDTVs also feature the Digital W Tuner which allows you to watch TV while recording programs. The Kameyama LCD Panel will provide smooth picture quality. It will cost you from €1200 to €3600.

Many fanboys and girls are waiting for Apple’s next Macbook coming Tuesday. But check this out. In an interview with CNET UK, Jason Calacanis claims to have sources that say that Apple is working on a networked LCD HDTV with built-in Apple TV. So why jump into the HDTV market? I have no idea, but the promise of an HDTV capable of streaming music and videos from your network is interesting. The idea is that they’ll function like a standard TV with an Apple TV box, just without the box.

One of the newest Viewsonic displays to market is a combo unit which is friendly with PCs and DVDs. It is called the N2201w and you’ll find it listing at retail around $430.

The Viewsonic N2201w is a 22-inch display which pulls triple duty as a computer display, HDTV and DVD player. It has a HD resolution of 1680×1050, 5ms response time, 1000:1 contrast ratio and wide viewing angles. It also sports multiple inputs, including for ATSC/NTSC/QAM digital TV tuner and HDMI as well as PC.

I have never brought a TV based on how thin it was in profile. Once the set is on my entertainment center, how thick it is really doesn’t matter. I am more about the image quality and screen size. I could see a really thin TV being appealing if it was going to be wall mounted though.

Sony has announced a pair of new 1080p Bravia TVs at CEDIA that will suit those looking for thin and those looking for the best image quality. The Sony KLV-40ZX1M is one of the thinnest sets this side of an OLED screen at only 9.9mm thick. Sony says that is about the thickness of a DVD case. The TV is also very light for a 40-inch TV at only 26 pounds.

IOGEAR has been on a tear of late with new connectivity products for your computer living experience. One of the latest is the Wireless USB to VGA Kit, priced around $230.

The IOGEAR Wireless USB to VGA Kit, according to IOGEAR, enables HD video streaming between a PC and TV or projector up to 720p in a home or office. It works from up to 30 feet away on a HDTV and lets one make use of the TV’s picture-in-picture feature to watch a show and look at a computer display at the same time.

Not too long ago my dad had his old TV go out after a lightning strike, so he asked me to head to the local Best Buy with him to get a new TV. I realized two things straight away. First, the vast majority of employees at Best Buy are morons. Then I realized most Best Buy TV salesman use the lower lifespan of plasma TVs compared LCD TVs to talk shoppers out of going plasma. Personally, I prefer plasma to LCD because you usually get more contrast and a brighter picture.

Panasonic has announced new plasma TVs in its VIERA 1080p line that will make the lifespan argument against plasma TVs a moot point. Panasonic says its new 1080p plasma HDTVs are rated to last for up to 100,000 viewing hours before they dim to half brightness.

Another Samsung flat panel line up riding the waves of the consumer electronics company’s big annoucements last week is the Series 7 Plasma HDTVs. They will be available in August in 50-inch, 58-inch and 63-inch screen sizes (model numbers: PN50A760, PN58A760 and PN63A760), pricing around $2,800, $4,500 and $5,500, respectively.

The main highlights of the Series 7 displays include the hint of red blended into the outer edges of the artsy panels, 1080p resolution and Internet-based content provided by USA Today. You can get the full details after the jump.

Samsung last week, besides rolling out some Series 8 flat panels, also introduced  its new flagship Series 9 LED-backlit LCD HDTVs. These models are the 46-inch LN46A950 and 55-inch LN55A950, priced around $3,200 and $4,200, respectively.

These new Series 9 panels from Samsung make use the company’s “LED SmartLighting” technology, offers consumers a combination of LED and 120Hz technologies. This reportedly results in a “1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio for a crisp, full HD 1080p picture.” This HDTVs also sport a bit of an art touch via the patterned bezel with charcoal gray accent.

Samsung had a little mid-year coming out party yesterday as it unveiled a bunch of new flat panels and associated home theater gear. One of these upcoming releases is the new Series 8 850 and Series 8 860 LCD HDTVs, pricing between around $2,700 and $3,500.

Four models make up the Series 8 850 and 860, consisting of two each 45.9- and 52-inch televisions. All units will be available in September and unique features include a slim, narrow bezel with a touch of color around the edges and support for RSS feeds from USA Today. For full details, check out the press release after the jump.

The world of multi-directional antennas, or “rabbit ears” as some like to call them, doesn’t get much attention these days in tech news. RCA is trying to refresh the category by unveiling some flat antennas designed to pair with flat panels as the coming analog to digital television transition creeps up.

The highlighted antenna is the RCA ANT1500 Flat Indoor Antenna, priced at around $60. RCA says consumers should pair this antenna, and others like it, as it is “designed to pick up more channels than a traditional “rabbit ears” antenna. Local broadcasters are now sending multiple digital TV channels to supplement their main programs.”

Mitsubishi recently introduced two new flat panel televisions with a integrated sound panel to meet the demand for surround sound in limited space settings. These new Mitsubishi Premium Flat Panel TVs with Integrated Sound Projector are the LT-46149 and LT-52149, pricing at around $3,400 and $3,700, respectively.

The Mitsubishi Premium Flat Panel TVs with Integrated Sound Projector come in 46- and 52-inch screen sizes and have built-in a a 16-speaker array that creates a 5.1 channel sound field. These speakers are managed by an “advanced algorithm” to generate this sound field and come with a graphical user interface to help consumers setup their room setting.