No brutal-despair stuff this time; just a more pedestrian advice request.

So far, I’ve carefully spent only tiny portions of my condo-sales proceeds. Most of that has gove to keep the aforementioned credit card people at bay. One chunk went to replace an aging computer. I’ve also attained a few practical wardrobe items and a half-dozen or so practical furnishing pieces for New MISC Towers.

But now I have a craving.

Despite my lifelong respect for the televisual medium, I’ve only owned two TV sets. The first was an old transistor-based Sony Trinitron, which I’d won in a KING-TV giveaway at Northgate Mall. It served my viewing needs from 1975 to 1991, when it finally ceased to function. Then came the 19″ Magnavox I still use today. (Comparitavely, I’ve had six VCRs since 1986.)

I promised myself a few years back that I’d not get another TV until (1) the Magnavox died, or (2) HDTV equipment became affordable. The latter is now almost the case, at least if I keep wtih old CRT technology. Of course, the only HD channels now on my current cable system are the ordinary broadcast channels. Presumably, that will increase (the more dominant cable company in Seattle has eight HD cable channels). HD DVDs will also, presumably, show up one of these years.

Because I believe in long-term hardware investments, if I were to get a set this year it’d have to be HD-ready. But I don’t really need to get one.

So please tell me what to do.