This is the best info I can come up with. Don't bother with EDTV. It's old tech and not as good as HDTV.
Plasma Tvs have better contrast ratios and so can be seen easier in bright conditions and have better blacks. Plasmas can also suffer from burnin from displaying static images such as channel logos or score tickers at the bottom of the screen. LCDs are generally smaller than Plasmas but don't suffer from burnin and their contrast ratios are getting better. Try looking at different TVs and pick what you like.
Another consideration is whether the TV displays SD signals well as you won't get all your programming in HD.
You will need a settop HD box or HD satellite box.
Don't buy the overprced cables at Future shop. Go to a computer store. You won't know what cables you need until you pick your TV and HD box, but make sure your TV is HDCP compliant. You'll provbably need a DVI or HDMI or DVI to HDMI cable but component cables will work.
Some of the latest TV's are coming out with 1080p such as this
http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/prodde...63&catid=23244