Julie: Hi. I'm Julie and I'm here in the Crutchfield studio to talk about the Internet connectivity found on a number of today's HDTVs. Now, different manufacturers have taken different approaches but here are some basics. First, these TVs are designed to work with your existing home network, and they'll need a high speed Internet connection. In most cases, you'll make a wired Ethernet connection, although some TV manufacturers offer optional wireless adapters.

Second, each TV will give you a handful of "widgets" — little applications that let you access specific online content. For example, you might be able to watch online videos using a TV's built-in YouTube channel ,or check the weather using a weather widget. But you won't be able to navigate to any old website like you can on your computer. Third, in addition to letting you access online content, a few of these TVs also let you stream music, photos, or sometimes even video from compatible sources around your home, like your computer or a networked hard drive.

If you're interested in a TV with Internet connectivity, here are two things to consider. First of all, what kinds of widgets does the TV have? Make sure it includes some you'll use. Second, spare a thought for the menu system. Is it easy to access and navigate? This is one area where user reviews can be really helpful, since they'll give you a real-world look at what it's like to actually use the TV.

You can visit crutchfield.com/InternetTV to learn more about streaming content to TVs and other devices, and you can always call us at 1-800-555-9408.