What it is: HDMI, or High -Definition Multimedia Interface is an audio-video transfer standard with enough bandwidth to transmit uncompressed audio and video between a set-top box and an HDTV or other compatible device, and thus maintain digital audio and picture quality. Wow, what a mouthful. If that doesn't make much sense to you, just think of it like this. HDMI is basically just a cable that can transfer a really high quality image or sound from one piece of equipment to another.

Benefits:

   1. HDMI has everything that DVI (another high quality cable) offers, while fixing some of DVI's compatibility problems, and should therefore work with all types of DVI.
   2. Unlike DVI, HDMI can carry video and 6 channels of sound over the same wire, which means less cable mess, and it can bring digital audio directly to your HD monitor or Television.
   3. HDMI cable is much easier to hook up than DVI cable. Unlike DVI's screw pins, HDMI has a plug that just slides in, similar to that of a USB cable.
   4. Truly innovative, HDMI cables allow two-way transmission, which enables the set-top box, the home theater system, and the DTV to "talk to each other." Because communication is constant, the TV automatically adjusts itself to always deliver the finest picture

Limitations

   1. The main problem with HDMI devices right now is that they're hard to find. Luckily, HDMI is poised to become the default standard, so it won't be a problem for long.