Digital TV Transition Question

[Will]

They do downconvert and crop HD into a 4:3 picture.  I've only used a Magnovox branded one and it didn't seem like there was any way around the cropping (sides are cut off of an HD source).

I picked up a Zenith DTT900 last week.  This one will put out a 16x9 picture.  It has 4 different zoom modes, and they are pretty reasonable at doing what you'd want.  From what I've read, almost all of the DTV converter boxes will have zoom / crop, etc. options.  I'm rather surprised your Magnavox doesn't.

I tried it out first on my old 27" 4:3 TV (where it will stay), and also on my 16:9 HDTV set just for kicks.  I was surpised how decent the picture quality was on the HDTV with just the SDTV tuner from the Zenith.

Will