How to buy a LCD TV
HDTV 101: A beginner's guide
You've been watching television all of your life, and all of a sudden, along comes HDTV. This new technology might seem incredibly costly, confusing, and unnecessary, but for the space of this article, we'll ask you to take a deep breath and try to forget all of that. HDTV doesn't need to be an incomprehensible morass of technical terms, jargon, and marketing hype, because at heart, it's pretty darn simple: HDTV is a better picture. It does have some unique requirements, however, so we'll guide you through what to expect.
To HDTV or not to HDTV?
When you're deciding whether to get an HDTV, ask yourself the following questions.
- Am I unhappy with the TV I have now?
- Do I want something bigger, flatter, sharper, or brighter?
- Am I willing to pay hundreds of dollars more to get that something?
If the answer to any of these questions is no, then you're probably not ready for an HDTV. Go ahead and get a normal television, save a few bucks, and rest assured that in the next few years, technology prices will continue their inexorable fall, and you can get an HDTV when you're good and ready.
If you answered yes, however, then it's probably time for you to consider buying an HDTV. Here's where your choices begin to multiply, but don't lose heart. We'll take you through all you need to know.
The falling price of HDTV
Did you know that you can actually get a perfectly fine 32-inch flat-panel LCD HDTV for $800 or a 50-inch plasma for $2,000? HDTV prices have fallen so far in the last couple of years that most TV shoppers can afford to go high-def. We're often asked when HDTV prices will "bottom out," but we really can't say. We don't expect a 32-inch LCD to cost $300 by the holiday season of 2007, or a 50-inch plasma to cost $1,000, but you never know. By this stage, however, prices have gotten low enough that we feel safe saying that, if you're buying now, you won't feel too burned by next year's prices.
Plasma vs. LCD
Having trouble discerning between plasma and LCD televisions? This handy chart can help you determine which technology is best for you.
| Plasma | LCD | |
| General | ||
|
Screen sizes
|
42-65+ inches
|
5-65+ inches
|
|
Cabinet depth
|
3+ inches
|
3+ inches
|
|
Power consumption
|
Slightly less-efficient per square inch
|
Slightly more-efficient per square inch
|
|
Off-angle viewing
|
Excellent from all angles
|
Image fades slightly when seen from extreme angles from sides or from above or below
|
|
Reflectivity of screen
|
Glass screens can reflect lots of light, so may be an issue in very bright rooms. Some models have glare-reducing screens that are more- or less-effective
|
Matte plastic screens usually reflect less light. Some models have screens that are actually more reflective than plasma
|
| Features | ||
|
PC connectivity
|
Less common but still included on many models
|
More common than with plasma
|
|
Other features
|
Varies per model
|
Varies per model
|
| Picture quality | ||
|
Motion blur caused by display
|
Negligible
|
Difficult to discern on most models, although subject to more blurring than plasma. 120Hz models less-subject to motion blur
|
|
Black-level performance (depth of "black" displayed)
|
Varies, although excellent on many models.
|
Varies, although generally worse than plasma on many models, and better than plasma on best models
|
|
Color saturation
|
Varies, although generally a bit better than LCD due to black level and off-angle advantages
|
Varies, although the best models can equal the best plasmas
|
|
Resolution
|
Typically 720p, up to 1080p on high-end models. The benefits of 1080p are not obvious at screen sizes below 50 inches to the majority of viewers.
|
Typically 720p, but 1080p is more common than plasma at more price and size points. The benefits of 1080p are not obvious at screen sizes below 50 inches to the majority of viewers
|
| Durability | ||
|
Burn-in (faint after-images left on-screen)
|
Possible with still images left on-screen with very bright settings for hours, although new models much less susceptible, and most burn-in is temporary and goes away after watching moving images
|
May occur in extreme situations (very bright still images left on-screen for days) but much less likely than with plasma or even standard tube TVs.
|
|
Lifespan (hours until fades to half-brightness)
|
Typically 60,000 hours, or about 20 years if used 8 hours per day.
|
Typically 60,000 hours, or about 20 years if used 8 hours per day.
|
| Program type | ||
|
HDTV
|
Excellent
|
Excellent for HDTV-compatible models.
|
|
Standard-definition TV
|
Dependent mostly on screen size. The smaller the screen, the better standard-def usually looks
|
Dependent mostly on screen size. The smaller the screen, the better standard-def usually looks
|
|
DVD Movies
|
Excellent given a model with good black-level performance
|
Very good, although models with worse black-level performance are less desirable
|
|
Games
|
Excellent for most users, although burn-in might deter gamers who leave screens paused for hours or overnight
|
Excellent, although motion blur might deter the most sensitive gamers
|
Make sure to consider these features:
- Source
Make sure that your sources have high-definition capability to ensure a crisp, clear picture just like you see in the store. There are multiple sources with this technology, including high-definition cable, high-definition satellite subscriptions (DirecTV), high-definition gaming consoles (Xbox 360 or Sony PlayStation 3) and Blu-ray Disc players. - Cables
For a stunning picture, you will need the proper cables. An HDMI cable is the simplest way to connect high-definition programming to your TV in a single cable, but you can also connect with individual component cables. - Size
Your ideal viewing distance in your room should help determine the size of the TV screen you purchase. - Installation
Be prepared to do some basic installation to ensure proper connection of your new TV, especially if you are connecting to existing components or if you are hanging your new TV on the wall.
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