What to Consider When Shopping for a Flat Screen TV
Television technology has come a long way since Philo Farnsworth invented his "image dissector", and now the discerning consumer can pick up an excellent flat screen tv for a great price. Flat screens have a lot to offer and they can make a huge difference in the viewing experience.
One of the most immediate benefits of a flat screen tv is on the issue of space. Old, tube-based televisions can be up to two feet deep or more. With an LCD or plasma television, you can free up a lot of area in your living room or game room. Another bonus of flat screens is the ease of access to the connection ports on the back of the television. While it may not be one of the first things to come to mind, no one likes straining to reach wires and plugs. Flat screen HD tvs make it easy to access all of that.
Flat Screens are Better Screens
Additionally, flat screens provide inherently better picture quality than older televisions. The crystals used in LCD and ionized gas cells used is plasma TVs allow for sharper pictures, and more contrast between light and darkness on the screen. What's more, image persistence in LCD and plasma-screen TVs is generally reversible, unlike the screen burn that affected pre-LCD screens.
When shopping for a flat screen TV, you will want to consider resolution, screen size, and price.
Resolution
720p and 1080i are numbers people are familiar with, but often don't know much about. 720p means there are 720 horizontal lines on the screen; almost like a thread-count for a television. The 'i' in 1080i stands for interlaced scan, meaning that there are two interlacing images. Thus, 1080i provides a much more precise picture. 1080i screens generally cost more, but good deals can be found with a little persistence.
Home cinema setup Sony KDL-40W2000 LCD TV. Full HD, 1080p, intergrated DVB-T and analogue tuners (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Screen Size
Flat screens can be anywhere from 17 inches to 108 inches, but the most popular sizes range from 32'' to 65''. Besides, a nine foot television set is impractical for most people. Anything above 65'' is unsuitable for every-day use; the picture get overwhelming. Unless you have a home theatre room, stick with a screen that measures less than six feet. With screen sizes increasing, screens in the size range listed previously are becoming more and more affordable. With a bit of shopping around, a more-than-adequate screen can be purchased for a great price.
Price
Flat screen HD tvs generally run between $200 and $2,000. However, just like screen size, there really is no ceiling. Screens under 50 inches generally fall into the $400-800 range, with larger screen generally costing around $1,000. Electronic and appliance stores often run sales on televisions, and even large, 1080i screens can be bought affordably.
With these features in mind, you can find a great flat screen TV. Prepared with a list of what you need from an HD tv, you can shop with a sharp eye and consumer confidence.
Posted by admin on May 9th, 2011 :: Filed under Uncategorized
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