Take The Confusion Out Of Buying A New Tv
We were watching TV a couple of days ago and "snap" our TV went from astronomical and beautiful to nothing but three squiggly lines of red, green and blue running through the middle of the screen. Dang, after seven years with no problems, it's time to replace the TV.
Now anyone that knows me knows I do a whole lot of research before I buy anything. I'm not going to fragment with my hard earned cash unless I know what I'm getting for my money. I knew a handsome amount about the new HDTVs (high definition televisions) - but, it was time to arm myself with real knowledge before we hit the bricks.
Let me share how the numbers add up and how to know what you're getting. You won't be an all-knowing technical expert after reading this article, but you'll have enough information to make a nicely informed decision before you acquire.
TV Types
There are four categories you need to know about: plasma, LCD, LED and rear hide projection TVs.
Plasma TVs are probably the least expensive choice for a large TV today. They deliver a softer, smoother look behind a glass screen. For this reason, they generally judge a lot of light and can have a glare on the surface; therefore, they whine a better record in a darker room. Plasma sets also tend to run a lot hotter than LCD or LED designs.
LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) TVs were originally a little slower than plasma displays; but they're catching up real fast. These sets deliver a clear, crisp picture although they are a bit more expensive than the plasma types and perform well in a brighter room because the screen is a plastic composition.
LED (Light Emitting Diode) TVs are similar to LCD sets with a clear, crisp picture. In fact, many people can't tell the difference - although some will argue LED is better. LED sets tend to run a little cooler than LCD; however, LED is one of the more expensive types of TVs to pick with the technology rapidly evolving in many ways.
Rear screen projection TVs have phenomenal quality, but due to the nature of the picture delivery from the rear of the unit, they are much bigger and thicker than plasma, LED or LCD flat screen models. The manufacturer of choice right now is Mitsubishi and if you have the space, you can go up to 82" for a home theater.
Resolution
TV resolution is expressed in the number of lines that make up the picture. The older standard TVs had a resolution of 480 lines while the newer HDTVs are manufactured with 720 and 1080 lines. Especially when buying a larger TV, the higher the number of resolution lines is better. If you're a gamer, you'll probably want to go up to 1080.
Scanning
You will also see the resolution expressed as 1080i or 1080p. The "i" stands for "interlaced" and the "p" stands for "progressive." The progressive TVs scan through the display lines one at a time in order. The interlaced TVs scan in odd and even number sets. The result is that the progressive scan process yields a full 60 frames per second - which is usually a better and more expensive option.
Refresh or Response Rate
The measure of how fast a TV responds to regenerate is called the portray refresh or response rate. The older TVs had a refresh rate of 60Hz while newer models now offer 120Hz or 240Hz refresh rates. This is an peril to correct the motion "lag" or "blur" often experienced when viewing fast moving objects against a stationary background. In most instances, people don't measurably notice the difference between 120Hz or 240Hz. However, TV purists will tell you 240Hz is essential for sports, action movies or gaming.
Aspect Ratio
Aspect ratio is the width of the TV picture versus the height of the picture. For example, an aspect ratio of 1:1 would be a square picture. The most common ratios are 4:3, 3:2 or 16:9; however many others are available. When unequal ratios occur between the original format and the format available on your TV, the display is adjusted by stretching or cutting off the image.
For many people, the aspect ratio is a matter of personal preference. The best suggestion is to make obvious you view any TV you consider in full, zoom or any other mode available to determine if it has display modes acceptable for you.
What is Blu-ray?
Blu-ray is a novel optical disc format that replaces red laser technology with blue-violet laser technology. Blu-ray is believed to produce a more crisp, certain image by focusing the laser with greater precision and packing the data in less space. Therefore, adding a Blu-ray player to your HDTV should increase picture quality - especially for gaming and movies released on Blu-ray Discs.
3D Display or 3D Ready
Can you enjoy we can actually buy 3D TVs for our homes now? That blows my mind. But, please disappear with caution. Some manufacturers are advertising their TVs with language that can be a bit confusing. Here's the best way to understand what you're getting.
Full 3D display means the TV will work in beefy 3D mode out of the box. You should have everything you need to see the picture in 3D without making another purchase. However, 3D ready only means the TV is capable of transmitting in 3D mode and you will probably have to purchase additional equipment to make it work.
If you want 3D, form sure you're getting full 3D out of the box before you bring the unit home.
Warranty
To warranty or not to warranty; that is the examine. With the price of TVs coming down, sometimes spending extra for an additional warranty may not be as attractive as it should be. Two years ago, I purchased a 32" Vizio flat screen TV for $599 and at the time, that was a honorable stamp. Now I can derive relatively the same 32" Vizio for $299.
If you consider that even a vulgar cost TV should last at least three years, purchasing an additional warranty for $89 per year isn't really worth the investment. You can practically replace it if you just area that money for three years.
When it comes to warranties, do the math and see if you really reflect it's worth the money.
Final Thoughts
Technology seems to change so snappy these days and it's always a good idea to have at least a working knowledge of different features before you occupy. Dropping $250 to $500 or $1,000 (or more) merits doing your homework. With the information provided in this article, you should be better prepared to purchase your next TV.
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