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Flat Screen: Plasma, LED and
LCD Flat Screen Televisions
OVERVIEW
Flat Screens are the most popular type of
big screen TV. Essentially,
the picture you view on a flat screen is produced
by thousands of tiny dots, or pixels - similar
to the type of picture offered by traditional
tube televisions (CRT's). The difference,
of course, between flat screens and the old
CRT's is that they are extremely thin and
light by comparison. These big screens are
widely available in sizes up to about 82 inches
diagonal.
COMPARISON OF FLAT
SCREEN TV TECHNOLOGY OPTIONS
There are three types of Flat Screen
TV. Nearly all new Flat Screen TV's are sold
in the 16:9 widescreen format and all are
HDTV ready by design.
- LCD Flat Screen
The oldest and most popular of the flat
screen and digital technologies. LCD (Liquid
Crystal Display) TV's use tiny color changing
pixels and backlighting to create the picture.
The result is a large crisp picture in a
light weight set that is flat enough to
be hung on a wall. LCD TV's are immune to
burn-in, but have a harder time displaying
black and grays than Plasma TV's resulting
in lower contrast ratios. The life expectancy
of an LCD TV is said to be between 30,000
and 60,000 hours of use. Since these technologies
are fairly new, practical life expectancy
remains to be seen. Prices generally range from $500
to $1500.
- LED
LED TV's use the same technology as LCD TV's but instead of a traditional bulb for backlighting they use LED's (Light Emitting Diodes). These are the same type of LED's that power the new generation Christmas lights and flashlights. LED's provide bright, clean backlighting with low power consumption and long life in a very small package. This makes the LED TV's among the thinnest flat screens currently available. Prices generally range from $1000
to $3500.
- Plasma Flat Screen
Plasma flat screens use thousands of tiny
fluorescent lights to create a digital image
on the screen. The result a large crisp
picture in a light weight set that is flat
enough to be hung on a wall. Plasma TV's
produce a superior picture compared to the
big screen LCD's, but are subject to the
burn-in effect - faint ghost images that
can permanently appear on the screen over
time. Video game consoles are the biggest
burn-in culprits, but any static image can
cause burn-in over time. Plasma screens
also run hotter than LCD's and require cooling
fans. Like LCD's, the life expectancy of
a Plasma TV is said to be between 30,000
and 60,000 hours of use. Prices range from
$500 to $1500.
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
Knowing what technologies are available helps
us get an idea of what to expect from a big
screen, but there are other considerations.
Size
It would seem that bigger is better, especially
when viewing the wall of televisions at
some of the large electronic's stores, but
this is not the case. Consider the size
of the room that your big screen will live
in and how far away from the big screen
you will sit. A 60" big screen, for
example, would be completely overwhelming
in a smaller living room from 10 feet away.
Style and Color
This is largely personal preference.
Many of the newer models are black which
may be more likely to match your decor than
a silver or gray model. Stands or wall mounts
are also an important element of style.
You'll have to live with your big screen
set up.
Resolution
If money
is an object, you may want
to consider a lower resolution 720p flat screen TV.
While true HDTV requires 1080p resolution, few media are currently available in true HD. Traditional DVD's and most HDTV signals use 720p resolution. While Blue Ray movies use full 1080p HD, only newer movies can take advantage of its capabilities.
GETTING YOUR BIG SCREEN
HOME
A few things you might not have thought
of.
Delivery
While not necessarily heavy, your big screen
may not fit in your car. Be sure to inquire
about delivery options and costs.
Stands
Most of these big screens require a TV stand
or a wall mount, but these are rarely included
in the price. Be sure that the stand suits
your needs and can accommodate all of the
equipment you will be attaching to the flat
screen. Many home theater receivers, for
example will not fit in the smaller stands.
If wall mounting make sure that you can
accommodate the attached equipment without
having unattractive cables running up and
down your walls. Some in-wall wiring may
be required in order to achieve an uncluttered
look.
Cables
If you're buying your first HDTV
you will likely need specialized cables
to accommodate the higher quality video
connections to your new big screen. These
will not be included with your new big screen.
Be sure to ask about what you'll need to
hook up your equipment.
TIPS
With all this new technology, it
may be a good idea to maximize your warranty
coverage. Some credit cards will automatically
double the length of any factory warranty
for any item purchased using that credit card.
A separate extended warranty might also be
useful.
Make sure you have the right
equipment to complete your home theater. While
most of the big screens are HD ready - meaning
they can accommodate a Hi-Definition signal
- you still have to send a HD signal from
your equipment. You may want to think about
a new DVD player or HDTV tuner if available.
Speaking of High Definition, you'll want to
make sure your big screen can accommodate
a variety of input connectors including the
newer DVI and HDMI connections. This will
ensure compatibility with the latest high
definition equipment.
Be sure to evaluate all options
and comparison shop before choosing a big
screen for your home theater.
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