dan9999
04-21-2009, 08:27 PM
How to buy a flat-panel HDTV
CNNMoney.com
By Peter Lewis and Alex Horowitz
Last updated January 23 2009: 5:54 AM ET
With technologies improving and prices falling, could it be time for an upgrade? Get ready, get set.
Step 1: Size
Bigger ≠ Better
With TVs, bigger isn't necessarily better: The right size depends on how far away from it you'll sit. To get a cinematic experience without graininess or eyestrain, shop in the ranges at right. Choose the low end of the range if you get standard-def TV and the high end if you subscribe to HD service.
Step 2: Technology
LCD or Plasma?
Both technologies have improved recently. But while today's plasma screens are less likely to suffer "burn-in" (ghosts of images such as the CNN ticker), it can still happen. And the old knock on LCDs - that fast-action sports programming and video games are blurrier than on plasmas - is still valid, despite the fact that manufacturers have doubled and quadrupled the speeds of image refresh (to 120Hz or 240Hz). So, basically, the old rules hold for now.
In short: Plasmas offer superior contrast - blacker blacks, brighter whites - and are usually a better value, especially for larger sets (50 inches and up). But LCDs have advantages too; they can be less reflective and brighter. They're also more available than plasma at smaller sizes. Consult the checklist at right.
Step 3: Resolution
720p vs. 1080p
The highest HDTV standard for resolution (how many pixels make up the image, thus how sharp it is) is called 1080p. A 1080p LCD in the 40- to 49-inch range runs $1,590, on average, according to DisplaySearch. An LCD that size with a lower 720p resolution is just $890. So which to get?
Get 720p if: You watch HD broadcasts over cable and satellite, which are usually compressed to 720p, and you watch regular DVDs.
Get 1080p if: You'll get a Blu-ray disk player or an HD video camera, you have a video-game-obsessed kid or you'll watch HD broadcasts over the air (without cable or satellite). Note that most TVs 50 inches or larger are 1080p.
Step 4: Shop
Browse at the Store, Buy Online
Sure, go to the big electronics store to see the goods. But to get the best deal, go online. Use comparison-shopping engines like Shopzilla.com, but also search on Amazon.com, which often has among the deeper discounts. Because comparison engines usually won't pick up Amazon's special deals, make sure that you always check the site directly.
Step 5: Cables
Get the Cheapies
Even if your new TV comes with component cables, which have multiple audio and video jacks, buy an HDMI cable anyway. It's a single cord so it's easier to set up and it transmits the highest-quality digital video and audio. That said, you don't need the $100 kind, says Paul Gagnon, director of North American TV market research for analysis firm DisplaySearch. Stick with store brands or those from Monoprice.com, and save yourself $70 or more.
CNNMoney.com
By Peter Lewis and Alex Horowitz
Last updated January 23 2009: 5:54 AM ET
With technologies improving and prices falling, could it be time for an upgrade? Get ready, get set.
Step 1: Size
Bigger ≠ Better
With TVs, bigger isn't necessarily better: The right size depends on how far away from it you'll sit. To get a cinematic experience without graininess or eyestrain, shop in the ranges at right. Choose the low end of the range if you get standard-def TV and the high end if you subscribe to HD service.
Step 2: Technology
LCD or Plasma?
Both technologies have improved recently. But while today's plasma screens are less likely to suffer "burn-in" (ghosts of images such as the CNN ticker), it can still happen. And the old knock on LCDs - that fast-action sports programming and video games are blurrier than on plasmas - is still valid, despite the fact that manufacturers have doubled and quadrupled the speeds of image refresh (to 120Hz or 240Hz). So, basically, the old rules hold for now.
In short: Plasmas offer superior contrast - blacker blacks, brighter whites - and are usually a better value, especially for larger sets (50 inches and up). But LCDs have advantages too; they can be less reflective and brighter. They're also more available than plasma at smaller sizes. Consult the checklist at right.
Step 3: Resolution
720p vs. 1080p
The highest HDTV standard for resolution (how many pixels make up the image, thus how sharp it is) is called 1080p. A 1080p LCD in the 40- to 49-inch range runs $1,590, on average, according to DisplaySearch. An LCD that size with a lower 720p resolution is just $890. So which to get?
Get 720p if: You watch HD broadcasts over cable and satellite, which are usually compressed to 720p, and you watch regular DVDs.
Get 1080p if: You'll get a Blu-ray disk player or an HD video camera, you have a video-game-obsessed kid or you'll watch HD broadcasts over the air (without cable or satellite). Note that most TVs 50 inches or larger are 1080p.
Step 4: Shop
Browse at the Store, Buy Online
Sure, go to the big electronics store to see the goods. But to get the best deal, go online. Use comparison-shopping engines like Shopzilla.com, but also search on Amazon.com, which often has among the deeper discounts. Because comparison engines usually won't pick up Amazon's special deals, make sure that you always check the site directly.
Step 5: Cables
Get the Cheapies
Even if your new TV comes with component cables, which have multiple audio and video jacks, buy an HDMI cable anyway. It's a single cord so it's easier to set up and it transmits the highest-quality digital video and audio. That said, you don't need the $100 kind, says Paul Gagnon, director of North American TV market research for analysis firm DisplaySearch. Stick with store brands or those from Monoprice.com, and save yourself $70 or more.