The HDTV market is on a steady and sharp growth rate. With so many makers coming out with LCD and Plasma HDTVs, it may become confusing to potential consumers. These brief guidelines will help determine which
HDTV is right for you.
1. Select where you will place your new HDTV
Positioning the television can be a very important deciding factor when making a purchase decision. You will need to consider whether you will wall mount the set or place it on a stand (most HDTVs now allow for both options), how you will pass the required cabling, what viewing angles you will need and which TV can deliver on those, etc.
2. Consider the resolution you will need
You may have heard of 1080i, 1080p, 720p, etc... These numbers convey the maximum resolution that the TV will display. Currently, the top end models display in 1080p which means 1080 vertical lines of resolution, progressive. The "i" stands for interlaced, which displays in half the frame rate of 1080p, so slight flicker can be noticeable. You will need to determine what your HDTV source requires and decide from there. Many satellite and digital cable companies display in 1080i, while blu ray and HD DVD players display in 1080p.
3. Consider the number of inputs needed
Most HDTVs now support many inputs due to the rising amount of peripheral entertainment devices now available. What you must determine is how many of each kind of input will you require? RGB Compnent, HDMI, Cable, VGA, DVI, S-Video are some of the options you can have as inputs.
4. Consider display type(LCD, Plasma or DLP) and size
It is important to select a screen size that will accommodate the area you will place the TV in. If space is tight, a huge screen can actually make the viewing experience less enjoyable. Also, types of HDTVs each have their pros and cons. DLP usually costs the least but are much larger than their LCD and Plasma counterparts so you will need to consider the amount of space you are working with. Plasma was the first flat, thin HDTV tecnology to come to the mass market. Concerns for this type are lifetime and potential display burn-in. LCD displays crisp picture quality, however has a slightly lower refresh rate than Plasma.
5. Do some comparison shopping
Services like
FindTarget Shopping make it easy for you to compare models, sizes, resolutions and types, along with the price. See which make and model suit you best and make an informed decision on which set you would like to buy.
