Flat Screen TV: Flat, Smooth, Shiny, Hi-Contrast, Hi-Definition Televisions.

Screen Size
This is actually the length that cuts diagonally across the screen. Plasma TVs can go as high as 103 inches, while LCD TVs trailing at a mere 73 inches.

Versatility
Although you're probably looking for a flat screen television only, you might also be looking for a screen that can serve a variety of functions. Consider how plasmas can easily get burn-in when they display static images for long periods. Other types of flat screens don't have this problem.

Viewing Angle
If you want as many people as possible to watch the TV comfortably, find out the maximum viewing angle of your flat screen.

Lifespan
To top it all off, lifespan will affect your judgement of the flat screen's value for money. There is no use shelling out a couple of thousand dollars for an investment that hardly lasts five years.

These are the different types of flat screen tv technologies.

Plasma
Check out my lens on Plasma TVs!

LCD: Liquid Crystal Display
Named after the liquid crystals that, when charged, shift in orientation to form an image on the screen.

Think it's easy choosing between a Plasma TV and an LCD TV? What if there were even more options than you've expected?

LCoS: Liquid Crystal on Silicon
Designed for larger-than-50-inch displays, LCoS screens beat plasmas and LCDs in terms of image quality but are definitely more expensive and more difficult to manufacture.

OLED: Organic Light Emitting Diode
Formerly Organic Electro-Luminescence. Consumes much less power because there's no need for a backlight. Image quality is also reputable since it is more capable of displaying true blacks.

SED: Surface-conduction Electron-emitter Display
Works much like the old Cathode-Ray Tube (CRT), but has higher refresh rates and contrast ratios.

FED: Field Emission Display
Practically the cousin of FED (and CRT) in terms of technology. It takes up a lot less space than the bulky CRTs and can be also useful for tiny displays.

For Movie Surround: Place the front speakers at the edges of your flat screen, facing the center of the listening area. The central speaker must be found either over or under the flat screen TV. For rear channel speakers, keep them as high up as possible on side walls, slightly behind your listening area and in a dipole fashion.

For Music Surround: Your speakers must surround your listening area in a circle, with all components equidistant from its center.

Want more? Read on. »

Before you sit down and watch, here are some must-have accessories for your TV:

TV Signal
Make sure you have the proper antenna for your viewing sources.

Surge Protection
Keep your TV away from nasty electrical surges.

Screen Protection
Protect the surface of your expensive flatscreen.

Furniture/Mounts
Set up your TV properly with the right equipment.

Wiring
Connect your audio and video components with dependable cables.

The Lifespan of Plasma, LCD, and other Flat Panel TVs
If you're shopping for a new flat screen television, one important consideration is the life span of these expensive appliances. Make sure you're getting your money's worth. Also find out how you can prolong their life.

Power Saving Tips for Flat Panel TVs
With bigger and better flat screen televisions comes a bigger price---the electricity bill, that is. Here's what you need to know about flat screen television power consumption rates and what you can do to lower them.

HDTV Setup
This lens clears up all the confusion about setting up your HDTV. The first step is to admit that it is confusing. Don't worry, we'll show you how.

Plasma TV
Learn more about plasma televisions, one of the most popular technologies for high-definition, flat panel televisions.

Plasma TV Features: The Useful, the Cool, and the Utterly Useless
It's important to know what you should be looking for in a Plasma TV (or any other flat screen TV for that matter). This article lists a great number of features found in plasma televisions today, ranging from the very useful to the very useless.