How to buy a flat screen high definition television

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How to buy a high definition television

These days going to the store to buy a new television is a test to even the most patient person.


So many choices are available these days. If one doesn't properly research the matter they might end up spending lots of money on something they will not be happy with down the road.


This is my attempt at educating anyone looking to buy a plasma or an LCD television.

Plasma, LCD. What does it all mean? 

Buying a high def television

All the new buzzwords and technology that comes with buying a new television these days will make the most technical persons head spin. I'm here to help you find out how some these technologies work.In the end I hope you'll be able to buy your next High Definition Television (HDTV) with confidence.


In this lens I will guide you to the information you will need in order to understand all the components that make up a high definition television.



We will examine how two popular types of displays available in stores work. These are the kinds of televisions that are very thin and can be hung on a wall like a picture frame.

LCD Pros 

  1. Non-Reflective face
    The face of an LCD television will not reflect the light from the room.
    This means you can watch a movie with the lights on or off and not have to worry about degrading the picture quality.
  2. Low power usage
    LCD screens use less power than Plasmas do.
    For more information on the power consumption of TV's click here
  3. Low heat generation
    Because LCD's use less electricity they also run cooler. Because of this there is less of a need for fans and ventilation
  4. Light output does not degrade over time
    A Plasma screens output degrades over time due to phosphor wear. LCD's do not suffer from this problem.

LCD Cons 

  1. Black level
    While quite good the black levels on an LCD display are not as good as those on a plasma. This is because LCD's block light to generate an image rather than create it.
  2. Response delay
    LCD's have a response delay that causes fast motion images to blur.
  3. Expensive
    Larger sized LCD's cost more than a plasma of an equivalent size does
  4. Shallow viewing angle
    Viewing from an angle can be a problem with LCD screens.
    This is because the light is coming from behind the image.

Plasma Pros 

  1. Viewing angle
    Plasma screen have a much wider viewing angle than LCD's.
    (160 degrees)
  2. Blacks
    Because plasma screens do not have backlights. They are able to produce dark colors much better than their LCD counter parts.
  3. Price
    Pound for pound Plasma screens are cheaper to manufacture.
  4. No response delay
    Plasma screens have virtually no response delay. This means that fast moving images do not suffer from artifacts or ghosting. Great for sports and action movies

Plasma Cons 

  1. Heat
    Plasma screens produce a lot of heat. Because of this they require fans to keep them cool. These can sometimes be noisy.
  2. Burn in
    Plasma screens are prone to burn in. Burn in is when a ghost of an image remains permanently on the screen. This can happen if a static image is left on the screen for a prolonged period of time.
  3. Brightness
    Plasma screens are not as bright as their LCD counterparts
  4. Energy consumption
    Plasma screens consume almost two times more power than LCD's do.

LCD Or Plasma 

Whats your favorite?

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High Def Televisions 

Panasonic TC-32LX85 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV

Panasonic TC-32LX85 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV

Amazon Price: $399.88 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ800U 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV

Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ800U 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV

Amazon Price: (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Toshiba 19LV505 19-Inch 720p LCD HDTV with Built-in DVD Player, Black

Toshiba 19LV505 19-Inch 720p LCD HDTV with Built-in DVD Player, Black

Amazon Price: (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Panasonic TC-26LX85 26-Inch 720p LCD HDTV

Panasonic TC-26LX85 26-Inch 720p LCD HDTV

Amazon Price: (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Tell me what kind of television you decided to buy. 

What did you buy and why? How did you make your choice?

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The Dark Knight (+ BD Live) [Blu-ray]

The Dark Knight (+ BD Live) [Blu-ray]

Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

The Dark Knight (Widescreen Single-Disc Edition)

The Dark Knight (Widescreen Single-Disc Edition)

Amazon Price: $10.49 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Batman Forever

Batman Forever

Amazon Price: (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

by Miro99

My goal is to help you understand high definition TV. Allowing you to make your next television purchase with confidence. (more)

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