| Baffled by the technical jargon, the marketing hype, | | | | Select the Remote: |
| and the confusion surrounding flat panel TVs? You are | | | | This may sound trivial, but when it comes to actually |
| not the only one with this problem. With the vast | | | | using your TV, the remote is what can make your life |
| variety in television technologies, brands and technical | | | | very easy or very hard. Many HDTV's now come |
| specifications, buying a flat panel TV can turn into a | | | | with universal remotes - a single remote that can |
| nightmare. This article will take you through the key | | | | operate many devices such as the DVD player, the |
| aspects of buying a flat panel TV and the associated | | | | VCR and so on. These are a good option if you keep |
| accessories. | | | | losing and mixing up your remotes. Whether universal |
| Choosing for your Budget: | | | | or not, make sure that the remote that comes with the |
| The range in prices of flat screen TVs is just as wide | | | | TV has glow in the dark buttons or is backlit, and also |
| as the range in the TVs themselves. Here is the | | | | that it is comfortable and easy to use, sturdy, and |
| general range: | | | | durable. |
| Under $1000: | | | | HDTV Source: |
| - LCD Flat Panel: up to 42 inches | | | | This is what will actually get you the high definition you |
| - Plasma: up to 42 inches | | | | are looking for. It is useless to buy an HDTV if you use |
| - DLP, LCD, LCoS rear-projection TVs: up to 62 inches | | | | standard definition sources - the standard definition |
| Over $1000 | | | | image can often look disappointingly low quality when |
| - LCD Flat Panel: up to 70 inches | | | | played on a high-def set. To make your investment |
| - Plasma: up to 103 inches | | | | worth it, subscribe to the high definition transmissions of |
| - DLP, LCD, LCoS rear-projection TVs: up to 73 inches | | | | the channels you currently view on standard definition. |
| Test and Compare Displays Using Various Sources: | | | | Not all networks have high definition transmissions at |
| Don't just rely on what you see in the store - any | | | | present, but many do, such as ESPNHD, and the |
| store with half a mind is obviously using only the | | | | number of networks offering HD is ever growing. |
| highest quality input to show off the picture quality. | | | | Look for HDMI: |
| Test the display of the television you have chosen | | | | When buying an HDTV, buy a set that has at least |
| using the source that you will get in your home, for | | | | one HDMI input, and the more the better. HDMI stands |
| example the cable and satellite signals you are getting | | | | for "High Definition Multimedia Interface". Essentially, an |
| at home. HDTV and DVD signals will generally get | | | | HDMI input is what actually allows you to connect to a |
| along well with your television, but others could be a | | | | high-definition source. The more HDMI inputs you have, |
| problem. Don't make a buying decision until you are | | | | the more high definition sources you can connect to, |
| sure of the quality of images generated using your | | | | such as DVD players, Blu-Ray disc players, satellite |
| own sources. | | | | receivers, and cable TV boxes. It is good to choose |
| Secondly, test the picture quality of dark, dimly lit | | | | TV's with connection ports on the sides instead of at |
| scenes, for example night scenes in a movie. If the TV | | | | the back - it just makes your life that much easier! |
| has the ability to maintain the detail in dark scenes, only | | | | Finally, find great deals when buying TVs. |
| then it is worth buying. | | | | |