| You have heard about high definition tv and see it | | | | resolutions of 720p or 1080i. The newest standard is |
| advertised during your favorite sports shows. Your | | | | 1080p which allows you to view the highest resolution |
| kids (and you) want a new Xbox 360 or PS3 and you | | | | content found in HD-DVD or Blu-ray or experience the |
| want to make sure you have the right tv to get the | | | | newest video games in all their glory. It is important to |
| most bang for your buck from your new toys. So you | | | | point out that it is very difficult to distinguish a |
| have decided that this is the year to take the plunge | | | | difference in picture quality between a 1080p picture |
| on a brand new, sleek LCD flat screen tv. That is all | | | | and a 720p picture at smaller screen sizes, so before |
| well and good, but what do you do next? You are lost | | | | shelling out the extra dollars make sure that it will make |
| in the alphabet soup of LCD, HDMI, 1080p, 1080i, 720p. | | | | a difference in picture quality. |
| You are in over your head with technical terms like | | | | Video inputs - Make sure that your tv has plenty of |
| refresh rate, contrast ratio, and milliseconds of | | | | video inputs to meet your current and future viewing |
| response time. | | | | needs. HDMI is quickly becoming the standard video |
| The following will give you a quick, straight forward | | | | and audio input for high definition so make sure the tv |
| road map of basics to consider in order to make your | | | | has several HDMI inputs along with the standard |
| LCD flat screen tv purchase a success. | | | | composite and component inputs. |
| Cost considerations - You need to know how much | | | | Picture quality - Of course none of the issues above |
| you are willing to budget for your new LCD tv. | | | | make a difference if the tv has poor picture quality. |
| Determine if your budget is bare bones minimum or | | | | There are a lot of things that come into play when |
| price is no option. Most likely it will be somewhere in | | | | considering picture quality. |
| between. A new LCD can cost anywhere from a few | | | | One of the selling points of the newer, upper tier LCDs |
| hundred dollars for a small LCD for your kitchen or | | | | is the 120Hz refresh rate, which is double the normal |
| bedroom to several thousand for a LCD flat screen | | | | refresh rate generally allowing for smoother transitions |
| for your primary tv in your home theater room. | | | | and screen images in fast moving movie scenes and |
| The cost of a new LCD for a home theater room in | | | | sporting events. |
| the past was price prohibitive. Although an LCD will still | | | | Specifications alone do not always tell the whole story. |
| cost a bit more then a comparable Plasma it is | | | | For example, a contrast ratio can be helpful, but keep |
| interesting to note that over the past year the gap | | | | in mind that there is not a clear, standardized |
| between a new Plasma tv and an LCD has shrunk. | | | | measurement for contrast ratio between |
| Screen Size - Is this a small tv for a dorm room, a | | | | manufacturers. A contrast ratio within a product line is |
| bedroom or the kitchen or is this a primary tv for a | | | | generally more helpful then when compared between |
| home theater? Being partial to home theater I would | | | | manufacturers. |
| recommend that the tv be at least 46" to make the | | | | Look at whether the LCD flan screen tv can produce |
| greatest impact. A larger tv will enhance the feeling of | | | | vivid color, deep blacks, realistic textures, detailed |
| immersion of a movie or a sporting event. LCD flat | | | | images and smooth screen transitions. |
| screens of sizes ranging from 46" to 52" are | | | | There has never been a better time then now to get |
| becoming more common with sizes of 60" or more as | | | | on board the HDTV bandwagon. With a little research |
| an option although the cost is still a drawback for | | | | and planning you will soon be enjoying crisp, clear, |
| many. | | | | vibrant images on your new LCD flat screen tv so |
| Resolution - In order for a tv to be considered high | | | | kick back in your home theater lounger, gather your |
| definition, it needs to be able to display screen | | | | family and friends around and enjoy the show. |