| When faced with the need to buy a new television, | | | | Until recently, LCD TV's have been more popular in the |
| one of the first questions that may come to mind is, | | | | smaller sized televisions. This is partly because |
| "Should I buy an LCD television?" There are pros and | | | | technology caused the prices of the larger screens to |
| cons to this decision, including issues of size, clarity, | | | | be much more expensive than the smaller sets. |
| space, and longevity of the product. Can I use it with | | | | However, technology is constantly improving and now |
| my current auxiliary devices like my CD player and | | | | there is less of a price difference, making the |
| VCR? | | | | large-screen sets more available to the average |
| Exactly what is an LCD TV? LCD stands for Liquid | | | | consumer. |
| Crystal Display. This is the same technology that has | | | | Many consumers wonder if they can use their LCD |
| been used for some time for camera screens and cell | | | | TV as a computer monitor. Most of them can be, due |
| phones. It is constructed of two panels of glass-like | | | | to the fact that LCD TV's are an outgrowth of the |
| material, which are bonded together. One layer is | | | | LCD computer monitor. The majority of TVs have the |
| coated with a special polymer which contains the liquid | | | | VGA input connections necessary to be integrated |
| crystals. An electrical current is run through the crystals | | | | into a PC. Gamers like to integrate their PC and game |
| which can turn dark or allow light to pass through, thus | | | | systems in order to have a large screen to play their |
| creating the picture. | | | | games on. |
| The difference between LCD TV's and plasma TV's | | | | You may have older auxiliary devices such as a VCR, |
| is not readily apparent. They look quite similar, but use | | | | and wonder if they are compatible with the LCD |
| entirely different technology. A plasma TV is made up | | | | televisions. They will work together, since most LCD |
| of cells, which have been injected with a gas called | | | | televisions have standard AV connections. However, a |
| neon-xenon. When electricity is applied to the cell, red, | | | | VHS tape, with its lower resolution and poorer color |
| green and blue phosphors are struck. Each of these is | | | | quality, will not look as good on an LCD TV as it did on |
| called a pixel, and together they comprise the picture. | | | | a smaller analogue television. |