How To Choose A Television
How To Select A New TV
So you are looking for a new TV. You started checking things out and maybe you were overwhelmed by all the choices and different technologies. If this sounds like you, you aren't alone. There is a dizzying array of choices and we will help you to sort it all out.
There is a whole lot going on with TVs these days. If you are thinking of buying a new one, there is a lot to consider. First off, the basics, there are widescreen (16:9) or standard (4:3) aspect ratios. Next there are high-definition (HD), enhanced-definition (ED) or standard analog televisions. Finally there are direct view "tube", flat panel, rear projection and front projection TVs. Of course there are sub categories to consider like LCoS, DLP, Plasma, LCD and more. Ultimately your choices will probably come down to liking what you see and budget. But knowing what you are looking at and being able to talk the talk helps. We'll cover the basics and more to prepare you to choose your next television.
Something to consider. In the not too distant future all television broadcasts will be in high-definition (HD). In fact, most older TVs and all new TVs that are not HD-ready will require a converter just to display any broadcast signal. Even with the converter, the image will not be high definition. If you are buying now, experts would urge to you to choose a TV that is HD-ready. If you choose a model that has an ATSC tuner built in, you will be able to receive HD programming over-the-air (OTA) with a simple antenna. However, if you use cable or satellite you will still need to use your provider's set-top-box (STB) or at least a CableCard.
In case you haven't had the chance to see for yourself, DVDs look good on regular analog TVs and even better on HDTV. But high definition broadcast television looks far better than even DVD; it is nearly filmlike in quality. If you thought regular DVDs looked good, wait until you see an HD broadcast on an HDTV. Plus, HD quality DVDs are also on the way. But to join in the fun, you will have to have at least an EDTV; a HDTV would be even better.
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So if you are ready, let's learn about:
