Which TV Should I Buy?

The ABC's of TV

Let's start with definitions of all those acronyms, and boil it down to the features you need versus the price you're willing to pay. We'll start with HDTV (High Definition Television) since it's a technology feature you can get on ANY type of television. HDTV signals are much higher resolution than standard (NTSC/PAL) signals, so the picture is much sharper. In comparison to a computer monitor, regular TV is like an old 640x480 display, while HDTV is like a 1920x1080 display -- almost seven times more pixels on the screen.

The great thing about HD is that you get really clear, realistic pictures, which can make movies and sports programming a lot more enjoyable. But HD is new and so there are some glitches to be worked out. If you want HD you will need to make sure that you have a service provider that offers HDTV, and an HD compatible TV. Even though your equipment might be HD ready, television service providers (cable, satellite or fiber optic) do not always deliver the HD signals. And if they do, there are usually extra fees for the upgrade.

Let's define a few more terms and look at some recommended models in each category...

CRT or Cathode Ray Tube -- This technology is certainly mature, dating back to the very first sets. Large, heavy and deep, these conventional TVs still stand prominently in many of our homes. You can still purchase them too -- really good ones, but if you're looking for cool technology in a small foorprint then a CRT probably isn't for you.

The Insignia NS-27HTV 27-inch CRT TV (US$400) is a bit more expensive than other TVs of this type however it has a sleek look, flat screen and is HD ready. It can also display widescreen images at great resolutions. This would be a great TV for someone who just wants to relax with their favorite TV shows and is not so interested in being on top of the new tech features currently on the market.

LCD or Liquid Crystal Display -- Conventional TV's rely on an electron beam to transmit the picture you see on the television from the tube to the screen. LCD TVs work by using, as the name implies, liquid crystals. When an electric current passes through the crystals they either transmit or block light, creating the picture that is delivered to your eyes. The images are clearer and more defined than the CRT. LCD TVs are flat paneled which can either be hung on the wall or placed on a mount. Regardless they are lightweight, space savers at about 3 inches deep and they look really great! The LCD TV can also double as a huge computer monitor which is great for multitaskers!

Panasonic's TC-LX60 comes as a 23in, 26in, or 32in (US$1000) flat panel LCD TV. It is easy to set up and use, HDTV ready, and has excellent image quality.

Plasma TV -- Inside a Plasma TV are a number of cells which are each separated with two bits of glass. The cells are filled with neon-xenon gas in plasma form. When not in use the plasma has a neutral electrical charge but when it is on, the plasma is hit with a positive charge. This reaction causes colored phosphors to light up producing the images on the TV. The images of plasma TV are superior though more expensive than an LCD TV and do not risk burn in from persistent channel logos or other "stuck" images.

The Samsung HP-S4253 42" Plasma HDTV (US$1200) is a top of the line model with an excellent feature set and great quality for the price. The Samsung Digital Natural Image engine refines both analog and HD video inputs for an overall improvement in contrast, picture detail and brightness, and image clarity.

Flat Screen vs. Flat Panel -- Flat screen and flat panel sound the same but are intrinsically different. A flat screen is simply that... not curved like the screens on conventional CRT TVs. The new and improved flat screen provides better viewing angles and image quality so you don't have to sit directly in front of it. CRT TVs are available with flat screens. What separates the flat screen from the flat panels like those of LCDs, Plasma, and projection is the dimensions; they are all very thin.

Projection TV -- These are great for movie buffs and sports fans, delivering the best home theater experience. Projection TV can be placed out of sight when not in use or it can be mounted on your wall or ceiling. The images are projected onto a screen from a compact device that's sole purpose is to create clear and crisp images. Projectors never cause screen burn in or glares since the device and screen are separate and glass free. All of your entertainment media from movies to video games can become larger than life right before your eyes.

The sky is the limit when it comes to the size and type of screen you choose to accompany your projection TV. There are retractable, free standing and wall mounted screens, all of which are extremely lightweight and thin. Sizes vary too; measured in feet, not inches. But beware of screens that are too large; image quality can be lost when they get too big. Your best bet is to set it up and try out the projection on a wall (or hang a sheet if your paint is too dark) and then determine the most compatible sized screen.

The Panasonic PT-P1SDU (US$800) is a great portable projection TV which is also reasonably priced. It is HDTV, DVD, and PC compatible. In addition it has an SD card slot so you can also view still images and video directly from your digital camera.

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