Sure the markets are down, the economy is in the crapper, and your 401K envelope is best left unopened to avoid nightmares, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to NOT celebrate Christmas! One of the hot items expected this year are HDTVs. Prices are expected to be slashed in 1/2 on Black Friday, and may stay that way (or close to it) throughout the season. 42 in. plasmas are going for as little as $500! But be careful, an HD-TV is a big investment, and you don’t want to just jump on a sale offer without taking a deeper look into the world of HD. So here’s a friendly checklist of what to look for when buying your first HDTV.
FIRST THINGS FIRST: LCD or PLASMA. Both are good viable options. Plasma is heavier, and usually has a better contrast ratio, but LCDs have come a long way, are usually thinner, and last longer.
2) RESOLUTION — The higher the better. 1080p is the best. Don’t go below 720.
3) CONTRAST RATIO — The difference between light and dark. Again, the higher the better. Look for 10,000 – 1, or higher. Could vary depending on your choice of plasma or LCD.
4) STANDARD DEFINITION — Make sure your new TV will still play standard TV signals (those not in HD), as well as VHS and old DVDs. Otherwise, it’ll look really bad.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, go back to the good old days of TV shopping and TRUST YOUR EYES. Look and see which TVs look the best to you, and don’t be afraid to bring one of your favorite DVDs to the store and ask the clerk to put it on for you to see how it looks on your possible new investment.
(NOTE: I’m in the market for my first HD-TV, and these were things I thought would be helpful in my quest. I am definitely not a Technical no-it-all. So feel free to send me a comment or E-mail and correct me, or give me better advices. Below are some links that I got my information from that may serve as more help.)
