Buying a New High Definition TV? The Right Questions to Ask
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Let's face it – even though the employees at the local electronics store might swear that they're not on commission, there's always an incentive. Whether it's simply meeting sales quotas or qualifying for a free vacation drawing, there's a number of ways that stores reward employees for performing without attaching the "commission" label. This often makes it tough to tell exactly what you need (or what you're getting) in terms of HD TV. Keeping the questions simple and relevant will help your cause, and hopefully this short article will be able to guide you through some common misconceptions and questions to ask.
1080p vs. 1080i
Most newer TVs today are offering the highly-coveted 1080p picture. That being said, you might find a store salesperson who tries to talk you out of discounted 1080i models by saying that the picture isn't as good. This is mostly untrue, since the "average" consumer simply won't notice a difference. While it's true that if you sit three feet in front of the set and stare for awhile you might be able to see a difference with an interlaced picture, 99% of people won't ever do this. Overall, if you can get a great deal on a 1080i set, jump on it – you probably won't regret it and your friends with a more expensive 1080p won't notice the difference.
Plasma vs. LCD vs. LED
Unless you're prepared to drop a ton of money on a TV set (twice as much as you were probably planning on), you can probably rule out LED. They're being advertised heavily now, and they're a great technological advance – but most folks can't afford to bring them home yet. LCD is currently leading the market in sales, and for good reason. They offer better brightness, visibility and picture compared to their plasma competitors. It's the same technology that's existed in flat computer screens for a decade, just brought to a larger size. They're affordable now, and will last longer than a plasma screen. That being said, plasmas can be a great deal right now. If you only keep a TV for a few years and don't live in a high-altitude region, they might be a good option for you. The picture looks about the same, they can just suffer from some difficulties years down the line. This is why they're being progressively phased out by companies in favor of LCD.
Programming
This is the bread and butter of your high definition TV. Without the right receiver and programming package, you'll never get the picture that you want to out of your TV – and it might even disappoint you more than your old one. Sports programming looks great in HD, but only if you have the right package. Some, like NFL Sunday Ticket, are available only on satellite TV. For this reason, many people choose satellite for their newly purchased TV.
Let's face it – even though the employees at the local electronics store might swear that they're not on commission, there's always an incentive. Whether it's simply meeting sales quotas or qualifying for a free vacation drawing, there's a number of ways that stores reward employees for performing without attaching the "commission" label. This often makes it tough to tell exactly what you need (or what you're getting) in terms of HD TV. Keeping the questions simple and relevant will help your cause, and hopefully this short article will be able to guide you through some common misconceptions and questions to ask.
1080p vs. 1080i
Most newer TVs today are offering the highly-coveted 1080p picture. That being said, you might find a store salesperson who tries to talk you out of discounted 1080i models by saying that the picture isn't as good. This is mostly untrue, since the "average" consumer simply won't notice a difference. While it's true that if you sit three feet in front of the set and stare for awhile you might be able to see a difference with an interlaced picture, 99% of people won't ever do this. Overall, if you can get a great deal on a 1080i set, jump on it – you probably won't regret it and your friends with a more expensive 1080p won't notice the difference.
Plasma vs. LCD vs. LED
Unless you're prepared to drop a ton of money on a TV set (twice as much as you were probably planning on), you can probably rule out LED. They're being advertised heavily now, and they're a great technological advance – but most folks can't afford to bring them home yet. LCD is currently leading the market in sales, and for good reason. They offer better brightness, visibility and picture compared to their plasma competitors. It's the same technology that's existed in flat computer screens for a decade, just brought to a larger size. They're affordable now, and will last longer than a plasma screen. That being said, plasmas can be a great deal right now. If you only keep a TV for a few years and don't live in a high-altitude region, they might be a good option for you. The picture looks about the same, they can just suffer from some difficulties years down the line. This is why they're being progressively phased out by companies in favor of LCD.
Programming
This is the bread and butter of your high definition TV. Without the right receiver and programming package, you'll never get the picture that you want to out of your TV – and it might even disappoint you more than your old one. Sports programming looks great in HD, but only if you have the right package. Some, like NFL Sunday Ticket, are available only on satellite TV. For this reason, many people choose satellite for their newly purchased TV.