Know what features are included with the televsion to properly rate them.
Television technologies have advanced considerably over the last ten years. Today, buying a new television requires more knowledge than just the price range you want to spend and picking the television out at the store. There are many choices that need to be made including price, size, screen resolution, screen type and additional features. Knowing more about television technologies will help make choosing a new television a better informed decision.
Instructions
1. Check whether the screen is LCD or plasma. Both screen types are flat screen televisions. At one time, plasmas were more expensive, but the difference in price is reducing according to Consumer Reports. LCD screens offer televisions with screen sizes up to 60 inches. Viewing a LCD screen from side angles is more an issue than with plasmas, and the screens tend not to possess plasma's deep black colors. Concerns with plasma screens include glare, and the slight possibility to burn an image into the screen.
2. Compare screen resolution. Common terms associated with resolution are 720p and 1080p. Each number represents the amount of pixels the television has from top to bottom. The bigger the television screen size, the more important these numbers become. A television over 50 inches will offer a better picture quality with 1080-line screen resolution.
3. Check the refresh rate on LCD televisions. For the smoothest action-viewing experience, the higher the refresh rate, listed as Hz, the better. Older LCD screens refreshed at 60Hz per second, which could result in fast motion with artifacts. Refresh rates have increased to 120, 240, and even 480Hz. Note that these numbers mean redrawing all information on the screen up to 480 times per second.
4. Consider anti-glare and anti-burn features on plasma televisions. The two biggest issues with plasma are glare from the glass front panel, and burning of images into the screen. If you plan on bringing home a plasma big screen TV, be sure they have type of safeguards against these issues.
5. Investigate the additional features. The latest features are Internet connections and Wi-Fi capability. Having the big screen connect directly to the Internet will connect you to sites such as Hulu, Netflix and Youtube to watch additional content without the use of an external device. Does the television have plenty of inputs for additional devices: gaming systems, DVD or Blu-ray players and surround sound systems? Make sure the television has enough flexibility to accommodate everything you have presently, and allow you to expand with your needs in the future.
Tags: screen resolution, additional features, into screen, refresh rate, these numbers, with plasma
