by JM Van Horn

Created on: November 30, 2008

The decision has made to take the plunge into the world of High Definition Television or HDTV but where do you begin? The continuous advancement in technology on a seemingly daily basis can make your next television purchase a daunting task. In order to help you muddle your way through the technology jargon here are some buying tips to help guide you through the world of HDTV.

Style

The prices between LCD and Plasma televisions has begun to level out, so now consumer can now make the decision based on the product quality rather than cost. There are several benefits to purchasing a plasma television, like a wider viewing angle for your audience, improved color reproduction and a brighter image. A LCD television is an improvement over a plasma television when it comes to longer life span, increased sharpness of native resolution resulting in a more life like picture, along with being lightweight compared to the heavier plasma television. Also with an LCD, there is no chance of experiencing the burn-in effect on the television screen.
Make the decision for your new HDTV based on your personal preferences and you will be satisfied

Screen Size

One of the worst mistakes you can make when you are buying a HDTV television is purchasing one that is too big. Though you may not think it, it is possible. What is important to remember is how far you and your viewing audience will be sitting away from the television screen. If you are going to sit closer to the unit, whether it is because of cramped quarters or personal preference, the picture will look poor if the television's screen is too big. The best rule of thumb is to keep the distance at a ratio of 5 to 2 versus the size of the screen. For example if the HDTV screen is 40 inches, the closest you would want to be to the screen is 8 feet and no further than 20 feet.

Screen Resolution

When it comes to HDTV, the display resolution of your television is described in either 1080p or 720p. The number refers to the number of lines of vertical resolution while the p stands for progressive scan, which means the image is not interlaced. If you are looking to go with complete high definition with your new television, then you would want to select 1080p. This will cost you more money but you will really be able to see the difference in screens larger than 42 inches. If you are going to buy a HDTV with a screen smaller than 40 inches, you will find it hard to see any noticeable difference between a 1080p and 720p. The real difference

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