Thinking of purchasing a liquid crystal display (LCD) television but don't know where to start? First let's look at the basic advantages of an LCD TV: essentially, because of strategically placed panes of polarized glass and high pixilation, an LCD television provides sharper, higher-contrast images than a traditional television. This means that ambient light won't "wash" out your picture or cause glare, which usually contributes to eye strain. An LCD monitor, unlike a traditional CRT monitor, is capable of displaying regular TV, HDTV, as well as home video, and can even be used as a computer monitor. Also, because of its flat screen, an LCD TV can be viewed up to a 160 degree level from anywhere in the room.

Although LCD televisions aren't particularly new, having been available for a number of years, with updated technology, they're now giving newer plasma TVs some competition. Here are things you should consider during your search for an LCD TV:

1) Quality. The smaller the pixilation, the better the picture and color quality. You want a "dot pitch" of at least .28mm or finer for the best quality. Luckily, recent technological advances have eliminated the "ghosting" and "streaking" of earlier versions. These phenomena that previously interfered with picture clarity often occurred because of slower pixel response times, or the times during which pixels "refresh themselves." Newer brands have a much better response time which translates into smoother images.

2) Size. Ironically, the larger an LCD TV, the less evenly light is distributed, which interferes with color production, making images seem faded. Search for a television that is no larger than 37". Many of the latest brands coming out offer TVs that are 20" are smaller. Also, consider the LCD ratio; a ratio that is 16 units wide to 9 units high is more optimal for viewing HDTV and DVDs, while the usual 4:3 aspect ratio is the norm for regular viewing. If you go with the larger LCD display, you will have the option of scaling up a 4:3 image in full mode.

3) HDTV compatibility. Many households now receive HDTV signals. Most LCD TVs have internal tuners to pick up these signals and will give you a slight edge with higher resolution even when non-HDTV broadcasts are showing. During HDTV broadcasts, of course, your viewing is even sharper.

4) Installation. Just like plasma televisions, LCD TVs can mount on the wall, saving much needed space. They provide customized stands,

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