Buying a TV

Why should I update to a wide screen TV?

TV programming and movies tend to fill widescreen formats these days, so with a widescreen model you will see your movies as intended. They are also great for sport and nature programmes. Believe it or not, widescreen TVs are better for your eyesight as they are compatible with the way your eyes work. Your field of vision is wider than it is higher!

The High Definition Television standard defined by the Advanced Television Standards Committee specifies 16:9 displays as the desired format for viewing. These standards are available with most widescreen televisions. 16:9 widescreen TVs are regarded as the best option for watching films as you can see them in their original widescreen format.

What are flat screen TVs?

Flat screen TVs are the generic term for the latest technology widescreen televisions, which are very popular with consumers. There are two main kinds of flat screen TVs - plasma and LCD flat screens. Both plasma and LCD technologies can create thin, lightweight TV screens with large screen areas. Flat screens have long viewing lives, are lightweight and versatile. They can hang on the wall if need be.

What size flat screen should I get?

The size of the screen will normally affect the price. The bigger models are generally more expensive. But you also need to consider the right size screen for the size of the room. Your TV should deliver the correct picture for where you sit. A rough guide for good viewing and for the good of your eyesight is that you should sit a distance that is between three and six times the width of the screen.

About a four times ratio should do it for most people. The best way to pick the right size TV for your room is to measure it up and stick a piece of card or paper up in your room to judge what is comfortable. As well as a comfortable size and location for viewing you may, want to consider style implications of where it should go.

Where should I put my flat screen TV?

This is a question of style as well as spatial awareness. Clearly they look good on the wall but which one and in which room? Some people like them over the fireplace. Others find this too dominating. Think about this carefully. If you have the luxury of a spare room to let your flat screen dominate and turn it into a home cinema room that is fine; but if it is going in your multi-purpose living room, think more carefully about the location.

Another tip that might work is to locate your flat screen where an old fireplace once existed. Don't forget if you have the space flat screens can still look good on a traditional stand or cabinet in the corner of the room.

What should I look out for when buying a new TV?

Most modern televisions are set for HDTV except some of the smaller versions, so when buying a new TV, always check to see if it is EDTV or HDTV.

Consider sound quality and picture quality, the amount of inputs and outputs to suit your needs, plus controls and ease of use. Does it have a remote control? Are there controls on the TV itself?

Remember, Plasma and LCD screens are the most popular TVs and the best way of enjoying digital TV and High Definition TV.

What is a Plasma TV?

Plasma screens are made up of electrically charged cells of neon xenon gas which create the red, green, and blue colours of your TV image. Virtually all plasma displays are thin wide-screen formats and many come with built-in speakers. Some plasma products are display only with no speakers or built-in TV tuner. Plasma models have traditionally offered larger screen sizes compared to LCD TVs, and slightly better colour definition.

How does a Plasma TV work?

Two thin panels of mounted glass comprised of electrically powered networks of tiny pixels made from minute pockets of compressed gas. Each pixel contains sub-pixels of red, green and blue which produce million of different colour variations. When the electrical current is applied all the pixels emit light simultaneously creating a crystal clear image.

What advantages do Plasma TVs have?

Because they are so thin they save on space in your home. They are also very versatile and you can place them anywhere with a stand, or mount them on a wall. Plasma display monitors have screens that are perfectly flat with no curvature which aids picture quality.

Apart from high resolution, superb colour and sharpness, Plasma displays have a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio which is the intended ratio for movies. This is why DVDs look great on them. This is also the perfect format for HDTV.

Plasma TVs also have superb screen brightness. They also offer a wider viewing angle, allowing more people to watch making them ideal for pubs or family get togethers. Most plasma monitors can accept any video or digital format: NTSC, PAL, SECAM, HDTV, DVD movies, satellite broadcast and an internet connection.

Another key advantage of owning a Plasma screen is that they do not need a bulky Cathode Ray Tube to produce your image, so they can be made in thin flat screen formats. Plasma televisions are also offer larger screen sizes compared to LCD TVs, and better colour definition and tracking of moving images.

What is an LCD TV?

An LCD TV is a flat panel television using Liquid Crystal Display technology of the type previously available in mobile phones and computer screens. Now it is commonly used to deliver high quality flat screen TVs. The super slim design and brightness of the LCD models make them a very attractive option for consumers.

LCD televisions consist of two layers of glass material which are stuck to each other. One layer contains liquid crystals which filter electric currents. Their ability to block or allow pixellated light creates the images you see on your screen. LCD TVs are flicker free because the LCD has a constant source of light over the whole screen.

As well as their superb picture quality and widescreen formats their super thinness also makes them a versatile product for anywhere in your home. Like plasma TVs they can be wall hung or on a desk or stand. Most LCD televisions have built-in digital TV tuners. Their Liquid Crystal Technology means they are not as prone to overheating as Plasma models.

Why choose an LCD TV?

LCD panels are brighter than conventional TVs due to the use of pixels. Superb screen brightness is due to the pixel technology's performance against the fluorescent backlight. LCD panels are constructed in various sizes and shapes to accommodate 16:9 ratios for widescreen displays. Like Plasma TVs they can be wall mounted. These ultra thin TVs maximise the space in your home. Low power consumption means they are more energy efficient than conventional TVs and do not transmit radiation from their screens like conventional TVs. Most LCD televisions already have built-in standard TV tuners and are not as prone to overheating as Plasma TVs and traditional sets.

What are the main differences between Plasma and LCD TVs?

• LCDs are typically more expensive in the classic screen sizes.
• LCDs have lower contrast ratios than plasmas and struggle more with dark shades.
• Plasma TVs have in the past had quicker response times.
• LCD TVs tend to be thicker than plasma TVs for the same price.
• Plasma TVs are more easily viewable from the side.
• LCD TVs are immune to overheating and are easier to view in brightly lit rooms.
• LCDs usually include all the built-in features of a traditional TV.

What other issues should I consider when buying a flat screen?

Check out the contrast ratio which refers to the brightest and darkest light values a display can produce at the same time. The higher the contrast ratio is the better. The aspect ratio describes the relationship of screen width to screen height. Conventional sets have a 4:3 aspect ratio, whereas most flat screens have wide-screen 16:9 which is what you should look for.

The resolution is specified as the number of pixel columns by the number of pixel rows e.g. 1280 by 720. Generally speaking, a display is considered high definition if it is wide screen and has a total pixel count approaching 1 million. So 1920 by 1080, 1280 by 720, 1366 by 768, and 1024 by 1024 are all good examples of high-definition displays.

Always check the number and type of video inputs which determine which sources you can use with the display.

What is digital television?

Digital Television Technology - DTV - broadcasts the information used to make TV pictures and sound via data bits in much the same way as a computer. Digital TV systems can send more information than an Analogue system so the technology allows the transmission of images with higher resolutions. This means you experience a better picture as well as superior sound quality. DTV also provides multi channel interactive video and data which would be impossible with outdated analogue technology. Mass conversion to DTV will also free up broadcast airwaves for other services, such as police and rescue teams.

What is HDTV?

High Definition Television (HDTV) is the highest quality format of Digital TV. It provides high resolution programmes and sound and HD is the technology European standard for televisions able to display HD material and can include Dolby Digital Surround Sound. HDTV uses widescreen format and can have more than twice as many lines on a picture than Analogue programming thus enabling high quality images. It also allows the transmission of several TV programmes at once, otherwise known as multicasting. HDTV uses the same amount of bandwidth as Analogue systems but six times more information can be sent.

What other formats of Digital TV are there?

HDTV is the highest quality type of Digital TV but only one of several alternatives. Other common digital formats are Standard Definition Television (SDTV) and Enhanced Definition Television (EDTV). SDTV is the basic model for Analogue and Digital viewing. EDTV is the next level up providing better image quality but not as high as HDTV. OLED TVs are relatively new to the flat screen market. They use a new display technology called OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diodes). OLED televisions will be brighter, more efficient, thinner and with better refresh rates and contrast than LCD or Plasma TVs.

What Inputs/Features are there?

DVI - This is one of the highest-quality types of inputs and handy for connecting a computer. Digital visual interface is a digital RGB connection, commonly used for HDTV tuners and occasionally for DVD players; it may also be used for computer connections.

HDMI - Digital connector that transfers video and audio. HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) or HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) compliant DVI input are excellent. This will ensure full compatibility with HDTV such as HD digital cable, HD satellite receivers, HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc players.

Composite Video - Low quality but broad compatibility. Any device that has video outputs will include composite video among them. Uses a single cable between RCA jacks.

S-Video - Better quality than composite video. VCRs now have S-Video outputs. Connection is made with a special cable and multipin sockets.

Component Video - High quality minimum standard for HDTV tuners and DVD. Three basic cables.

RGB+H/V - High-quality input. Requires five basic cables.

VGA - Video Graphics Array high-quality analogue RGB connection used for computer connection.

Built-In Tuners - If you want to watch standard broadcast digital TV you need a built in TV tuner. If you use satellite or cable not necessary.

What else should I look for?

Displays - Most flat screens look great with HDTV and DVD but check other signals too. Check a variety of images and broadcasts.

Black and Grey - Check the screen against a darkly lit old movie. Often a sign of good quality is the ability to broadcast good low light images.

Remote Controls - Check you are happy with the remote. Is it too bulky? How easy is it to use? What features does it have? Some have glow in the dark buttons.

Settings - Play with the contrast, brightness, colour controls etc. The display in the shop will probably not have the best settings. Check on a variety of channels/images.