How To Pick Out An LCD TV

Tube televisions are dead and LCD televisions are the newest thing. In a few years, trends indicate the domination of 3D television. Since LCDs evolved into the mainstay of visual entertainment, thousands of choices are available in store and online. Knowing how to wade through these choices can net you the best LCD television at the best price.

Brand

Usually second-tier or discount electronic manufacturers are the first to offer affordable versions of advanced electronics, and with LCD televisions the same is true. Many owners walk out with a Sylvania, Insignia or even a Phillips television. Although these brands usually work, they do not offer the top quality. They sometimes rush products to market, hoping to work an exposed business niche. If you wait a little longer and purchase a Vizio, Sony or Toshiba television, you get a better product.

Picture formatting

All the numbers pasted across advertisements for LCD televisions both confuse and delight consumers. They look important and fancy and something worth bragging about, but the majority of LCD television owners have no idea what they mean. The most common LCD television is a 720p. This means that the television displays an "progressive" image with 720 vertical lines. Progressive means a single image, which is high quality. 1080i televisions may offer more vertical lines (1,080 of them) but the "i" means "interlaced." Two images are woven together to make a picture, which does not offer the same clarity as a progressive image. The most expensive LCD television are 1080p, but these offer the best in television viewing.

Finding the right LCD for the best price is not difficult if you watch the sales and know the size, brand and type you want. For those people still stubbornly using tube televisions, once they experience an LCD television, they never go back.

Once they experience an LCD television, they never go back

by Denise Oliver, Electronics writer