The vast majority of televisions sold today are of the high-definition format (HDTV), which is consistent with the latest mandated production and broadcast standards. There are several different styles to choose from, all offering relative advantages and compromises:

LCD Flat Screens

LCD televisions are currently the most popular HDTV format. LCDs come in a full range of sizes, eliminate glare with their matte screens, and have outstanding picture quality that is improving with each new generation of televisions. On the other hand, contrast and color saturation may lag slightly behind the plasma format, affecting image quality. They also offer a relatively restricted viewing angle, which may not be appropriate for larger rooms.

Plasma Flat Screens

Plasma televisions offer several distinct advantages from other HDTV formats. They allow the widest viewing angle, provide an image-quality of theater-style resolution, and offer the best motion resolution. The disadvantages are minor: plasma TVs are bulkier than LCD TVs and are less energy efficient. Also, the glass screens of plasma televisions are highly reflective, and in certain viewing environments glare may be a problem.

Rear Projection

Although plasma and LCD televisions are catching up, the rear projection format still gives you the biggest image size at the best price. With the advantage in price comes good image quality and improving viewing angle. However, rear projection TVs are bigger and bulkier than flat screens, are relatively slow (20 seconds or so) to warm up, and require their lamps to be replaced every 3,000 to 6,000 hours (not a hard task, but a new lamp typically costs about $200). Until LCD and plasma televisions offer cheaper models in the 55”-plus range (which may happen sooner rather than later), the rear projection format will still have enthusiasts.

CRT

Picture tube televisions are still available, and so they deserve a mention here, but today's new models are the last examples of a dying breed. New CRTs max out at 27” and many do not feature a widescreen aspect ratio, two important reasons for their unpopularity. There is no longer much of a price savings for a CRT television, so the final incentive to buy them has been removed.

Contents

• What to Look for in a Television
• Popular Television Brands

What to Look for in a Television

Screen Size – Everyone's favorite feature! LCDs offer a full range of sizes, plasmas range from 42” to 65+”, and rear screens can go much larger than that. Match the size of the television with the size of the room it will be in – smaller TVs for offices and bedrooms, larger models for the living room or a home theater setting.

Aspect Ratio – Most televisions sold today are of the widescreen format of 16:9 or 16:10, which provides for optimum viewing of film content and the newer generation of video games. Televisions in the traditional ratio of 4:3 are no longer available at much of a discount, and if you are buying a new television, there is no reason not to make the upgrade to widescreen.

Image Quality – 1080dpi is the standard, and only entry models in these categories will feature anything less. As price and size go up, some brands offer additional features that improve apparent dpi and contrast resolution, thereby improving image quality.

Popular Television Brands

The names should be familiar, since most of these manufacturers have been at it for decades. Sony, Toshiba and Samsung are industry leaders, and they offer televisions of all styles, sizes, and prices. Panasonic televisions are highly rated on many consumer report sites. Off-label brands Insignia and ProScan have won fans with their bargain models.