LCD Televisions – An Overview
So, you've decided to finally ditch your aging, bulky TV set, and upgrade to a flat screen TV. You have money to spend, you've decided that the risk of burn-in on a plasma screen is not for you, and so you've opted for LCD. However, with so many LCD televisions on the market, which one do you choose? What do you need to look out for, and what should you avoid? Which manufacturers are better than others? So many questions, but don't panic. We have some of the answers right here.
When scouring the web or browsing in your local store for LCD televisions, you'll notice that models are categorised by one of the following: 480i, 720p, 1080i and so forth. What does this mean?
Firstly, the number relates to the resolution of the screen. The higher the number, the more detailed the picture - and more often than not, the more expensive the set! A resolution of 480 is now fairly uncommon, with most televisions coming in at 720 or 1080. Although 720 offers a perfectly reasonable picture, and can often come in high definition, a 1080 display is infinitely superior. With more and more media companies leaping on the HD bandwagon, LCD televisions with a resolution of 1080 are an investment for the future as well as the present.
Secondly, the letter - either 'i' or 'p'- relates to the image scanning method, or in laymen's terms, how the screen displays the image. The 'i' here stands for interlaced, where the screen draws lines alternately. A 'p' indicates progressive scan, which is the better of the two: image lines are drawn in sequence, which is quicker, meaning that you get a better picture quality.
A number of LCD televisions also come with special features, which can be confusing if you're not all that technically minded. A stretch and zoom function removes the black stripes on the top, bottom and sides of a picture that don't fit the screen - useful if the television is a widescreen, and the programme or film you're watching isn't broadcast in this format. 'Film mode' is handy if you like watching old movies, as it compensates for the slower frame rate used in older recordings, and greatly improves the picture.
Manufacturers to look out for include many of the usual suspects - Sony, LG, Sharp and Panasonic. Companies like Vizio are relatively unknown but don't let that put you off, they also offer top quality LCD televisions for a reasonable price. In the slightly cheaper bracket, sets from the likes of Toshiba and Samsung may not be quite as accomplished as their more expensive cousins, and often come with fewer special features. However, if you're either shopping on a budget, or want to get the largest screen possible for the money that you do have, both are worth looking at. Almost all manufacturers offer standard one or two year warranty on purchase, so whoever you choose, you'll be in safe hands.
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