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What is the right HDTV to get?
February 13th, 2006
Considering buying a High Definition Television? There are a few key factors that you should be aware of before making your decision. This should help simplify things. I not be mentioning any pricing since cost is starting to level off for all options. Showing the difference of a few hundred bucks will only make things more confusing.
Before we begin, keep in mind that even if you get an HD set, there is still limited programming available in HD. Although, in my case, I’ve found that 85% of what I watch from my cable provider is in fact HD, most of which are movies. Be sure to take a look at the service you have and the availability of upgrading to more HD content.
As you may already be aware of, there are a few options for displays. They are Plasmas, LCD screens and Rear-projector sets. Typically, the differences between these have to do with quality — rear-projectors being the best, followed by Plasmas and LCD screens. The technology for all these has improved however, where they are very similar in quality, at least to the human eye. What makes the difference is the resolution of the displays.
There are a few different HD resolutions. 720p is currently the most common, 1080i is basically 720p doubled in size close to the highest resolution which is 1080p, also known as True HD because it is the maximum and what will ultimately become the standard resolution for HD.
Another deciding factor is what kind of setup you want in your home. If you have a bigger room dedicated to a larger screen, the best option may be a rear-projector set which are similar in size to the old big screen TVs that were big in the 90s (no pun intended). If you have a smaller room, a Plasma or LCD would be right for you, especially a Plasma if you’re going extra compact and want the option of mounting it on your wall.
Ultimately, the best way to go is with a screen that is 42 inches or larger, with a resolution of 1080p. It may be pricier at this point in time, but if you must have your HD today, you won’t regret it tomorrow when technology catches up with you, instead of the other way around. If you could wait a little longer before going HD, consider it toward the end of the year when more options will be available and prices will go down considerably in time for the holiday season.
Update: See figure below.
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Tags: hdtv, lcd, plasma, technology
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