What Kind of HDTV Should I Buy?

There are some people who are resistant to technology. When in fact a HDTV can do you more good than harm. If you enjoy watching movies, television shows, and surfing the Internet, high definition is the way to go. I remember when I bought my first 1080p monitor. It was a 23" monitor, but it really did pack a punch. I immediately recognized the clarity in the picture quality.

I compared it to my old TV set, and I was blown away. I struggled with the fact should I buy the monitor or not. I suggest anyone out there who is still on the fence about HDTV, shouldn't be scared of this new technology. Since I've upgraded I've notice I have less headaches. Before I bought the high definition monitor, I would frequently get headaches from eye strain. The picture on my TV is so grainy and out of focus.

It's the same thing if you need glasses everything is so washed out. The HDTV would be like putting on a fresh pair of glasses everything is clearer. I understand that new things are scary, and it may take you a while to adjust, but it's worth it in my opinion. The only thing about buying a high definition TV is the options menu. There are all kinds of options to adjust the monitor, but you can ask the salesperson to adjust the TV to your liking. The price of a high definition is getting lower everyday, and most of them consume less power than the older models.

The three kinds of TV sets that you need to know is LCD, plasma, and LED. All of these TVs share similar features, but there are major differences between the three. I will give some pros and cons of each television, and you decide what's right for you.

LCD

Pros: Some of the pros about a LCD HDTV is the power consumption. The LCD TV will run a lot less power than the plasma. The price is very affordable and there are all kinds of sizes to choose from so there's something for everyone. Many consumers buy an LCD TV because of the anti-glare screens. They are very good at blocking out sunlight and glare.

Cons: The viewing angles of an LCD are not very good. If someone is sitting to the far left or far right of the TV, the images tend to be washed out. You have to view the TV head on to get the complete picture. Another con about this TV is the black levels aren't as dark as the plasma TVs. When you are watching movies with darker scenes the LCD makes black look like dark grey.

Plasma

Pros: The biggest pro about the plasma is the size of the TV. You can purchase movie size TV sets, and most LCD's don't make sizes as big as plasma. The black levels on a plasma are very good, and you don't lose detail like an LCD. If you enjoy sports and bigger screens with great picture quality choose plasma.

Cons: While the plasma sounds like it doesn't have flaws, well think again. The plasma TV sets take a lot of power to run. Some of them are around 350-500 watts, depending on what model you buy. If you're conscious of your electric bill, you might want to avoid this one. Plasma also has a glare problem, and in a highly lit room it's almost unviewable. The last know problem with a plasma TV is the burn-in issue. This is when you leave the TV in a still picture too long; it will permanently burn the image into the TV. Not all plasmas have this problem, but it's something to be keep in mind.

LED

Pros: The LED TV is a hybrid of both TV sets, and they can perform well with minimal power usage. The LED runs less power than plasma and LCD. Most of the sets can be run using less than 100 watts, so it's very energy friendly. The brightness on the LED is brighter than both the plasma and the LCD. The LED's also have a bit longer display life, than their counterparts. The black levels are good, but they aren't better than plasma.

Cons: LED is a fairly new technology, so the price is a bit expensive. There are also not as many sizes to choose from, so it's a bit difficult finding the right one. The viewing angles on this TV are good, but they could use some work. Some of the darker scenes you can still see a little bit of light bleeding in the background. It's much better than LCD, but it still isn't as good as plasma.