HDTV Made EasyPosted in Buying Help
HDTV Made EasyMost people know that if they're going to buy a TV online today. But what exactly is this and what's all the fuss? We take a look at HDTV and it's implications when buying a new TV.
What's this about HDTV?HDTV (that's High Definition TeleVision in case you didn't know) means much better quality pictures from your television. People use their TVs for all kinds of entertaining activities. And HD means much more detailed, clearer pictures for all of them - whether you want to watch TV shows, play DVDs or save the world on your games console.
A bit about HD signalsIf, like me, you've recently upgraded your old set to a nice large flat screen TV, you might have got a bit of a shock when you tuned in to your favourite TV show. The image that used to look good on your old 28" is now stretched over nearly twice the size. And it looks... well... a bit blobby.
This is because although the TV is 'HD', the signal isn't. Just because you buy an HD television, it doesn't magically improve the detail of the picture. The TV needs an HD signal before it can reproduce pictures in HD. That's not to say you can't enjoy your HDTV with a standard signal of course! Just that when HD is available everywhere, we'll all be watching TV in a much improved format. So when you see that a TV is 'HD Ready', it means that you'll be all set to enjoy HD signals once they're available in your area. How do you get HD TV then?So you've got your HD television set? Great. Next thing you'll need is a receiver to pick up the HD signals. Check with your current TV / satellite / cable provider and see what they offer in this area. You'll likely be able to pick up a receiver immediately and enjoy at least some channels in HD. More and more are being released all the time.
Telly typesPosted in Buying Help
Telly Types - Comparing LCD, Plasma and CRTLearn the difference and each ones pros & consIn this short guide, we take a look at the three main TV formats and examine what's so great about each one, as well as looking at their weaknesses.
CRT - Cathode Ray RubeThis is the TV we've been watching all of our lives. Good old glass tubes used in this ancient technology. Where 28" is considered a 'big' display. But don't knock the 'old' TV. The old dog's still got a few plus points.
PlasmaPlasma TVs uses advanced technology, that involves gas to emit light. Plasma displays are bold, bright and can come in huge sizes. (With an equally high price tag. The sizes start from around 37" upwards.
LCDLiquid Crystal Displays are the best selling and most popular form of flat screen TV at the moment. They're the same technology you'll find on your notebook computers and similar gadgets. They come in a huge range of sizes and are very affordable.
LCD Or Plasma?Posted in Buying Help
Energy consumptionIn an ever greener world, it's always a good idea to check how much energy the products you're buying for your home will consume. Of course it will also save you money at the same time. Contrary to popular belief, LCDs and Plasma tvs use up about the same energy. So this shouldn't be a major concern when deciding between the two technologies. Will one last longer than the other?This is another area where the two kinds of TV will basically be the same. An average LCD or Plasma TV set will last you about 50,000 - 60,000 hours worth of viewing. This is incidentally around twice the length of the older CRT TV sets. Deeper blacks with Plasma?One of the main reasons viewers opt for a plasma set is that they are capable of reproducing really rich, deep black colours on the screen. Run side by side with an LCD TV, the difference is very noticeable. However LCD TVs are capable of producing rich, vibrant colours also. Especially the Bravia range, renowned for it's colour reproduction. What else can plasma do better?Plasma displays will also produce slightly sharper-looking images, and have a faster response speed. This will make fast-paced action scenes or sporting action appear smoother. Contrast is another area where Plasma screens can also look much better over it's LCD counterparts. WeightPlasma TVs are usually quoted as being heavier than LCD tellys. But it's worth bearing in mind that they aren't that much heavier. They are generally 10 - 15% more heavy than LCD TVs. Further reading
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