How to Purchase a Flat Panel TV
When purchasing a flat panel TV, there are a few things to keep in mind. Here, we've listed a number of considerations for you to evaluate.
High Definition Upgradeable or HDTV-Ready
If you see either of these terms used when deciding to purchase a flat screen TV, it means that the TV is capable of producing the highest resolutions possible for digital television today. "Upgradeable" means that you'll need to first add a separate HDTV receiver before you can view the pictures in high definition mode (1080i or 720p). But, even if you don't upgrade, the picture will still look fantastic. When watching regular DVDs or TV broadcasts, the picture will be almost as good as real HDTV because most have line-doublers to improve the picture.
16:9 Aspect Ratio
Unlike conventional televisions, new plasma, LCD and rear-projection televisions most likely have a wide, rectangular screen that is very similar to the shape of a movie screen. This is known as 16:9 aspect ratio-for every 16 inches wide, the screen is 9 inches high. Compared to conventional TVs, which are 4:3 in aspect ratio, the field of vision is wider for a new flat screen TV.
When watching DVDs at home on a 16:9 wide-screen television, you will be able to enjoy the full screen effect of the movie the way it was intended. On the other hand, when watching regular, standard definition television (like a news broadcast or talk show), you will need to either set the television to fill the screen entirely or watch with vertical black bars on either side of the picture.
Finally, remember that even though most television broadcasts are in 4:3 format, 16:9 widescreen format is the way of the future. Many events are shot in HDTV format (for example, the Olympics, special sporting events, nature documentaries, etc.) and as more and more people purchase high definition television, all broadcasts will be in high definition within the next few years.
Reverse 3:2 Pulldown
Television shows are usually shot on film at 24 frames per second. When transferred to video running at 30 frames per second, the picture quality is distorted in the translation. New televisions are able to correct those distortions through a series of reconversion techniques which reverse the distortions. The result is a smoother and cleaner picture.
When looking to buy a new plasma, LCD or rear-projection television, look for this feature.
3D Y/C Digital Comb Filter
The 3D Y/C digital comb filter's job is to take the cable signal coming from the wall and separate the color, sound, brightness information into useable information. New plasma, LCD and rear-projection televisions have digital 3D Y/C comb filters that do a pretty good job of this so as to avoid what is know as "dot crawl" where the edges of objects appear rough. In addition, a good digital comb filter will also counter the effects of moiré, where still objects appear to move and ripple.
Most high end plasma, LCD and rear-projection televisions also have component inputs from video sources (such as a DVD player) that separate the signal before reaching the TV and bypass the digital comb filter. This results in an even clearer and brighter picture.
Picture-in-Picture
Picture-in-Picture (or PIP) allows you to watch two shows at once, with the second show in a box in a part of the screen. PIP is fairly common these days to all sorts of televisions. However, consider getting a dual tuner PIP plasma, LCD or projection television since that allows you to watch the second channel without needing an external tuner (for example, from a vcr). In addition, there are also TVs that will show different channels side by side-these are called twin view PIP TVs.
Inputs
"Inputs" refer to how related audio/visual components connect to your plasma, LCD or rear-projection television. The highest video quality input is known as "component video". With component video inputs, the color and brightness information from the cable is separated into useable data before entering the television. The next best input is S-video input which give a picture almost as good as component video-whereas component video separates brightness, blue signal and red signal from each other, S-video just separates brightness from blue and red signals.
All new plasma, LCD and rear-projection televisions will also have inputs for various multimedia devices such as DVD players. In addition, some will allow you to connect a computer.
(c) 2005 Philip Liu - All Rights Reserved Worldwide
Philip Liu is a freelance author and publisher currently based in New York City. Philip publishes regularly on his websites dealing with cell phone reviews and news and plasma, LCD TV reviews and news.
 Google News Updated : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 11:50:43 GMT Mugabe Hands Ministries to His Party - New York Times
New York Times - By CELIA DUGGER JOHANNESBURG - In a step likely to lead to the collapse of a painstakingly negotiated power-sharing deal, Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, in office for 28 years, has unilaterally declared that his party will retain the most powerful ... Mugabe 'gives Zanu-PF key posts' Zimbabwe's Mugabe hands key ministries to his party Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 10:57:49 GMT Thai protest leaders released on bail, vow new rallies - AFP
AFP - BANGKOK (AFP) - Leaders of Thai anti-government protests were granted bail Friday after surrendering to police and immediately vowed new rallies, raising fears of mounting turmoil days after deadly street clashes. Video: Raw Video: Tear Gas Fired at Thai Protestors PAD leaders surrender to Thailand police Publ.Date : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:31:03 GMT Stevens's Reputation 'Sterling,' Powell Says - Washington Post
Washington Post - By Del Quentin Wilber Former secretary of state Colin L. Powell told jurors in the corruption trial of Sen. Ted Stevens yesterday that the powerful Alaska Republican had a "sterling" reputation among the nation's military and political leaders. Reporter's Notebook: Powell Takes the Stand for Stevens Powell says Sen. Stevens' integrity "sterling" Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 03:13:53 GMT Paulson Indicates Need to Purchase Bank Equity `Soon as We Can' - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By John Brinsley and Rebecca Christie Oct. 11 (Bloomberg) -- US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson indicated that pumping government funds into banks is a priority and said financial markets will remain volatile. US to buy shares in struggling banks Obama welcomes Paulson plan to buy equity in firms Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 04:21:05 GMT Palin violated ethics law, inquiry concludes - International Herald Tribune
International Herald Tribune - By Serge F. Kovaleski NEW YORK: Sarah Palin, the Republican vice-presidential candidate, abused her powers as governor of Alaska by pressuring subordinates to try to get her former brother-in-law, a state trooper, fired, according to an investigation ... Palin ethics lapse cited Alaska probe finds Palin 'abused her power' Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 09:58:28 GMT McCain calms supporters, urges respect for Obama - Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times - 'NO MA'AM': Sen. John McCain takes a question from a supporter who called Democratic rival Barack Obama an Arab at a town hall meeting in Lakeville, Minn. McCain-Palin's hot rhetoric risks GOP backlash McCain Lauds and Attacks Obama in Same Day Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 09:04:20 GMT Morgan Stanley, Goldman May Gain Investment From US Treasury - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By Christine Harper Oct. 11 (Bloomberg) -- Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs Group Inc., the biggest independent US investment banks, may reap cash infusions as part of Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson's plan to buy stakes in financial institutions, ... As Stock Falls, Morgan Looks to Japanese Bank Morgan Stanley hangs on Mitsubishi's $9bn pledge Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 04:30:39 GMT Make Money From Home |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Toshiba offers a few of their refurbished laptops in the... Read More Used laptop computers are everywhere these days. How can you... Read More Whether you are crunching figures at a front office job... Read More Throughout the years there have been many technologies involved with... Read More Are you sick of all the high priced notebooks out... Read More Printers are on-line devices initially categorised as being either impact... Read More If you've been in the market for a new computer... Read More Notebook computers are becoming very popular. They seem to be... Read More It's not exactly breaking news that our world is becoming... Read More Digital voice recorders have become increasingly popular over the last... Read More There are many different names for these drives, just so... Read More Computer network installation has become an essential prerequisite for any... Read More Years ago computers were huge and their accompanying printers were... Read More Do you feel overwhelmed when buying a computer or a... Read More Flash your ATI video card BIOS.You will need the following:1.... Read More For years, I smugly prided myself as a non-fax machine... Read More There is something good about esr meter because besides electrolytic... Read More Laser toner is the ink for laser printers. It is... Read More The importance of a bar code reader in this day... Read More Computers often break down at the worst of all times.... Read More Data Centers are the core of the Internet. The computer... Read More If you're a bargain shopper looking to get the most... Read More Moving the office network? How hard could it be? Anybody... Read More Roll over lumbering desktop computers, the limber laptop is here,... Read More The following is a list of tips to help safeguard... Read More
Adsense
websites
A Review of Refurbished Toshiba Laptops
Used Laptop Computer: Your Quick Purchase Inspection Guide ? Part 4
Give Your PC a Monitor Makeover
Types Of Laptop Batteries
Getting A Great Refurbished Laptop
Survey of Both Past and Modern Printers
LCD Monitors: A Catching-On Technology
10 Solid Reasons To Make Your Next PC A Notebook
Wireless Notebooks: What You Need To Know About Going Wireless!
Sony vs. Olympus: Digital Voice Recorders
USB Key Drives - Useful Tool
Computer Network Installation
The Printer Cartridge Review
Printers
Flash Your ATI Video Cards BIOS
Just The Fax, M?am
ESR Meter - The Capabilities To Check Beyond Electrolytic Capacitor
A Look at Laser Toners
Choosing The Right Bar Code Reader
Computer Hardware Preventive Maintenance Software
Top Three Factors to Consider While Choosing a Data Center for Your Business
How To Save Big Bucks On A Laptop Computer
10 Things to Ponder Before Moving Your Office Network
Laptop Computers and the PVP Effect!
Ten Tips to Safeguard Your Laptops
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Expert Guide to DVD Camcorders
Thinking about a mini DVD camcorder? You're not alone, it's... Read More
Computer Hardware Preventive Maintenance Software
Computers often break down at the worst of all times.... Read More
Setting up a Tape Backup Strategy for your Business
So you know a little bit about tape backup, but... Read More
Preventing Tape Drive Failure
Contrary to popular belief, tape drives are generally robust and... Read More
An Inexpensive Solution to Securing Public Access Computers
Offering secure public Internet access is not as easy as... Read More
Getting A New Laptop At A Great Price
With all the wheeling and dealing that seems to take... Read More
The Constantly Changing World of Inkjet Technology
We have finally advanced to a time when technology can... Read More
Ten Things Everyone Should Know about Ordering an Inkjet Cartridge Online
It is true. You can save a lot of time... Read More
Tips To Select Proper Motherboard
Selecting motherboard is really simple. As name suggests "Motherboard" acts... Read More
Ergonomic Products 101
Human beings are scaling new heights day by day. Markets... Read More
Ink Cartridges - A Humble Beginning
Computers and their accompanying printers were huge years ago. In... Read More
Inkjet Jargon Explained
With all the technical terms out there, it is becoming... Read More
Best DVDs for Your Personal DVD Player
When bought personal DVD player, the very next thing to... Read More
Does Size Really Matter In Our Digital Age?
Well, we've all seen the advert, but that's not what... Read More
ESR Meter - The Capabilities To Check Beyond Electrolytic Capacitor
There is something good about esr meter because besides electrolytic... Read More
How to Get the Case Off Your PC!
This is the first step to servicing, upgrading or removing... Read More
A Look Inside The Elusive Inkjet Industry
The Inkjet printer industry is booming. Office supply companies report... Read More
Correctional Institution Preventive Maintenance Software
There is a great need for preventive maintenance in correctional... Read More
RAM - What is It & Why You Need Plenty
This is the first article in the Understanding Your Computer... Read More
The Hard Disk
From throwing our unnecessary files, to defragmenting, from partitions to... Read More
What is Over-clocking a Processor?
Q : What is over clocking?Overclocking is when you make... Read More
How To Format A Hard Drive
Here's how to format a hard drive (Legal Stuff: We... Read More
Thumb Drives - Great New Technology!
The ability to easily move data from PC to PC... Read More
Printers
Do you feel overwhelmed when buying a computer or a... Read More
How to Save Money With Cheap Computers
We all know that computers change more then any other... Read More
Computer Hardware |