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Have you been thinking about buying a new LCD flat panel television?  If you have, I bet you have also been wondering where on earth to start!  There are so many choices out there these days, & when you walk into an electronics showroom, many people become overwhelmed by what they see.

More than just brand & price, there are more things to be considered before making your final decision.  Here is a list of things to think about before you even head out to the store.

What is an LCD television?

It is a flat panel TV that makes use of Liquid Crystal Diode technology. This technology is a staple in everyone’s life; it can be found in simple tools like calculators and thermometers, and in bigger gadgets such as stereos and microwave ovens. The term liquid crystal stems from the pliable quality of the twisted pneumatic (TN) crystal when reacting to electric currents. The TN liquid crystal is present in today’s display applications.

Size and Viewing Distance

Buying a 60-inch mammoth is out of the question if the room you wish to put it in is less than 50 square meters. The screen alone would occupy almost the entire wall, and this is not advisable for small rooms.

There exists an appropriate viewing distance between a person and the screen, depending on the size of the TV:

Distance TV Size 2.5 to 5 feet 20-27 inches 6-8 feet 32-37 inches 10-14 feet 44-46 inches 12-16 feet 50 inches

An inappropriately sized LCD television will also result in improper ventilation and connection access. For those who wish to use table mounts for their TVs, it is important to allocate at least a couple of inches on all sides of the screen to ensure enough space for air and additional wiring.

Image quality

LCD TVs have lower contrast ratios (the difference between the lightest whites and the darkest blacks that a TV can produce); deep black and dark grey shades are not produced as vividly in LCD units. They also have slower motion response time (the ability of a TV to show objects in fast motion) although the newer models are noticeably improved compared to the older ones.

It is important to inquire about the contrast ratio and motion response time when selecting an LCD display unit. 1,500:1 is considered a good ratio for LCD units; anything less than this, especially on really large screens, will produce washed-out and muddy images. A motion response time of 8 ms (milliseconds) is a requirement for a good LCD television for it to display fast moving objects effectively, especially if one intends to watch lots of action flicks and sports shows.

Functionality

In order to maximize investment, consumers are usually advised to consider their priorities when it comes to buying flat screen television. If functionality is more important to you than size and pixel qualities, an LCD display is often the best choice since most LCD screens contain video graphics array (VGA) connections and can double as a computer monitor.

A considerably sized LCD unit is recommended for online gaming, or for those who wish to integrate their computers with their home theatre systems. The screens of LCD units produce great quality images from VGA sources and computers. Colours are rich with full detail, flickers are practically nonexistent and there are no dangers of screen burn-in. LCD monitors are capable of showing huge amounts of computer data clearly and precisely because there are high numbers of pixels on LCD displays on a per square inch basis.

Aspect Ratio

Aspect ratio is the width to height ratio. Widescreen LCDs have an aspect ratio of 16:9 while non-widescreen LCDs have an aspect ratio of 4:3. Widescreen LCDs are better in displaying movie formats.

Room Characteristics

A room’s light level and your viewing habits are very important factors. Due to weaknesses present when it comes to resolution, LCD TVs are best suited for viewing in brightly-lit rooms. The anti-glare technology inherent in LCD TVs will be maximized in this case. The temperature of the TV’s location can also affect durability and performance. You should not place a thin LCD television over a fireplace because excess heat can reduce the longevity of the unit. A standard unit can last for as long as 60,000 hours, depending on several factors such as the durability of the LCD’s light source and the conditions of the room where the TV is placed. It has also been noted that LCD units function best in high altitudes, since LCDs are not affected by fluctuations in air pressure.

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