Purchasing a Flat Screen TV?

With the holiday season in full swing, many people are searching for deals on Flat Screen TV’s. It is the perfect time to buy a flat screen as a gift for a family member or friend. Furthermore, it’s a great time to take advantage of the deals and purchase a flat screen for your own home. With the increased purchasing, we thought it would be a great time to go over some specifics and pointers on purchasing a flat screen.

Basics
High Definition flat screen TV’s are available in Plasma or LCD. The difference between the two is the technology behind projecting the picture. Although advances have been made to make the two comparable in quality and value there are some general factors to consider.

• Plasma TV’s offer accurate colors and great contrast. The picture can be seen from just about any angle. The down side is that viewing in bright rooms can cause reflections to appear. Static images can also create burn-ins if the same screen is viewed frequently.

• LCD TV’s show less glare or reflection in bright rooms. They can be viewed in just about any lighting and they do not create burn-ins. A negative is that the viewing range is limited. Viewing from an angle will cause the picture to lose contrast.

Sizes
In general Plasma TV’s can be purchased in 42inch to 60inch sizes. LCD TV’s come in 23inch to 60inch sizes. Typically a Plasma quality shines through on a larger screen. This is why the smallest they make is 42inches. When purchasing a Flat Screen TV, you should be conscious of where you plan to use it. If you are putting the TV in a living room area, you would want a TV big enough for you and guests to view. Usually, 37inches is a minimum for a living room or family room. Judge the size by how far back viewers will be. You would need at least 4 or 5 feet for a 40-47inch TV. An average of 6 feet or farther is recommended with a 50inch or larger TV.

Budget/Pricing
The price of the TV depends on the screen size, the features included, and the brand. Plasma’s were once much cheaper then LCD’s but this conception has since been proved wrong. LCD’s have become much more competitive with their pricing. A plasma can be purchased typically as low as $600 for a 42inch and go as much as $6500 for a 60inch. An LCD is not much different. The average low for a 23inch is $500 and a 52inch runs upward of $4000. It really depends on the features and brand. It is good to view a TV first to get an idea of the quality and then compare it with others of its size.

Mounting/Installation
The slim light weight characteristics of Flat Screen TV’s make them perfect for hanging on a wall. Mounting cuts back on the expense of purchasing a stand or piece of furniture to set the TV on. The difficult question is how do you go about the process? Mounting and connecting a High Definition TVs can be a bit trickier than installing a standard cable version. Most likely the TV cost you a considerable amount so you want to be sure to mount it safely, without destroying the wall that you chose to hang it on. You also have to consider the added connectivity having a high definition product. HD signals can be connected to most cable, satellite, or DVR boxes but doing so requires some electrical knowledge. A great consideration when buying your TV is to have the installation included in the purchase. Companies, like Mister Sparky, specialize in TV mounting and connection. They are certified electricians that know how to work behind the walls. The technicians do some of the most difficult installations there are and make it look like we were never there. Mister Sparky takes the headache out of your flat screen TV purchase so all you have to do I sit back and relax!