Buying the Right TV

Simple TV Choices
Picture: Compare the same content (use One HD or a Blu-ray) on different TVs in store.
HD: Viewing in High Definition requires an integrated HD tuner. Different screen resolutions offer varying picture quality.
Tuners: An integrated HD digital tuner will access exclusive High Definition free-to-air channels.

What size of television should I get?
The first thing to consider is the space where your television will sit -- entertainment unit or wall-mounted?

• Measure the space to see which TV sizes will fit, remembering that televisions are measured diagonally across the screen.
• Larger screens have more visual impact. It's important to match screen size with the distance between the screen and the viewer (viewing distance).

What will my new television connect to?
Most gaming consoles and Blu-ray players require HDMI ports. Other connections include:

• Ethernet ports: Internet - YouTube and msn
• USB ports: Digital cameras and video cameras
• VGA: Computers

How do I ensure good picture quality?
Choosing an integrated HD tuner delivers High Definition content and the screen quality determines how well that content will be displayed.

• Screen resolution is the number of horizontal and vertical pixels. The more pixels per square inch, the higher the resolution:

What's the difference between 1080i and 1080p?
The "p" in 1080p stands for "progressive" scan, while the "i" in 1080i stands for "interlaced" scan. Progressive scan displays an image by scanning each horizontal row of pixels, where interlaced scan displays an image by scanning only every second line of pixels. This "progressive" scan of 1080p results in a better picture.

What is smooth picture motion?
Smooth picture motion (transition) relies on a television's ability to refresh the screen quickly, which is measured in hertz (Hz) – frames per second. This reduces ghosting effects often seen when watching fast-moving images, such as sports and action movies.

• A 200Hz LCD television will produce four times the picture frames of a 50Hz television.
• Plasma TVs show lots of sub-frames (fractions of the whole image) to create an image. 600Hz will produce the smoothest image transition.

What are the differences between plasma, LCD, and LCD-LED?
Plasma
Plasma TVs create an image by using electrodes to charge gas, which is contained within tiny cells that are sandwiched between two glass plates.
Benefits of plasma include:

• Create a brighter image than LCD
• More contrast - darker blacks and richer dark colours
• Range in size between 42 to 100-inch
• Wider viewing angles - better picture quality when sitting to the side of the TV

LCD
LCD (liquid crystal display) screens are made up of electrically-charged liquid crystals that refract light from fluorescent tubes behind them. Colours are created by varying the electrical current to each of these crystals.
Benefits of LCD include:

• Generally weigh less than plasmas, making them more portable
• More energy efficient than plasmas
• Have higher "native resolution" -- more pixels on a screen
• Rage between 15-inch and 55-inch

LED-LCD
The latest generation of LCD screens uses LEDs to light the image, instead of fluorescent tubes. The benefits of this are:

• Slim-line TVs – less than 3cm thick
• Lighter than both plasma and LCD
• Images are comparable to plasma in both contrast and brightness
• Most energy efficient TVs available

Movies and Sport
A big screen with brilliant images will increase the viewing experience.
Size: Aim for the largest screen that fits your space, to increase visual impact.
The picture: 1080p resolution for the best Blu-ray playback, 200Hz (or 600Hz in plasma) for fast moving scenes.
Surround sound: 5.1 channel Dolby Surround Sound for cinema-quality sound.

For the Bedroom
Mount the TV on the wall to save space.
Size: An LED LCD is thinner, perfect for wall mounting.
The picture: Choose 1080p, to make the most of Blu-ray.
Connections: Look for an HDMI port, for Blu-ray players.

Gaming
Gamers should make sure their new television produces fast, flowing images.
Size: An LED-LCD will be lighter and more portable.
The picture: 1080p resolution and 200Hz LED-LCD is best.
Connections: Make sure the TV has enough of the right ports for all of your consoles and other devices, like laptops and digital cameras.