HDTV PRICING...DOWN...Down...down
If you purchased a High Definition Television this holiday season, you probably were prompted by the numerous advertisements and the 'lower than last year' pricing. Prices will continue to fall, especially since the peak retail selling season is now over.
Manufacturers and retailers alike have little time to celebrate their recent sales figures, as they enter the slow season...spelled N-O F-O-O-T-B-A-L-L. For consumers, however, this could be the right time to buy, if you need a new set and weren't already coaxed into buying during December.
As for which type to buy, it really comes down to what size set is best for your home setting. Typically over 50 inches leans toward Plasma, as LCDs have not yet reached the mass market in that size. But for 27, 32, 37, and 42 inch models, our preference would be for a LCD version.
LCDs don't require cooling systems, and give relatively good brightness and contrast. Most are UPS shippable, and easy to set up. Life expectancy runs 25-50,000 hours of use, with generous limited warranties. Buy one on your credit card, and chances are that the warranty is automatically extended for up to an additional year by the card company.
Be sure to check the connections on any set you may be considering, and then look at the additional costs of the cables and adapters. If you want to connect your PC to the big screen, most have an RGB input on the HDTV, but we would recommend looking for a DVI input if your PC has a high end graphics card with a DVI output. DVD players and cable boxes may have HDMI outputs, but check to be sure. And don't forget the additional cost of HDTV programming from your cable provider.
Manufacturers and retailers alike have little time to celebrate their recent sales figures, as they enter the slow season...spelled N-O F-O-O-T-B-A-L-L. For consumers, however, this could be the right time to buy, if you need a new set and weren't already coaxed into buying during December.
As for which type to buy, it really comes down to what size set is best for your home setting. Typically over 50 inches leans toward Plasma, as LCDs have not yet reached the mass market in that size. But for 27, 32, 37, and 42 inch models, our preference would be for a LCD version.
LCDs don't require cooling systems, and give relatively good brightness and contrast. Most are UPS shippable, and easy to set up. Life expectancy runs 25-50,000 hours of use, with generous limited warranties. Buy one on your credit card, and chances are that the warranty is automatically extended for up to an additional year by the card company.
Be sure to check the connections on any set you may be considering, and then look at the additional costs of the cables and adapters. If you want to connect your PC to the big screen, most have an RGB input on the HDTV, but we would recommend looking for a DVI input if your PC has a high end graphics card with a DVI output. DVD players and cable boxes may have HDMI outputs, but check to be sure. And don't forget the additional cost of HDTV programming from your cable provider.
posted by MM at 8:16 PM
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