tvselection

Televisions have come a long way since the black-and-white, dial-turn, tube TVs that satisfied generations. Today's selection of televisions is much different from the past. There are various screen types, bigger screen sizes, advanced signal broadcasts, cutting-edge features and more. With the many choices available and the breakthroughs in technology, there's a lot to consider when buying a TV. Allow the guide below to inform you about the current types of televisions, so you can determine which TV is best for you and your home. Learn about the different technologies and possibilities that are available with today's models. Before you ride the wave of liquid-crystal displays or head off into the future of high-definition television, prepare yourself with the following information.
Choosing the screen size first is a great way to narrow down the selection process. Initially, many of us think that bigger is better. A larger screen size does not necessarily mean a better picture. Be practical when choosing the screen size.

Dimensions
First, ask yourself these 2 questions: "What screen size do I want?" and "What screen size do I need?" You may find that you have very different answers. Before you pick out a 60-incher, consider the size of the room where the TV will be placed. It's exciting to buy a new TV and many people want to increase screen size; however, if you buy a TV that's too big for your room, you won't be able to experience its full affect. When deciding on the screen size, it's essential to factor in the size of your room. Generally, there are 3 categories for TV screen size:
Small (15" - 24"): small TVs are ideal for use in a bedroom, kitchen or home office
Medium (25" - 40"): medium TVs are commonly used for family or entertainment rooms
Large (40" - 65"): large TVs are great additions to bigger-sized rooms and they generally display a widescreen view, making them ideal for watching movies and sports

Aspect Ratio
Screen shape known as Aspect Ratio. If you're looking for a big-screen view without the big-screen encumbrance, keep in mind the aspect ratio. It is the ratio of width to height for an image or screen. The size of the ratio affects your view. 2 types of Aspect ratio in TV's now are: Standard (4:3) and Widescreen (16:9). How do you decide which is right for you? Ask your self about your viewing choices. Do you predominantly watch local and network shows, a Standard 4:3 aspect ratio is commonly used for broadcast. Do you have or want to access the new HDTV signals now offered by some movie channels or prefer watching movies in a cinema-style Widescreen view 16:9 aspect ratio.
16:9 aspect ratio: creates a widescreen, theater-like display, and is a common feature for most digital or HD-ready TVs
4:3 aspect ratio: creates a squarish display and comes standard on most analog TVs

Viewing Angle
How can you experience the best view when watching your TV? First, place your TV at the correct viewing height, which is when your eyes are level with the middle of the screen (from your normal seated position). Third, depending upon the screen size, consider the following recommendations for the optimal viewing distance.Optimal viewing distance for CRT/Tube TVs(analog) with 4:3 aspect ratio:
For a 27" - 36" screen size, consider a viewing position 7 to 10 feet away from the TV
For a 40" - 50" screen size, consider a viewing position 10 to 15 feet away from the TV
For a 55" - 60" screen size, consider a viewing position 15 to 18 feet away from the TV
Optimal viewing distance for digital or HD-ready TVs with 16:9 aspect ratio:
For a 30" - 40" screen size, consider a viewing position 5 to 8 feet away from the TV
For a 45" - 55" screen size, consider a viewing position 8 to 12 feet away from the TV
For a 60" - 65" screen size, consider a viewing position 12 to 14 feet away from the TV

The current types of televisions do more for an entertainment room than just entertain. Their super-slim designs and flat-panel screens enhance your decor. You can turn your family room into a theater-like environment with big-screen models, or you can hang flat-panel TVs on your wall as you would a piece of art. With the wide variety of TV types, you'll be able to find the one that's right for you.

Flat Panel
Flat-panel TVs deliver lifelike picture quality in an ultra-thin design for a futuristic look and feel. They create bright, crisp images without using traditional picture tubes. Due to their slimming shape, they can be mounted on the wall and displayed as a piece of art. There are 2 types of flat-panel TVs: plasma and LCD.Plasma televisions combine the imaging system of a CRT picture tube with the simplicity and relatively lower power consumption of an LCD panel. Plasma is the gas that's inside each of the tiny picture elements, known as pixels. When a pixel is charged, the inert gas ionizes and an ultraviolet light is produced. Plasma TVs contain a collection of thousands of small fluorescent lamps that fire off at a rapid rate. With a plasma TV, you are looking directly at the source of colored light, so you'll see highly saturated colors that rival a CRT TV.
Plasma TVs are available in extra large screen sizes, ranging up to 61"
With the wide viewing angles of plasma TVs (up to 160 degrees), you'll get a great view from nearly any position
Plasma TVs have the ability to reproduce blacks close to the CRT standard for incredible picture contrast
LCD televisions (liquid crystal display) consist of tiny elements, or pixels, each containing a liquid-crystal solution. These tiny crystals twist into different positions when extremely small transistors switch the voltage on and off. The twisting motion is what changes images from dark to light. The position of the liquid crystals determines how much light passes through each pixel. The tiny fluorescent lamps are always on, delivering a uniform distribution of light across the screen for a consistent level of brightness.
LCD TVs are smaller in size, ranging up to 46", but they deliver high-quality pictures under varying light conditions
Most LCD TVs are lightweight and measure just 2" thick for easy wall-mounting
LCD TVs address each pixel individually, providing even picture brightness and sharpness

Rear Projection
Sports lovers and movie buffs may find their viewing enjoyment enhanced with a rear-projection TV. They are the ultimate "big-screen" TV, and with drastic improvements in size and technology, rear-projection TV's are more realistic than ever before. Since the projector is built into the back of a screen, this type of TV is larger than others; however, you can find current models that measure just 16" deep, thanks to new technologies. CRT technology is no longer the only type that's available with rear-projection TVs. Today's models include LCD, LCoS and DLP technologies, making for smaller, lighter units that can be repositioned with greater convenience.
LCD projection TVs use similar technology to LCD flat-panel displays for razor-sharp images
DLP projection TVs employ a Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) microchip that creates a slightly better reproduction of black and improved color accuracy over LCD technology
LCoS projection TVs offer the same number of pixels as LCD and DLP technologies, but the distance between the individual pixels is smaller for a more seamless picture
CRT projection TVs include 3 picture tubes -- red, green and blue -- for impressive color quality, yet are the largest and heaviest of designs

Combo
Combination TVs provide you with a multi-entertainment experience in one unit. They are available with a DVD player, VCR or with both a DVD player and VCR. If your entertainment space is limited, or you desire a simple, all-in-one operation, a combo TV may be right for you.
Shop all Combination TV-VCR-DVDs
Viewing Enhancements With the abundance in viewing enhancement technologies, it can be challenging to know which features have the most impact and are the most relevant to your needs. Allow the list below to be a starting point when selecting your TV.
Viewing Enhancements:
With the abundance in viewing enhancement technologies, it can be challenging to know which features have the most impact and are the most relevant to your needs. Allow the list below to be a starting point when selecting your TV.

Resolution refers to the sharpness of a video image, signal or display. It can be described in terms of pixels or as lines of resolution. As the number of pixels or lines of resolution increase, so does the picture quality.
Vertical resolution is the number of horizontal lines or pixels that are included from the top of an image to the bottom, ranging from 480 lines with an analog TV to up to 1080 lines with a true HDTV
Horizontal resolution is the number of vertical lines or pixels that are included from one side of an image to the other, ranging from 480 lines with an analog TV to up to 1920 lines with a true HDTV