By
eHow Electronics Editor
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
Step1
Consider what size screen you want. Different size images look better on small or large screens. Use your desired size as a guideline for the best types of screens.
Step2
Take your budget, room size and style into consideration. Some screen types (HDTV for example) start at a higher price tier than others. You should also know what size TV will fit best in your room.
Step3
Determine how you feel about the picture itself. If you want a flawless picture all of the time, your best bet is a traditional cathode-ray tube (CRT) TV. While other types offer excellent quality also, technology (such as DLP) has yet to fully catch up.
Step4
Decide whether the TV will go in an entertainment center, be self-standing or hang on a wall. If you want to get trendy or just save yourself some space, many LCD (liquid crystal display) and plasma screen style TVs come in 3 to 4 inch deep screens made to hang on the wall. These slick-looking screens come in a variety of sizes that can fit in any room.
Step5
Know the difference between analog and digital TV. Your 10-year-old TV is most likely analog. If you're making the investment in a new TV, choose digital TV, preferably HDTV. Analog is on its way out (which is why it's the cheapest of TV screens out there) and will soon be extinct.
Step6
Consider image quality. Flat screens offer better image quality over shaped screens. While plasma and LCD images are high quality, the highest quality is HDTV. HD offers sharp images, even with non-HD signals.