How to Select a Flat Panel TV
Choosing a flat-panel TV requires you to consider multiple facets of your purchase. Chief among the considerations is likely to be cost. The cost of the TV will vary based on the size and brand of the TV as well as the features included. Another area of concern when selecting the right flat-panel TV is the layout and size of the room that will house the new display. Use all of the factors of your viewing habits and features of your home to make the wisest choice.
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Instructions
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Measure the distance from where you will be watching the TV and the place where the flat-panel TV will sit. Choose the size of the TV based on the distance. The larger the screen is, the farther away you'll have to sit to optimally view it. Forty-inch screens and smaller can be viewed at distances up to eight feet away and maintain their clarity and crispness. Sixty-inch displays allow you to sit as far as 12 feet from the screen without compromising clarity and definition.
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Determine what kind of programming you will watch most often on your flat-panel TV. Choose a TV that has features that will make viewing the type of programming you are most likely to watch better. For example, a TV with a higher refresh rate will have less motion-blur during fast-moving sequences. Those who watch sports, action movies and/or video games should consider refresh rate with higher regard than a person who watches less demanding kinds of programming.
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Determine how wide of a viewing angle you will need for your room. Choose a flat-panel TV that has a wide viewing angle if your are likely to view the TV from an angle other than straight on.
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Choose the flat-panel TV type based on the amount of light you are most likely to have filling the room during viewing. The picture quality of plasma TVs generally suffers in rooms with direct natural or artificial light shining on the screen. The glass reflects light to a greater degree than their LCD counterparts, which are screened by matte plastic.
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Decide on a budget. The larger flat-panel displays generally cost more than similarly equipped smaller displays. The features included in the TV will also affect the price, with more robust features list costing more than a marginally equipped model. Features that add cost to the TV include refresh rate, on-board Internet applications, surround sound speakers and pixel density.
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Make a list of all of the pertinent factors before shopping for your TV to avoid overspending for a flat-panel display that does not fit your home or viewing preferences adequately.
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References
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