The television industry has changed quite a bit over the last 20 years with innovations from satellites to LCD TVs. Just as the days of 3 channel choices are long gone, the big, bulky CRTs are a part of history. For the last several years, flat screen televisions have been the product of choice. Of all the flat screen technologies, LCD TVs have become the most popular and best-selling of this new generation of televisions.
LCD technology had its roots in the computer monitor and cell phone industry. This thinner, lighter way of showing video images was perfect for laptop computers. However, at the time, most people did not think LCD technology would translate into the television market. However, LCDs have come a long way and are now the top-selling flat screen televisions on the market.
LCDs have many advantages besides being lower priced than plasmas. They are much lighter than other TVs and use less energy because they power only a single lamp to light the screen. Yet they still produce crisp images in HD quality. They also have less glare than a plasma and are unaffected by high altitudes.
Another big advantage of LCDs over plasmas is their durability. With LCDs you never have to worry about screen burn, where an image becomes permanently imbedded on the screen. Also, an LCD will typically last for years longer than a plasma.
What do you need to look for when buying an LCD television? The most important number to look at is the pixel resolution number. At a minimum, look for 720p. However, if you are buying an LCD TV larger than 42 inches, look for a TV with a 1080p resolution factor. This higher number of pixels will ensure a sharper image, especially important if you will be using a Blu-ray player with the TV.
The motion response time is also an important factor. Look for LCDs with either a 4 or 8 millisecond response time. Ideally, get one with 4 ms, as this will provide a TV with the ability to show fast-moving objects without motion blur, important for sports or movies with lots of action.
Also, look at the refresh rate. All TVs and computer monitors have to completely rebuild the image on the screen several times a second. The faster the TV does this, the better the image looks. A 60 hz refresh rate is the minimum standard, but a 120 hz rate will provide better quality images.
Once you have the basic technology to meet your needs, LCDs also offer many extras to enhance your TV watching experience. Some come internet-ready. Just hook it up to your internet connection and stream movies, music, or videos from the web straight to your TV. You can get built-in speakers, or with various connections to surround sound systems. Whichever LCD TV you bring home, you're sure to enjoy the best of HD television and movies on your new flat screen.
