LCD Flat Screen TV: 5 Things To Consider When Shopping For An LCD Flat Screen Tv

Have you decided that is time to take the plunge into HDTV? Now is a great time to make the upgrade. You can take advantage of all of the high definition programming on tv, as well as the next generation dvd formats like Blu-ray and HD-DVD and even the next generation video game consoles like the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.

So now that you have made the decision, are you completely confused by all of the terms like 1080i, 1080p, 720p, HDMI? Are you in over your head with technical terms like refresh rate, milliseconds of response time and contrast ratio.

The following will give you a quick and straight forward roadmap of what to consider when making your LCD flat screen tv purchase.

Cost – Obviously a major consideration is the amount of money that you are willing to spend on your new LCD flat screen tv purchase. Set aside a budget of what you are willing to spend. Cost can range from a few hundred dollars for a small multi purpose flat screen tv like you may want to add to a kitchen or bedroom, up to several thousands of dollars for a large screen LCD for your primary display in your home theater. Keep in mind that the cost of a LCD will still be a bit higher then the cost of a comparable sized Plasma tv, but the gap is narrowing.

Resolution – A HDTV will be at least 720p or 1080i, which is the amount of lines of resolution able to be viewed on the screen. The "i" stands for interlaced which means every other line is viewed multiple times per second in alternating fashion, where "p" stands for progressive meaning that each line is viewed all at the same time, supposedly for a more smooth picture. Many of today’s LCD flat screen tv choices will be 1080p which offers the best of both worlds by displaying 1080 lines of resolution progressively. This new standard will allow you to watch Blu-ray or HD-DVD movies at their highest resolutions as well as experience the immersive next generation video game titles.

Size – Of course the size of your screen also plays a major factor as well. You need to consider what the new LCD tv is for in order to decide on a size. Generally, LCDs that are intended for home theater typically range from 46" to 52" and larger screen sizes up to 60" or more are also becoming more common although they are still cost prohibitive for many people.

Inputs – Another consideration is the video inputs of the LCD. I would strongly recommend that you consider not only your current needs, but future needs as well. HDMI is the current standard for displaying high definition video as well as lossless high definition audio in one convenient cable.

Picture quality – When it comes right down to it, the other features don’t matter if the LCD flat screen tv is not able to display a high quality picture. Some of the things to consider are the refresh rate. Some of the newer LCDs offer 120Hz refresh rates, which is twice the rate of the normal refresh rate allowing a smooth transition in fast moving scenes such as sporting events.

While specifications such as contrast rates can be helpful, they should not be viewed as the determining factor of the quality of the tv because there is no clear standards for manufacturers to follow when measuring contrast ratios. Rather then relying solely on specifications, make sure the tv can produce deep blacks, vivid colors with detailed images. Keep in mind that most department type stores will have the contrast up very high on the tvs in order to attract attention to the tvs in a bright store environment. Your natural viewing experience in your home will be different.

Now is a great time to get on board with a new LCD HDTV. LCD’s are a natural choice for use in bright, common areas or for those who intend to hook up their computers directly into the tv.

In no time your entire family and friends can be kicking back in your home theater loungers enjoying the latest blockbuster movie, the big game or the new exciting video game in crisp, vivid, full HD splendor on your LCD flat screen tv.

For a review of some of the LCD HDTV leaders check out the Samsung HD TV review and the Sharp Aquos HD TV review at http://familyhometheaterguide.com, a site dedicated to sharing home theater information with an emphasis on being family friendly.