Ready to Buy a Television?

L-C-D, C-R-T, DLP, H-D-T-V, there are so many choices for consumers looking to buy a television. The alphabet soup of sorts may seem confusing, but here's a breakdown.

Cathode Ray Tube Television

The oldest and most reliable of the bunch is the CRT or the Cathode Ray Tube television. It's also the most cost efficient set on the market. But, the size of the CRT screen is limited, and it's clunky, taking up all sorts of space.

Flat Screen Television If you're looking for a space saving, sleek set, a flat screen that you can hang on your wall, is the way to go. There are two types of technologies to choose from:

* Plasma Displays * LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)

Plasma Flat Screen Television The plasma comes in larger sizes, with a higher contrast of color. That means basically you tend to see a clearer, brighter picture. The plasmas also tend to be slightly more economical than the LCDs.

LCD Flat Screen Television

The LCDs are more energy efficient than the plasmas. Also, they don't have 'burn in' which occurs when an image is literally 'burned into' the screen permanently. And, the LCDs absorb light rather than reflect it, so they provide a better picture in brighter rooms. My advice is to walk into the store, look at both displays sampling different types of programming like movies and sports. And decide which picture is right for you. Be prepared to buck up for both displays. They start at about a grand.

Digital Light Processing Television

The DLP, or digital light processing rear-projection televisions are not as sleek as the flat screen TVs, but they will provide a film-like look to your television viewing at a more affordable price. The DLP's also offer excellent color accuracy, low power consumption and high contrast and brightness.

High Definition Television

Once you've decided on what type of TV technology you want, then it's time to talk about definition - high definition or HDTV. No, it's not a type of TV. It's a feature to consider when buying a new television. For example, you can buy an HD-enabled plasma TV, or just a plain old plasma TV. HDTV really is the ultimate TV experience, combining a high-resolution digital television with surround sound, with TV programming that specifically caters to folks looking for the highest picture and sound quality available on television today. The catch is you have to have both an HD ready set and be watching a program that is meant to be viewed in HDTV. Right now about half the prime-time lineup for the major networks is in high definition. But by 2006, expect that number to climb dramatically.

Before You Buy a Television

Before you make your big purchase, decide on the size of television you need for the space that you have, do your homework, and then go to your local electronics store and compare the various technologies side by side.