Know Your Options

There isn’t a single HDTV solution for everyone. It’s important to remember that sets not only come in different sizes and resolutions, but also, with different technologies behind them.

There are three main types of HDTVs on the market:

Rear-projection TVs are the least expensive of the three, but also the bulkiest. These TVs have a back “cabinet,” which contains mirrors and lenses to display an image onto a frontal screen.
Front-projection TVs project their image across a room onto a separate screen. Like a theater screen, the potential size of a front projection TV is limited only by the area around it. However, front projection displays don’t do well in lighted rooms.
Flat panel TVs are super thin, relatively light-weight flat-screen sets. Flat-panel models can be mounted on a wall or setup like a regular TV. While they are more expensive than rear-projection TVs, increased competition has lowered the price gap.

The next thing to contemplate is image technology. If you go with a projection TV, you can choose from DLP, LCoS or LCD screens. The difference in image quality between these three standards is nominal and largely up to personal preference and the particular TV, though LCDs can be a bit smaller.

If you go flat panel—the popular choice—you can choose either an LCD or a Plasma TV. Over the 42-inch mark, Plasma TVs are less expensive than LCDs. A Plasma TV also offers a brighter screen and a wider viewing angle. However, these TVs do run the risk of “burn-in,” which occurs when an image remains static on the screen for too long.

A Note On OLED: Recent research has led to the development of a new display technology, dubbed OLED. While used in many commercial products, OLED screens are still unproven in the TV industry.