Hi-Definition TVs Basics

This is helpful. One question I had was what the power consumption of these TVs is. Do plasmas soak up more energy than LCDs, or is that a myth? Just trying to be green.

Thanks Askrob, I did not know the answer to this, but I found the info on CNET:

TVs:
Average plasma: 358 watts
Average rear-projection: 212 watts
Average LCD: 220 watts

Other A/V gear:
PlayStation 3: 197 watts
Xbox360: 187 watts
Average PC: 78 watts
DirecTV HR20 DVR: 33 watts
Wii: 19 watts
Slingbox: 9 watts
Wireless router: 7 watts

HelpDeskMike

Can you help me by telling me what brand/type of cables I should get for my HD TV?

My TV is a Mitsubishi 57" 1080p DLP HDTV (Model WD-57732). I have a digital cable box (Charter cable). I have a schematic of where all the cables go and it looks like the board of a fighter jet! But I really don't know what to get for cables. We've of course got the old s-video cables from our previous nonHD TV set up and I know that HDMI is the way to go. But when I'm in the store I don't really know which ones to get or what brand is best, or if there is really any difference either way.

Help!

Thanks!

Pam

Sugarbeetp, You are right about the HDMI being the correct method, but thats where things get 'annoying'. Certian companies (Monster Cable comes to mind) wants people to think that HDMI cables are a 'premium' item, and should be expensive. This is wrong. There is a good article at Gizmodo that agrees:

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/deals/hdmi-cable-price-gouging-180281.php

Naturally, I would prefer readers to shop at Kmart or Sears and buy an hdmi cable, but the truth is any no-brand cable (from reputable store) will work perfectly well.

Hope that helps :)

BTW, we are neighbors! I live in Ortonville

Thanks! I'll be getting them at Kmart!

I noticed you were from Ortonville as soon as I hit the submit button! Howdy Neighbor!

I was told that if you're looking at a TV under about 30" that you can barely tell the difference between 720 and 1080...most ocmpanies DON"T make anything under 30" with 1080 anyway

sears has great high def tvs

Check consumer report . org for basic knowledge between Plasma, LCD, and rear projection high-Def TV

 http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/resource-center/buying-a-tv-206/tv-types/index.htm

Good grief - I just want a regular tv - whatever that might be with this new HD stuff.  Personally, I think a tv picture is only as good as your glasses :)  Any suggestions for a 27" tv (that's what I have now, but it heavy, hard to move, and old).

This is awesome. Thanks for sharing!

Goto Cyberscholar.com if you want to know where good information can be found on the different brands of TV's..... that's where some of the major electronic's companies get their employee's trained on the products they carry.

Being a Sony man, I say buy a Sony.  Mainly because all of their R&D hours go exclusively into LCD technology.  However, Samsung is really good as well.  They are considered number 1 in HDTV's for a reason.  If you like a touch of color to match your room the Samsung is the only way to go.

I want to play computer games or watch satalite TV on a 26".  Do I need 1080p and 120 Hz for this application?

That depends on how close you plan on sitting to it. To be honest, i don't know of any 1080p 26" at the moment, but im not constantly keeping up on TV tech anymore, since i've recently made a purchase and don't need to keep my knowledge up.

If you're going to be close to it while playing those games, having a resolution of higher than 720p is very desirable. Most modern computer games are designed to be played on resolutions around between 1280x1024 - 1920x1200. Considering how many more pixels are in a 1280x1024 pixel display than a 720p display, having  1920x1080 (1080p) would mean your display was capable of doing many more available resolutions, and thus providing a better picture in game.

I would actually look at computer monitors in that size range, instead of an actual television. Prices are generally a lot lower for higher resolutions screens, they just lack a TV tuner built in. since your satellite box will act as a TV tuner, you really don't need one. (And if you want to add things like DVD players, etc other than your computer, you could always buy a digital converter box to act as the extra inputs.) 

(You can probably get a 1920x1200 26" monitor for less than $300 if you look around, whereas a 26" TV at 720p would be over $400.)

Hence the contrast ratio and the dynamic contrast ratio which is out of sight and a pure marketing ploy by all the leading manufacturers to the novice HD buyer-

who if they dont even have a computer could go to their free library computer- do some research before buying an HD TV set to their liking.

There is no such thing as an LED HD TV, its an LCD screen with LED backlighting (edge) again another marketing ploy by your friends at Samsung, primarily & others....

Most manufacturers sales reps use a scripted message to their dealers, such as sears, best buy, frys, etc etc,

any retail sales rep who sells these devices, should be aware of what is & what is not so they can talk intelligently to the novice and serious videofile clients.

Wow. Worst... 'Guide'... Ever. This needs a complete rewrite.

askrob said…
This is helpful. One question I had was what the power consumption of these TVs is. Do plasmas soak up more energy than LCDs, or is that a myth? Just trying to be green.

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Completely depends on the tv, there are plenty of low end or entry level LCDs that consume more energy than plasmas do, and at the same time there are big differences between plasmas as well. Most of time if you walk in a buy a cheap $900 40" LCD screen that tv will more than likely take up more energy than a $1200 plasma screen based on who makes each tv type.

Just a suggestion for folks like me who have an analog tv they want to keep. I bought a converter box from best buy and connected it  to my analog tv in the garage. I live in an area where recepption is not much of an issue but I tried 4 different antennas and did not get what I thought was acceptable performance. So I found a video on youtube on how to make an antenna using coat hangers.

Although I used bare copper wire instead of coathangers I made the antenna as directed in the vides and it worked better than any of the antenna I had purchased. Total cost to make was about $4.