Powered by TMCnet
 
| More

Cable Technology Feature Article

January 15, 2009

HDTV Buyer's Guidelines Just in Time for Super Bowl XLIII

By Jessica Kostek, TMCnet Channel Editor


Oh, the Super Bowl. This is the time when men enter a world that, I or maybe even the female population, just cannot understand. There is this need for them to gather around television sets in living rooms or perhaps even a bar, like a moth to a flame, with great anticipation, usually knowing that what they are about to see will either complete or shatter their spirits until the following year.
 
They hush as they watch other, bigger, men hurl their bodies in hopes of catching a leather-bound, oblong object some affectionately refer to as, a football, then as the silence is broken by the audience as the ball is carried to a usually brightly colored design, they like to call the end-zone.
 
I do not understand however, ladies but if you can get an HDTV out of it, who cares. CableOrganizer.com, providers of cable, wire and equipment management-related products for use in business and at home, today announced it has issued a HDTV Buyer's Guideline to help consumers make smarter high definition television purchases.
 
This HDTV Buyer's Guide is now accessible online and will be available to consumers completely free of charge.
 
The guide explains how to choose between LCD or Plasma. CableOrganizer.com says that, “when it comes to choosing between Plasma and LCD, it's important to shop in the mindset that one high-def TV is not necessarily better than another -- rather, it's a question of which one is right for you…are Plasmas and LCDs really that different? The answer is yes.”
 
Although, HDTV’s do have their pros and cons, it’s important for the consumer to know what they are looking for, what they like and how much they are willing to spend.
 
A LCD, the company says, is the same technology used in your flat-screen computer monitor. Light streams through liquid crystal-filled cells to form images that have good color saturation levels and can be easily viewed even in rooms with high levels of ambient light. This type of HDTV may be the better choice for gamers as LCD screens are wall-mountable, and available in sizes up to 46 inch.
 
Plasmas use charged neon and xenon-filled gas cells to form bright, color-saturated images. This kind of HDTV is a better fit for those who want to use their television as a home theater and who want to get the most out of their TV or movie-viewing experience. Plasma screens can be on the pricier side but are available in screen sizes of up to 60 inch.
 
As for screen resolutions, this lingo is referring to the sharpness and clarity of a TV's picture. There are three types of resolutions: 720p, 1080i, and 1080p. For 720p, it’s the lowest resolution within the HDTV standard. The "p" stands for progressive scan, a format that's ideal for viewing fast-action movies, sporting events and video games.
The 1080i offers more lines and pixels than 720p, it's a better option for people who enjoy watching slower-moving programming with lots of close-ups like documentaries, non-action movies, and prime-time dramas.
 
Then with the 1080p, also known as "True HD," it combines the best qualities from both the 720p and 1080i. Even though 1080p is named as the best in HD resolutions, it's important to keep in mind that with the exception of Blu-ray, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and a relatively small amount of satellite TV programming, there's not much true 1080p content available.
 
One important tip CableOrganizer.com stresses is that, “While some will try to convince you that investing in an HDTV justifies shelling out for the best HDMI cable that money can buy, the truth is that a steep price tag (News - Alert) isn't always a reliable indicator of a high-quality HDMI connection.”
 
Therefore, after the Super Bowl is done and over with, the only remanence will be a brand new, HDTV bought by one smart lady.
 
This article was originally posted on the jk on Tech blog.

Jessica Kostek is a channel editor for TMCnet, covering VoIP, CRM, call center and wireless technologies. To read more of Jessica’s articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Jessica Kostek