LCD or plasma for that new TV?
With the Super Bowl just weeks away, and the conversion to all-digital TV a little more than a month from now, a lot of people are in the market for a new set.
If you want a flat screen, you'll need to choose between plasma and LCD. Jim Willcox, senior editor for electronics at Consumer Reports, says the differences between the two technologies are getting smaller, but they're still not the same.
"Plasma TVs have really great black levels which result in accurate colors, you can see a lot of detail in really dark scenes, so people who are really into watching movies a lot of times prefer plasma," Willcox says.
"On the other hand what we've seen with people who have very bright rooms or who are going to be playing computer games or something like that, that LCDs are a good choice because they have less reflective screens and they're not subject to burn in with static imagines.
"So if you play video games and an image is going to be on your screen for a long time, you don't have to worry about that image being burned into your screen."
Consumer Report says flat screen TVs are about as reliable as TV tube sets. About 3 percent of sets need a repair during the first three years of ownership. That's why the editors say skip the service contract and buy the set with a credit card that doubles the manufacturer's warranty.
Buy now, or wait?:
To buy or to wait for prices to go down even more -- that's the question a lot of people in the market for a new TV are asking.
Unfortunately, it's hard to predict.
"Ya know this is just a really strange year," says Jim Willcox, senior editor for electronics at Consumer Reports.
A lot of that has to do with the sluggish economy. His advice:
"Buy at a place that's going to price protect your TV anywhere from 30 to 90 days, so that if you do see a price that's lower a couple of weeks after you buy your set, you're protected."
Willcox says if you can wait till after the Super Bowl you may get a better deal, because February is usually when retailers run closeout specials on their older models, as the new ones arrive.
One thing you'll need to figure out, no matter when you buy is how big should that set be.
"Get the biggest TV that you room is going to fit and that your budget will allow," Willcox says.
A big screen makes HD content especially compelling, creating more of a theater experience.
Consumer Reports says the biggest regret most TV buyers have is not getting a bigger screen.
For More Information:
Consumer Reports TV Buying Guide
If you want a flat screen, you'll need to choose between plasma and LCD. Jim Willcox, senior editor for electronics at Consumer Reports, says the differences between the two technologies are getting smaller, but they're still not the same.
"Plasma TVs have really great black levels which result in accurate colors, you can see a lot of detail in really dark scenes, so people who are really into watching movies a lot of times prefer plasma," Willcox says.
"On the other hand what we've seen with people who have very bright rooms or who are going to be playing computer games or something like that, that LCDs are a good choice because they have less reflective screens and they're not subject to burn in with static imagines.
"So if you play video games and an image is going to be on your screen for a long time, you don't have to worry about that image being burned into your screen."
Consumer Report says flat screen TVs are about as reliable as TV tube sets. About 3 percent of sets need a repair during the first three years of ownership. That's why the editors say skip the service contract and buy the set with a credit card that doubles the manufacturer's warranty.
Buy now, or wait?:
To buy or to wait for prices to go down even more -- that's the question a lot of people in the market for a new TV are asking.
Unfortunately, it's hard to predict.
"Ya know this is just a really strange year," says Jim Willcox, senior editor for electronics at Consumer Reports.
A lot of that has to do with the sluggish economy. His advice:
"Buy at a place that's going to price protect your TV anywhere from 30 to 90 days, so that if you do see a price that's lower a couple of weeks after you buy your set, you're protected."
Willcox says if you can wait till after the Super Bowl you may get a better deal, because February is usually when retailers run closeout specials on their older models, as the new ones arrive.
One thing you'll need to figure out, no matter when you buy is how big should that set be.
"Get the biggest TV that you room is going to fit and that your budget will allow," Willcox says.
A big screen makes HD content especially compelling, creating more of a theater experience.
Consumer Reports says the biggest regret most TV buyers have is not getting a bigger screen.
For More Information:
Consumer Reports TV Buying Guide