T.V.'s, Need Help Options

[Nothing]

Hey Guys,

I know most of you guys are very knowledgeable with computers so I though I would ask about Big Screens. I am buying a house and will need a new Big Screen and I have never purchased one before. I really dont know much about the newer tech with T.V. and want to do some homework before I go out and buy one. Can you guys give me some pointers of what I should look for in a new TV.

I have heard some bad things about Plasma, but dont know whats what. Please share what you all know on the topic.

[Crazy Canuck]

As far as projection tv's go, there are 3 basic technologies to consider. lcd, dlp, and jvc's d-ila. dlp reins supperior over lcd as at seems to get deeper blacks, i have a toshiba 52'' hm84 and have had it for about 3 years. the one downfall of a dlp is bulb life, of which it is roughly 12,000 hours, after which it must be replaced...now this is fine until your warranty runs out after 3-5 yrs depending on your plan, but after that the bulb unit is going to cost you anywhere from 2 to 400 $. The nice thing about being able to replace the bulb though is that atleast you dont have to scrap the tv like you would with a plasma. however the newer plasma tv's are boasting a 60,000 hour lifespan, and at say 12 hours a day(some peeps watch alot of tv ) that ends up being just under 4400 hours a year......so your plasma lifespan is roughly 15 years....

when i bought my dlp a couple years ago lifespan of plasma was only 30,000 hours which made me turn to the dlp, however i think if i was doing it today i would consider a plasma, after all in 15 years i'm sure there will be something far superior to the tv you buy today and you'll be quite ready for something new.

the other tv to consider are the new jvc's with d-ila technology which have a superior picture over the dlps, however i am unable to tell you the lifespan of these tv's as my research stopped there as they we're about 2,000 dollars more than the dlp's when i bought mine, which was over my budget. I'm sure they've come down in price quite a bit now and would definately be worth looking at if your thinking of a projection tv.

So... if it were me going out to buy a tv today, i gotta say i'd be seriously looking into a plasma tv...they take up way less room, get a great picture, and will last you atleast 15 years, at which time you should have enough saved up for whatever crazy technologically advanced tv they have out by then!

good luck shopping and never pay sticker price!!!