Comments on: Holiday Gift Guide: HDTVs http://skattertech.com/2009/12/holiday-gift-guide-hdtvs/ gadget news and reviews Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:46:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Akshay Aanabathula http://skattertech.com/2009/12/holiday-gift-guide-hdtvs/#comment-74181 Akshay Aanabathula Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:52:13 +0000 http://skattertech.com/?p=4312#comment-74181 Thank you for your comment Mr.Katta, I guess I have a lot of research to do next time I review a TV. Thank you for your comment Mr.Katta, I guess I have a lot of research to do next time I review a TV.

]]> By: Sahas Katta http://skattertech.com/2009/12/holiday-gift-guide-hdtvs/#comment-74178 Sahas Katta Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:46:28 +0000 http://skattertech.com/?p=4312#comment-74178 Thanks for that information. Made a lot of good points. What specific HDTV models would you recommend? (For those on a price cap, midrange, and high end.) P.S. I think your comment was longer than Akshay's article! Thanks for that information. Made a lot of good points. What specific HDTV models would you recommend? (For those on a price cap, midrange, and high end.)

P.S. I think your comment was longer than Akshay’s article!

]]> By: Srinivas Katta http://skattertech.com/2009/12/holiday-gift-guide-hdtvs/#comment-74177 Srinivas Katta Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:29:05 +0000 http://skattertech.com/?p=4312#comment-74177 You can clearly discern the difference between 720p and 1080p TVs. 37" is where you cannot differentiate but anything over 40" you can clearly tell the difference when you play Blurays or watch 1080p content. There is no TV signal that is 1080p, everything is 1080i or 720p so buying a 720p for just watching TV is fully acceptable, but if you ever want to connect a PS3 or other Bluray players, just get a 1080p TV! The standard figure of merit to choosing the right TV size is 3"-4" for every foot you sit away from the TV. Also, as 720p TV's are being phased out slowly, it only makes sense for stores to dispose them, but with the 1080p buzz around and with cameras, camcorders, phones shooting video's in 1080p it is very essential to buy a 1080p compatible TV and be future proof than buy a 720p TV to satisfy your needs today! Your comparison of LCDs vs LEDs vs Plasmas is not accurate either. Plasmas: - only available in larger sizes - Only advantage is the Price and Deeper Blacks - Significant disadvantage is the power consumption - Highly contraindicated in higher altitudes! - ideal for watching movies - not very ideal for watching TV - particularly watching sport channels, Playing game consoles (PS3, XBOX, etc) - Never buy a plasma for a well Lit room - There is a break-in period to prevent Burnout! It is not as pronounced as earlier plasma's but it still exists! LCD TVs: - Available in 13"-72" sizes as of now - Much lighter than Plasma - Pricing is very close to Plasmas - lower power consumption - Easier on the eyes (less glare) - Black levels (contrast) is not as deep as Plasma's but they come CLOSE - Incredible for watching sports, tv, game consoles and bluray movies - improved viewing angles, Brighter, Crisper picture - Can be internet ready LED TV's (They are LCD TV's using LED Back lit Technology) - Incredibly thin and light - Lowest power consumption - Very expensive - hence internet readiness is built-in for most part - Even color saturation - Blacks are almost close to Plasmas - Disadvantage: Local dimming - "Local dimming means that each LED or a specific group of LEDs can be turned on and off independently within certain areas of the screen, thus providing more control of the brightness and darkness for each those areas, depending on the source material being displayed." This is highly annoying and some sets (like the samsung LED tv above) do not allow you to disable this feature! Final note: both Amazon and Newegg are notorious for changing prices by the day. Amazon is pretty competitive but I would look and compare your local stores as well for the ease of return/rebuy/exchanges if you want to buy Larger TV's and if you spend anything more than $1500 on TV, Please spend the additional $100-$200 and get extended warranty to cover these for 4-5 yrs! Sony has their own warranty program which is cheap and works well. Samsung does not! I am just mentioning these two since they are the Best products out there in LCD/LED technologies. Also, a point to remember is that LCD panels for both Sony and Samsung are made by the same manufacturer and the only difference is the Software running them! Order of preference: Sony/Samsung Sharp/Toshiba Philips/LG/Mitsubishi Dynex/Insignia/Magnavox/others You can clearly discern the difference between 720p and 1080p TVs. 37″ is where you cannot differentiate but anything over 40″ you can clearly tell the difference when you play Blurays or watch 1080p content. There is no TV signal that is 1080p, everything is 1080i or 720p so buying a 720p for just watching TV is fully acceptable, but if you ever want to connect a PS3 or other Bluray players, just get a 1080p TV!

The standard figure of merit to choosing the right TV size is 3″-4″ for every foot you sit away from the TV.

Also, as 720p TV’s are being phased out slowly, it only makes sense for stores to dispose them, but with the 1080p buzz around and with cameras, camcorders, phones shooting video’s in 1080p it is very essential to buy a 1080p compatible TV and be future proof than buy a 720p TV to satisfy your needs today!

Your comparison of LCDs vs LEDs vs Plasmas is not accurate either.

Plasmas:
- only available in larger sizes
- Only advantage is the Price and Deeper Blacks
- Significant disadvantage is the power consumption
- Highly contraindicated in higher altitudes!
- ideal for watching movies
- not very ideal for watching TV – particularly watching sport channels, Playing game consoles (PS3, XBOX, etc)
- Never buy a plasma for a well Lit room
- There is a break-in period to prevent Burnout! It is not as pronounced as earlier plasma’s but it still exists!

LCD TVs:
- Available in 13″-72″ sizes as of now
- Much lighter than Plasma
- Pricing is very close to Plasmas
- lower power consumption
- Easier on the eyes (less glare)
- Black levels (contrast) is not as deep as Plasma’s but they come CLOSE
- Incredible for watching sports, tv, game consoles and bluray movies
- improved viewing angles, Brighter, Crisper picture
- Can be internet ready

LED TV’s (They are LCD TV’s using LED Back lit Technology)
- Incredibly thin and light
- Lowest power consumption
- Very expensive – hence internet readiness is built-in for most part
- Even color saturation
- Blacks are almost close to Plasmas
- Disadvantage: Local dimming – “Local dimming means that each LED or a specific group of LEDs can be turned on and off independently within certain areas of the screen, thus providing more control of the brightness and darkness for each those areas, depending on the source material being displayed.” This is highly annoying and some sets (like the samsung LED tv above) do not allow you to disable this feature!

Final note: both Amazon and Newegg are notorious for changing prices by the day. Amazon is pretty competitive but I would look and compare your local stores as well for the ease of return/rebuy/exchanges if you want to buy Larger TV’s and if you spend anything more than $1500 on TV, Please spend the additional $100-$200 and get extended warranty to cover these for 4-5 yrs! Sony has their own warranty program which is cheap and works well. Samsung does not! I am just mentioning these two since they are the Best products out there in LCD/LED technologies. Also, a point to remember is that LCD panels for both Sony and Samsung are made by the same manufacturer and the only difference is the Software running them! Order of preference:
Sony/Samsung
Sharp/Toshiba
Philips/LG/Mitsubishi
Dynex/Insignia/Magnavox/others

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