This is the time
of year when many get very interested in buying a new TV set. Unlike it was in the past when your main
decision was the size of the screen, today there is a dizzying array of options. Many are confusing. Let’s try to cut through the sales pitch.
First of all you
should decide on the screen size. The
prices of very large screens have plummeted over the last few years so a 55” or
65” set is not out of the price range for many.
While size might matter, getting a screen too large for the room is not
a good idea. A good rule of thumb might
help. If you can see individual pixels
on the screen, you are much too close.
If you can’t move back far enough so you can’t distinguish individual
pixels, the screen to too big or the room too small.
Many models, no
matter the size, will be marketed as a “Smart TV.” This moniker is used to indicate that the TV
has built in capacity to connect to the internet. This enables you to watch content from Netflix,
Hulu, Amazon Prime and other online services without the need for a separate
device. It is convenient to have all of
this built in, but if you already have a newer Blu-Ray player you may already
have all you need. So shop wisely and
don’t pay for something you already have.
There is a lot of
buzz about 4K TV’s. These sets have about 4X the resolution of a
standard 1080 HD set. The larger the
screen the more you will see the difference.
If you are buying a set 32 inches or less, it is doubtful that your eyes
will see the difference. Of course if
you want to stay with the latest, it is too late to buy a 4K set since 8K Ultra
High Def is also now available, albeit on a limited basis. 4K content is becoming more available so if
you are going to keep your set for five years or more, the 4K option may be
wise.
The actual picture
on these sets is displayed using a variety of technologies. One of the first display technology was
Plasma. There are very few Plasma set
still made. They consume a lot of
energy, are very heavy and soon will be obsolete. Most sets of all sizes use LED technology. Even the LED sets have two different ways that
the screen is backlighted. Some use CFL lights and others use LEDs. The LED light is more even and a better choice. You will also be faced with deciding on the
“refresh rate” of the screen. The
refresh relates to how many times per second the picture is updated. If you watch a lot of movies and sports be
sure to get a set with a refresh rate of at least 120 Hz. Even better is 240 Hz. If it is not too pricey.
Finally you will
see some newer sets with OLED technology. OLED stands for Organic Light
Emitting Diodes. You will not find them in
the Organic Produce section of the local Kroger and
you are not going to be healthier if you buy one. OLED sets use LEDs to generate the
picture. There is no back light so the colors are vivid and the blacks solid. The OLED technology most likely will be the
de facto standard very soon.
Digital TV
technology is a moving target. In fact plans are already underway at the FCC to
change the digital broadcast channels.
Remember the late 90’s and early 2000s?
Hope you kept that DTV converter box.
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