HDTV Guides

A very common question that arises when you start looking for a new HDTV is which technology is better. This HDTV guide will help you understand the differences between plasma vs LCD TV and figure out which of the two is better for you. There are great models from both worlds if you have the money. However, if you're having a more limited budget and are forced to buy a cheaper HDTV, you have to choose wisely, because the problems and limitations of each technology are more visible in such models. In this plasma vs LCD guide, we are going to look at the two types of displays from a very practical perspective. That means every difference that exists only at a practical level, and has no impact on how the HDTV performs in real life, will not be discussed. For a more complete understanding of plasma vs LCD TV differences, you should also read this plasma vs LCD TV guide.

Two of the latest buzzwords when it comes to LCD TVs are 120Hz and LED backlit. In this HDTV guide we are going to take a look at 120Hz LCD TV technology. I will give you the naked truth and tell you how LCD TV manufacturers are trying to decieve you. Yes, they are trying to deceive you so that you think you need 120Hz and pay more. 120Hz LCD television sets do have advantages, however these advantages are not those you may think of. They also cost more than regular 60Hz LCD TVs so it is a good idea to know if you really need or prefer 120Hz vs 60Hz.

Knowing what is the optimal HDTV size for your room is an important step when buying a new TV. Regardless of what kind of flat-screen HDTV you intend to buy - plasma or LCD - it is a good idea to first go and measure the distance between the place you will be sitting (e.g. the couch) and the place where the HDTV will be sitting (e.g. stand, wall). Assuming that you did the measuring, you can now consult the table below and see which is the recommended screen size for your viewing distance.

This is the last guide of the four part 720p vs 1080p guide. We have seen images depicting how 720p compars to 1080p in real life, we have looked at this subject from a technical and theoretical perspective and we have analyzed the factors that affect your perception of detail. In this last 720p vs 1080p guide, we are going to see the role played by content quality. Depending on what type of content you are watching on your TV - standard definition (SDTV), enhanced definition (EDTV) or high definition (HDTV) - buying a 1080p TV may not offer you any advantages. In the end of this guide, I will explain why resolution is not the most important quality factor.

There are four factors that determine how much detail you see on a screen (TV) and its quality. These factors are either related or they affect each other and what you see on your HDTV. In this part of the 720p vs 1080p guide, we are going to take a look at these factors and see what effect they have. In the end, that will help us decide on which resolution is best for our needs, and also draw a few other useful conclusions.

In this third part of the 720p vs 1080p guide we are comparing the two resolutions from a technical and theoretical perspective. We are going to see how the pixel size compares for screens of same size and also how the screen size compares for pixels of equal size. This is an easy way to quantify the differences between 720p and 1080p at a theoretical level.

You may want to see how 720p vs 1080p looks, without actually watching two distinct HDTVs. This is however impossible. There are a few guides around the internet that offer screenshots of 1080p vs. 720p vs. other resolutions but you should take them with a grain of salt as they are not exactly accurate. You must also understand that most of them depict how upscaled (resized) video content looks not how two screens of different resolutions look. Upscaled 720p displayed on 1080p (or a higher resolution) screen, looks slightly better than 720p on a 720p display of the same size, if you sit at the optimal distance for 1080p.

Today's HDTV screens come in two flavors - 720p and 1080p. These numbers represent the vertical resolution of the screen and, as you may have guessed, 1080p offers more detail. This extra detail that 1080p has over 720p is not always seen by the viewer, though. Knowing when you can see the full detail of 1080p can save you quite a few bucks. If you take a look at HDTV prices, you will notice 720p HDTV models are cheaper. You might think that bigger is better and by going cheaper you're going to miss something. As you will see, this is not always the case.

This is my favorite chapter of the buying guide. Its purpose is to give you a heads-up so you dont fall for those sweet marketing headlines or salesman talk. The thing is companies do their best to sell you their products, at times altering the truth, so you must do your best to separate useful specifications and statements from marketing bullshit. Many people see an advertisement on TV or read some specs written with big bold letters, and what you know, they believe every word of it. You dont want to be that kind of person. If you are, you will not buy the best thing for your needs. Probably you wont be disappointed by your acquisition either, but thats just because you didnt knew you could do better. So lets get started!

This HDTV buying guide is intended to give you an overview of the things you should know before going out there and starting to look for a TV. This guide does not go into detail on any specific topic, aiming more at giving you a birds eye view on the subject. If you are interested in finding out more on a specific topic presented in this buying guide, in the HDTV Guides section of this site you can find focused in-depth guides on some of the topics discussed here. This is a two part guide, so make sure that after you finish reading this, you also read the second part HDTV Buying Guide Important Stuff that focuses more on mistakes, misconceptions and common questions of the buyers.