Standard Flat Screen Televisions

By Johnny Serious

With all the big fuss that has surrounded the so called next generation of televisions, people sometimes wonder if the standard televisions that used to sit so nicely in our living or family rooms are all but defunct. They wonder if the plasma and projection monsters that have become so prevalent in the houses of the upper echelon will one day be the only thing available for the masses, ensconcing us in a semi “Big Brother” type world with tele screens that will broadcast the daily two minutes of hate! Well don’t worry your pretty little heads too much as George Orwell was still a little off with the title of “1984” and standard televisions really aren’t going the way of the buffalo yet. In fact, many people still prefer the old boxes over the newer, slimmer models based solely on the fact that they still produce the cleanest and clearest picture available. Before you jump back on the tube bandwagon, let us at Newbie let you know what to look for when making your next purchase.

When purchasing a new standard tube based television, there are a few factors to keep in mind. First and most important, in order to narrow down the selection quickly, you should decide if you want to make the leap to High Definition. Now I know what you’re thinking, HD is for all the rich people in the world with their fancy plasmas and DLPs, and while this may be true in theory, many of the new models of standard tube televisions not only support HD, but make it more affordable then it has ever been. If you are even at all curious about HD, then you should spend the extra money and upgrade to the new standard in video.

Secondly another good way to narrow down your decision quickly is to decide if you want a flat screen TV or a standard rounded screen. Although most newer models feature a flat screen, it is still possible to save money and go with the standard rounded screen. The advantages of flat screen tend to be numerous and include among other things improved clarity, minimal distortion and increased viewing areas.

Another major decision that relates to both of the above is if you want a standard aspect television, or a wide screen enabled box. With widescreen, you can watch all of your favorite DVD movies or even HD games and TV shows in the way they were meant to be seen. With a standard ration, you will either have to put up with a letterboxed effect (the black bars on the top and bottom of the screen) or have part of the image cut off by your set. Widescreen seems to be the new way that television shows and movies are going, so it would seemingly be a good idea to spend a little more money for the ability to stay with the trend.

The next important thing to look for when purchasing a new standard television is the brand. Normally we might say that brand is not all that important, but when you are purchasing a new TV, you would be wise to not go with a no name brand, as the picture quality will most likely be diminished. A good way to test this would be to go to a store that has multiple brands for sale and do a side by side comparison. You will almost instantly be able to tell why some brands cost more then others. Some brands that are known to produce excellent picture quality are Sony, Samsung, and Toshiba. Although there are many other brands, these tend to offer the best picture quality and clarity.

Lastly, before you purchase a television you should check the amount of type of inputs that it features. If you are like many people, you may have multiple components that you wish to display on your television. Things like video game systems, DVD players, VHS players and even cable boxes all require their own input. If you plan on displaying things in the best possible clarity, make sure that your TV features component inputs that will allow capable TVs to produce video in progressive scan or even high definition. In the least, make sure that you have enough inputs for whatever you plan on using your television for.

All in all, buying a new standard television is still a very good idea. With all of the upgrades that are being made, who’s to say that plasma won’t be a thing of the past in a year. Before you make a purchase, check Newbie’s reviews and prices to help you decide what regular or flat screen television is right for you.

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