SolveYourProblem
HDTV Article Series
Buying
a High Definition Television (HDTV)
Is
HDTV Too Expensive For Me?
With the popularity of HDTV or high definition
television on the rise, more consumers are making the switch.
Broadcasters are also seeing the benefits of high definition
and broadcast in both analog and digital. High definition television
and cable often cost much more than traditional TV and cable.
Consumers wonder if HDTV is an expensive proposition.
High definition television began its rise to popularity as
the FCC announces that all analog televisions would be obsolete
in 2006. The government gave broadcasters channels to broadcast
in analog and high definition. Broadcasters embraced the challenge
and experimented with digital.
For viewers, the high definition viewing is not easy. An analog
television cannot broadcast digital. So, for consumers the
only choice is to either purchase a special adapter to make
analog work with digital or to purchase a special high definition
television. The special adapter will cost around $100.
Currently, most television owners have analog television.
HDTV sets that are available are for the most part big screen
and are quite expensive. Most HDTV sets that are available
for sale are big screen and they are generally expensive. Smaller-screened
televisions with digital capabilities are slated to hit the
market in 2007. It is estimated that only about 30 million
televisions in the United States have digital tuners, out of
the several hundred million sets already installed in homes.
So,
how much will it cost for consumers to go to high definition
when the time comes? First, when consumers convert to high
definition, any old cable provider will not work. Viewers must
subscribe to a digital cable service that offers HDTV. Many
viewers are disappointed to find that not only is the picture
not any better than the standard cable service, but many channels
do not come in HDTV. This service is generally higher in cost
than standard cable.
Another added expense is the television itself. Many people
shy away from purchasing high definition television sets because
they are much more expensive than analog TVs. Some can costs
into the thousands.
When shopping for a HDTV set, it is recommended that consumers
research the product before hitting the electronics stores.
With all of the new technology, buying a new television is
not like it used to be. The days of simply picking a TV for
the brand name and size are over. HDTV can be confusing. There
are many different types, brands and sizes to choose from.
Ask questions about what is available and shop around.
The
choices for HDTV are staggering. Consumers can purchase
plasma, LCD (liquid crystal display), DLP (digital light processing)
or LCOS (liquid crystal on silicon), which are all types of
monitors. There are also projection displays to consider. They
also come in LCD, DLP, and LCOS. Many viewers prefer the wall
display monitor that either plasma or LCD offers. But, these
are usually the most expensive of the high definition sets,
especially the ones that are sized between 40 to 70 inches.
Lower on the cost spectrum, but equally good, are the LCD displays
that are sized at 42 inches and under.
Also, before making any purchase on a new HDTV set, check
the warranty. Most high definition sets come with a one-year
warranty, which is good. Also, take into consideration the
cost of extended warranties that most electronic stores offer.
These sets can be a major purchase. A standard plasma television
should last around seven years. An extended warranty is usually
good between three and four years. An extended warranty may
be a good purchase.
Something else to consider before spending a lot of money
on a new HDTV set is how long the technology will last. With
the technology changing quickly and offering better performance
in TVs, spending thousands of dollars for a TV that may last
only seven years, might not be wise. As the popularity rises,
the prices will come down on HDTV sets making them more available
to the general public.
Still for many, especially those setting up home theaters
and movie lovers, high definition is worth the expense. Some
feel that the picture clarity, superior audio quality and larger
viewing area on the screen far outweigh the price.
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SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
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