HELLO,

I HAVE BEEN IN THE PLASMA BUSINESS SINCE 2002, WHEN PLASMAS WERE REALLY NOT AFFORDABLE. NOW THAT PRICES HAVE REALLY COME DOWN EVERYONE IS REPLACING THEIR CLUNKY PROJECTION TV WITH A THINNER, FLATTER TV. THIN IS DEFINETELY IN. EVERY DAY I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS FROM PEOPLE REGARDING THE TECHNOLOGIES OUT THERE AND WHICH ONE IS 'A BETTER BUY.'  I CAN SHARE WITH YOU A FEW KEY THINGS TO THINK ABOUT WHEN YOUR IN THE MARKET FOR A FLATSCREEN. THIS INFO IS JUST WHAT I HAVE GATHERED FROM MY EXPERIENCE.

STEP 1: DECIDE WHAT SIZE YOU ARE LOOKING FOR:

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A TV FOR A KITCHEN OR BATHROOM OR A VERY SMALL BEDROOM CHANCES ARE YOU ARE LOOKING FOR AN LCD TV. THE SMALLEST PLASMA IS 32" AND THOSE ARE PRETTY RARE SO IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT A 15", 20, 23" ETC THEN YOUR ARE LOOKING FOR AN LCD.

STEP 2: IF I AM IN THE MARKET FOR A LARGER SIZE SUCH AS 42" OR 50" SHOULD I BUY LCD OR PLASMA?

AT THIS POINT YOU HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT YOUR ARE BUYING YOUR FLATSCREEN FOR. DO YOU WANT TO PLAY VIDEO GAMES? DO YOU WANT TO USE YOUR TV AS A PC? OR IS THIS TV ONLY FOR WATCHING TV. IF YOU WANT YOU USE YOUR FLATSCREEN TO PLAY VIDEO GAMES OR USE YOUR FLATSCREEN AS A PC THEN LCD IS PROBABLY PREFERRED. IF YOU ARE STRICTLY USING YOUR PC FOR TV PURPOSES THEN I WOULD BUY A PLASMA. LARGER LCDS ARE MORE EXPENSIVE THEN PLASMAS ALTHOUGH THESE PRICES HAVE COME DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY.

STEP 3: DO I WANT A TV THATS HD READY OR HDTV AND WHATS THE DIFFERENCE?

MOST OF THE LCDS AND PLASMAS ON THE MARKET ARE HD READY WHICH MEANS THAT THE TV IS CAPABLE OF ACCEPTING A HIGH DEFINITION SIGNAL. HDTV MEANS THAT THE TV HAS A HIGH DEFINITION TUNER OR ATSC TUNER BUILT IN. MOST PEOPLE DONT NEED OR USE THIS BUILT IN TUNER BECAUSE THEY RECEIVE THEIR HIGH DEFINITION FROM CABLE COMPANY OR SATELLITE COMPANY WHICH PROVIDE THEIR OWN BOXES. IF YOU RECEIVE CABLE THROUGH THE WALL HAVING AN HDTV MAY BE HELPFUL.

STEP 4: DO I WANT A BRAND NAME TV OR IS AN OFF BRAND TV OK?

OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A PERSONAL CHOICE AND WHILE BRAND NAME TVS SUCH AS PANASONIC GET GREAT REVIEWS , THE PICTURE ON THE OLEVIA LCDS WE HAVE IN OUR SHOWROOM IS FANTASTIC.

STEP 5 : WHAT DO I NEED TO GET THIS INSTALLED ON MY WALL ?

THE FIRST THING YOULL NEED IS A WALL MOUNT. TODAY YOU CAN BUY A VARIETY OF WALL MOUNTS, FLAT, TILT , CEILING AND SWING ARM. FLAT MOUNTS ARE STILL MORE POPULAR. I HAVE FOUND THAT IF YOUR HANGING YOUR PLASMA IN A LIVING ROOM OR A ROOM WHERE YOUR HANGING THE PLASMA HIGH AND YOU HAVE TO LOOK UP (FOR EXAMPLE FROM A COUCH) I WOULD OPT FOR A TILT MOUNT FOR BETTER AND MORE COMFORTABLE VIEWING.

STEP 6: HOW LONG DO PLASMAS LAST AND DO I NEED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY-

MANY MANUFACTURERS ARE CLAIMING THAT TODAY PLASMAS HAVE A 60,000 HOUR TO HALF LIFE --SPAN. THAT MEANS THAT IF YOU WATCH ABOUT 4 HOURS OF TV A DAY YOUR PLASMA COULD LAST ABOUT 20 YEARS. OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVENT TESTED THIS YET. ALSO IF YOUR PLASMA DOES GO BAD FOR EXAMPLE YEAR THREE, IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX SO IN MY OPINION AN EXTENDED WARRANTY IS WORTH IT. IF NOTHING ELSE THEN FOR PEACE OF MIND.

HOPE THIS HELPS A BIT

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