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New televisions: In all shapes and sizes
The TV landscape has changed dramatically in recent years.
Today's market offers unprecedented
choice, from flat-panel plasma TVs that
can be mounted on a wall to thin LCD
tabletop displays, wide-screen projection
sets, and familiar picture-tube TVs. The
main TV types now on the market are:
Direct-view TVs. The familiar picture-tube
sets containing CRTs (cathode-ray
tubes).
Rear-projection TVs. Big-screen sets
that beam images on to a screen from
behind. The images are generally created
by three small CRTs, making for a bulky
cabinet. Newer, slimmer versions use
LCD (liquid-crystal display), DLP (digital
light processing), or LCOS (liquid crystal
on silicon)-to create the images.
LCD TVs. Like flat-panel computer
displays, these thin sets have a backlight
and thousands of red, green, and blue
pixels that open or shut to let light
through and create colorful images.
Plasma TVs. Flat-panel, big-screen
TVs with thousands of red, green, and
blue pixels that work somewhat like fluorescent
lights, resulting in noticeably
bright images.
Because the new TVs haven't been on
the market long, they haven't established
a track record for reliability. Also, because
new technologies by definition aren't
mature, they may not have reached their
performance potential.
Keep in mind that newer technologies
tend to start out highpriced and are likely
to become cheaper over time. LCD and
plasma TVs are still expensive, as are some
of the newer types of rear-projection sets
using LCD and DLP technologies. You're likely
to see some price decreases this year,
but don't be surprised if prices continue
to fall for another year or two.
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Tech-
nology
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Screen
sizes
|
Price
range |
Pluses |
Minuses |
Bottom
line |
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13 to
36 in.
|
Less
than $100 to $3,000 |
Mature, proven technology.
Least expensive type of TV, with best video quality.
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Maximum screen size limited.
Larger sets are big, bulky, and heavy (more than 200
pounds).
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Still the standard for top
picture quality, these offer wide selection and best
value.
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14 to
46 in.
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$500
to
$11,000 |
Thin and light. Can be wall-mounted.
Sleek look. No risk of burn-in of static images. Some
can double as a computer display.
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Maximum screen size limited--for
now, at least. Larger models can be costly. Image may
dim as you angle away from center of screen. Have less
contrast than direct-view sets.
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Trendy flat screen with decent
picture quality, but much more expensive than similar-sized
direct-view sets.
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32 to
63 in.
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$3,000
to
$25,000 |
Screens can be very large.
Thin and wall-mountable. Sleek look. High brightness
and contrast.
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Power-hungry. Generate lots
of heat. Some lack speakers and tuner. Burn-in of static
images a concern. Fairly heavy. Wall-mounting can be
costly.
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Big, bright screens with a
real wow factor, but expensive.
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Rear
projection (CRT-based)
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38 to
61 in.
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$1,000
to
$6,000 |
Lowest price for big-screen
TV, with wide selection and plentiful features.
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Big, bulky, and heavy. CRTs
need periodic realignment. Image may dim as you angle
away from center of screen. May require professional
installation.
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The lowest-cost big screens,
but they’re space hogs.
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Rear
projection
(LCD- and DLP-based)
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40 to
70 in.
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$2,800 to
$7,000 |
Thinner and lighter than CRT-based
siblings. No risk of burn-in. Higher resolution than
CRT-based units.
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Pricey, especially for bigger
screens. LCD-based: black parts of image not truly black.
Image may dim as you angle away from center of screen.
Backlight bulb may need periodic replacement.
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Relative slimness makes them
an attractively priced big-screen alternative to expensive
flat panels.
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