Don't Fall Into These HDTV Buying Traps

CLICK to read article on Yahoo! Shopping

"A new HDTV is a big investment and a point of pride. But making that investment can feel daunting, and pride can get in the way of good sense. Too often HDTV buyers spring for a big TV with the latest and greatest specs without really knowing exactly what they're paying for or if it's worthwhile. Below, you'll find some of the most common and costly traps to avoid while you're shopping for an HDTV.

The Size Trap

A huge TV will make your friends drool with envy, but don't overdo it. If a TV is too big for a room and you're forced to sit too close to a colossal screen, the picture won't look as sharp as it should, and you could end up with a serious headache from the eye strain. The distance between the TV and your eyeballs should be 1.5 to 2.5 times the size of the screen. And don't forget to account for the space you'll need in your car for the ride back from the store.


The Showroom Trap

Don't fall for the sales gimmicks that have no bearing on real-world performance. For example, Sharp has displays set up in some stores to sell their Quattron-series TVs. The display implores users to look through a magnifying glass to examine the extra color (yellow) built into each pixel. It's definitely there, and it does affect the picture (yellows look more vibrant), but you'd never look at your TV through a magnifying glass in your living room, so why would it matter in the showroom?

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8 HDTV myths demystified

Shopping around? Check out these claims often heard at big-box retailers

READ more on PC World- msnbc.com

"If you're buying your first HDTV or an upgrade from a starter set, your new television may deliver a better picture than the one you're used to.

But picking the right HDTV can be confusing, especially when your favorite blue-shirted salesperson may be steering you in a certain direction in hopes of a bigger commission. Or maybe the rep is just misinformed. Whatever the reasons, the environment has encouraged a cavalcade of claims about HDTVs — some of which were true for first-generation sets but have little relevance to today's buyers, some of remain valid, and some of which were never true.

I'll highlight some of the most prominent assertions made on the showroom floors of big-box retailers and explain the realities, along with tips and details for buying an HDTV, selecting the best content, hooking up the set at home, and more."

Walmart, others cut TV prices in Super Bowl run-up

Walmart, others cut TV prices in Super Bowl run-up - Yahoo! Finance: "Wal-Mart Stores Inc is cutting prices on high-definition TVs ahead of the U.S. Super Bowl championship game, looking to entice shoppers to spend now that the holiday season has ended.

In its U.S. Walmart stores, the discounter is also getting more vocal about promoting its in-home TV installation service, an offering that it said is helping shoppers become more comfortable buying larger, and often more expensive, TVs.

'We do know that there are customers who are not all do-it-yourself type customers, they do want professional help for installation,' said Alex Cook, senior category director for consumer electronics at Walmart U.S.

Starting on Sunday, Walmart is cutting prices on select high definition TVs by $30 to $300. It will offer a Vizio 55-inch 1080p LCD TV for $1,298, or $200 off; a Sony Bravia 46-inch 1080p LCD TV for $778, or $300 off; and a Vizio 32-inch 720p LCD TV for $368, marked down by $30.

Electronics retailers typically roll out discounts ahead of the Super Bowl to entice shoppers to buy a new TV to watch the game. This year, the National Football League's Super Bowl is being played on February 7."

How To Buy an HDTV (Digital Landing)

Since I'm in the market for a HDTV, I had to research features and options. This video from Digital Landing is very good for the basics.

3-D HDTV is starting to get more in focus

By msnbc.com (CLICK to read more)

"As 3-D versions of movies continue to attract an audience, it’s inevitable that film studios and consumer electronics companies want to duplicate the success at home. The time is at hand, with Sony and Panasonic recently announcing a new advanced generation of 3-D TV products that should be available within the next year in the United States.

'Technology exists today that can make great quality 3-D experiences in the home,' said Rick Dean, chairman of the 3-D@Home Consortium, a group of companies cooperating on strategies and standards for 3-D TV.

But up until recently, the production and viewing of video in 3-D hadn’t changed much since the 1950s when 3-D movies such as 'House of Wax' and 'Creature from the Black Lagoon' lured viewers away from their TVs and back into the theaters, along with goofy-looking glasses."

5 things to hate about HDTV

By msnbc.com (CLICK to read more)

"It’s hard to say anything bad publicly about high-definition TV. Aficianados are rabid. Consumers are going ga-ga for high-def: 53 percent of households in the United States now own an HDTV, up from 23 percent in 2007, according to the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing.

Prices on sets have dropped as precipitously as the economy, and 32-inch HDTVs can be had for as little as $399 at Costco. Life is good. Can’t buy a house? Buy an HDTV.

And yes, the picture is spectacular – when you can get it. HDTV is not always easy to set up or to view. Unless you’re a home theater maven with a master’s degree in HDTV, you may find yourself lost in a sea of acronyms and acrimonious feelings toward the set at which you’re staring. That’s one thing to hate about it. Read on for more."