Widescreen TV

At this point in time 3D HDTV is very much in its infancy and according to many companies is going to be the next big thing in home entertainment.  With any new technology on the market it is necessary to do some research before heading off to your local electrical retailer with cash in hand.  There are both advantages and disadvantages when it comes to 3D HDTVs and it is important to remember that over the next couple of years this technology will develop and improve.

Viewing 3D movies and 3D TV content was originally only available at the movie theatre (and you had to wear those cardboard glasses with the coloured cellophane).  Now it is possible to view 3D content on your home television providing that the TV you have  is 3D enabled.  To view the 3D effect on your 3D enabled TV requires that everyone wear 3D glasses which today look more like sun glasses and are no longer made of cardboard.

Apart from the positive aspects of 3D television such as the great visual effect from the 3D image there are however a few negative aspects in regards to 3D HDTV.  One of these problems is that not everyone can perceive the 3D image even while wearing the 3D glasses.  This problem affects around 7% of the population so if you are thinking of purchasing a 3D HDTV it might pay to go to your local retailer and check that you can see the 3D image on the screen.

Much of the negative feedback relating to 3D HDTVs is about the wearing of the 3D glasses.  Many people don’t like wearing the glasses and have been hesitant to take up the technology.  The glasses for many models of 3D TVs are quite expensive, over the $100 mark and this adds up especially for a household of 5 or more people.  Another thing to note with the 3D glasses is that you cannot use the 3D glasses from another brand with a different TV as manufacturers have used different methods to create the 3D image on the screen.

Lastly the problem with 3D TV and the reason for the slow take up is that there is very limited content that can be used and viewed on a 3D HDTV.  The choice of 3D content to watch is limited to a few 3D DVD movie releases, a few programs on Foxtel and free to air TV and the occasional sporting event such as the football grand final.

Read More

As companies release more and more models of HDTVs onto the market the consumer becomes bombarded with information and reviews about these new products.  There are reviews about new technologies, especially new HDTVs in all forms of media from magazines to websites.  The real question is can you trust these HDTV ratings and reviews and where is the best source of information about HDTVs?  The following looks in depth at the various media which provides the consumer with information about products such as HDTVs and the like.

The consumer gets bombarded with information from every angle and when it comes to advertising of new products this information comes to us in several different ways.  Information about a topic, which in this case is HDTVs, is presented to the consumer through reviews in magazines and newspapers, as reviews from the manufacturer, through relevant websites and forums as well as consumer websites and government or industry consumer ratings.  Each of these information sources has its advantages and disadvantages which are important to know when considering the information provided.

Reviews about new products in magazines and newspapers can be limited depending on the publication.  In many cases products that are reviewed by this media are sent free of charge for review so the reviewer could have a bias toward this product for that reason.  Another limitation with these reviews is that they only sample and review a small number of the products in the range and the product you are looking to purchase may not have been reviewed.  The one main advantage with this media is that it is cheap and easy to access and alerts consumers to new products that are on the market.

Information on products from the manufacturer is also another way that consumers can get details about products that they are interested in purchasing.  This source can give you most of the technical information however some information provided by manufacturers should be considered bias as they want you to buy their product.

Another source for HDTV ratings is from websites and forums which can provide accurate and up to date information on various consumer products.  These sources can be quite useful when searching for individual products reviews and ratings as you can access official web pages or participate in forums with people who have product information.  As with most information sources you can’t believe everything you read, especially on the internet however this and the other information sources mentioned will point you in the right direction when it comes to HDTV ratings and reviews.

Read More

For people who are about to spend a small fortune on a new widescreen TV it is important to consider a few things before you make that purchase.  The first thing that you should be asking is how big should the screen size be and what is the best size for the room that the television will be located.  Many people decide on the size of their new widescreen TV based on the amount of money they have to spend however it is important that the television you decide to buy is not too big for the room.  There are some simple rules of thumb when it comes to working out how far back from a widescreen you should sit to get the perfect picture and this distance increases with an increase in the size of the television screen.

From the time that television was first introduced to audiences there has been myths in regards to sitting too close to the television screen.  It was believed that sitting too close to the screen was bad for your eyes however this is not true with most research finding that sitting too close to the TV screen induces headaches as your brain works overtime trying to take in the whole picture.  To remedy this problem it is essential to work out the dimensions of your TV room to ensure that the TV you purchase is not too large for the room.

Another misconception is that bigger is better.  This is not always the case as you may experience the problems of being too close to the screen and not experiencing the best picture quality.  A TV that is too big for a room also looks wrong from an aesthetics point of view.  A widescreen TV that is too large for a room over shadows other features of the TV room and users may find that a large TV in a small room does not provide enjoyment when watching your favourite DVD movies.

Before going out to the local electrical retailer with cash in hand it is important to measure the distance between the viewing area of the TV room to the place where the TV will be located.  This measurement will dictate the screen size suitable for this room and hopefully avoid a situation where the TV chosen is too large for the space and room it is to be located in.

Read More

The Vizio company has emerged as the front runner when it comes to the manufacture and retail of low priced flat panel HDTVs.  After only a few short years on the market the Vizio low priced HDTVs have dominated the American market by marketing their product with prices well below most of the competition.  So the next question is just how good are these LCD HDTVs and is it a case of buyer beware or a great bargain for people looking for a cheaper alternative to the very expensive LCD HDTVs available from other more popular brands.  One of the most popular HDTVs in the Vizio range is the 47 Inch Truled LCD HDTV.

From the moment that you open the box this TV appears to be everything that you want from a flat panel HDTV.  The Vizio 47 Inch TV has all the styling and attention to detail that you would expect from the more expensive brands and is sleek and stylish with a huge screen.  This model is only available in black which shouldn’t worry you at all as it is stylish enough to suit any home or office.  The TV also comes with an equally stylish blue tooth remote which features a slide out key board and all the connections such as power and chords to other devices are located on the back, out of sight for a tidy appearance.

As well as the huge screen size at 47 Inches this HDTV also has a huge list of features, all of which are featured on many of the more expensive televisions of this size.  The Vizio TV is full high definition with over 2 million pixels providing a clear and visually stunning picture quality.  The TVs are LCD and use a backlit LCD display making the picture resolution excellent and the refresh rate of the picture is equal to most of the more expensive TVs in this size range.

Apart from the excellent picture quality these Vizio TVs have a huge 170 degree viewing angle and two speakers that will fill even the largest of TV rooms with crisp clear sound.  These TVs are also able to be connected to the internet using the various Vizio applications allowing the user to stream movies, listen to music or browse the internet.  These TVs also come with a comprehensive warranty period which is important especially on electrical equipment.

Read More

Like many expensive consumer items such as cars and furniture, HDTVs require a large investment of money.  As a result of this many consumers spend time researching and shopping for the best deals on HDTVs.  Deals on HDTVs can be found on most days both online and in retail stores however there are times of the year that you can get significant savings on HD televisions.  Here we have some helpful tips that will hopefully get you the best HDTV deal.

One of the best ways to find great deals on HDTVs is to do some research on the models of HDTV that you would like and consider buying a particular model when a newer version is released.  This is a great option for people who are looking for great savings with only a small compromise of not having the newer features offered on the newer version of the HDTV.  Waiting for a new model to be released and buying the older version for a significantly reduced price is one of the best ways to get a great HDTV deal on a brand new television.

Another option for consumers who are able to wait to purchase their new HDTV is to decide on what brand and type of HDTV suits your needs and wait for the various sales that happen throughout the year.  Most retail outlets will have sales near the end of the financial year or stock take sales periodically throughout the year.  These sales can offer huge discounts on electrical items such as HDTVs and accessories so if you are able to wait the savings will defiantly be worth it.

Watching how the Australian dollar is performing on the currency market is also a recommended thing to do when looking for great HDTV deals.  Much of the electrical equipment such as HDTVs are manufactured and imported into Australia so a strong Aussie dollar can make the price of these items fall.  Most retailers will try to pass these savings on to the customer so make sure that you have a look at how the dollar is performing before making that big purchase.

Purchasing a HDTV during a promoted event is also a way to get a great deal.  When the Commonwealth Games was held in Melbourne many retailers were discounting their HDTV prices or offering deals for consumers who were going to watch the Games in full HD.  Other promotions are offered for events such as the start of the football season to offer fans great deals on HDTVs to watch their favourite sport in HD.

Read More