4 Tips for Buying a High Definition Flat Screen TV

High definition flat screen televisions have become more than just an amazing convenience; they have become a social fad. The moment you step back after you finally finish mounting your new, state of the art, LCD flat screen is the moment that the possibilities of your world become endless. All of your parties, sporting events, weekly shows, nightly news, and television watching habits have just reached a new level. Savor it, because your world has just become high def. A few things to consider as you consider purchasing an entertainment upgrade as potentially expensive as a high-def flat screen:

1. Buy a new one. The low prices of used high definition flat screens on craigslist or eBay are tempting, but you must resist them. The risks are just too great. Once that flat screen comes into your possession, the warranty is no longer valid. That means if there happens to be an overheating problem, pixels stop working, or some other unexpected event occurs, you are out of luck and money. Keep in mind that the prices on these types of electronic equipment are dropping constantly, so you may have the opportunity to buy that same flat screen television brand new at a better price than it was offered to you in used condition.

2. Don’t be fooled by contrast ratios. The contrast ratio is actually extremely important, as it stands for the difference between the lightest and darkest colors on the screen. It has become increasingly popular for manufacturers to brag about 10000:1 contrast ratios or higher, and the price of the television sets with those high numbers are raised accordingly. The main point to consider is that when the high definition picture gets to a certain level of clarity, further increases in contrast ratio are not perceptible to the human eye. To humans, the picture is only going to get so clear and crisp, thus when you start seeing contrast ratios getting above 5000:1, you may want to stop and ask yourself what you are really paying for.

3. The more HDMI connection ports it has, the better. HDMI connections are the little input and output jacks that allow the signal to come to and from the television. This allows for optimal support of blu-ray players, high definition cable service, and all other sorts of devices. If the high def flat screen you are considering is a good price but doesn’t have any HDMI connections, you now know why it is so cheap.

4. There are lower prices online. On average, you have the chance to save at least 25% by buying a television online. You will have to sacrifice a few things though, such as a limited warranty, refurbished units, or a no-return policy. Check out www.bizrate.com for a good price comparison, and read this article for a better understanding.