Selecting a TV isn't as easy as it used to be in years gone by. Rather than going to the local department store and choosing a console that would take up a large portion of the living room, we now have other options. Along with those options comes the chore of locating, comparing and narrowing down a multitude of models to just the right one for your viewing needs.

First, of course, you'll need to consider the size of the room which will house the unit. Since Big Screen TVs offer a much larger viewing scenario, the room needs to be able to accommodate whichever model you choose. For instance, you might like the idea of a 60" screen, but you might only have enough space to accommodate one that measures 42". Don't make the mistake of purchasing one and then discovering that, as much as you thought you might be able to squeeze it into the room, it just won't work.

Display type is another consideration when bringing such a system into your home. You'll need to choose a glass tube or flat tube (the latter being the more expensive). For higher viewing quality, you'd be better off with the flat tube variety. Direct-views are smaller with a brighter picture and wider viewing angle than their larger rear-projection counterparts. If you prefer the rear-projection variety, however, they range in size from 40 to 82 inches diagonally. Those who like the idea of such a large picture ? and have the room to house such a unit ? will be happy with the 82" variety.

Next, you'll have to decide whether you prefer SDTD (Standard Definition Television), EDTV (Enhanced Definition Television) or HDTV (High Definition TV). The STD is really nothing more than the usual type of television that has been in homes across America for years. The enhanced version is an upscale of that, but doesn't quite offer the quality of the HDTV variety. HDTV offers high definition viewing, and is touted as being the best viewing experience that there is to offer to the general public.

Financial considerations are always on the horizon, and this will be one of the biggest factors that you'll need to consider when determining which type of set to purchase. Although the EDTV and HDTV models carry weightier price tags, they also pay for themselves over the long run, if you consider how much money you'd be spending to go to the local cinema on a regular basis. If your budgetary constraints are so tight that you can't even consider such an option, then you can still find standard televisions which utilize the big screen TV presentation.

The bottom line is that you'll need to consider finances, available space in the room, type of viewing presentation, display capabilities and the reputation of the manufacturer. Manufacturers such as Sony, Pioneer and Panasonic are among the highest ranked manufacturers of TV and big screen TV systems in the current market. Others also have a strong reputation for quality, as well, so it's simply going to be a matter of doing a bit of comparison shopping.

© 2006Simon Canfield - All Rights Reserved

Simon Canfield is a hi-tech enthusiast and freelance author.

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