There are so many features on newer flat panel tv’s now that it can be overwhelming at the least to decide which Flat Panel to purchase. Everything from smart televisions, refresh rates, LED, 3D and more can make it very confusing to anyone who hasn’t spent hours researching each feature and brand. We will help you make a wise decision and get the best Flat Panel for your needs and hard earned money.
720p vs. 1080p – One of the most important factors if you are wanting full HD capability of your new Flat Panel TV or monitor. 1080p is true HD and will give you better picture quality and crisper imaging. Only choose a 720p flat panel if you aren’t planning on watching blu-ray discs or 1080p High Def Television. 1080p is the clear winner here and one of the most important things to look for if you want a true HD experience. Choose the 1080p unless you are only watching DVD’s and have no plan of upgrading to a High Definition blu-ray player or HD satellite or cable service.
60 or 120 Hertz – Another very important factor you want to look for when buying your new flat panel is the Hertz. The reason this is important is because the lower the hertz the more flickering and stuttering you will get. With a lot of action on screen the 60 hertz Television will show noticeable flickering. To ensure even frame rates regardless of the action 120 hertz or above is the best option and well worth a little more money.
3D or not - 3D flat panels are growing in popularity however the flat panels are usually at least right now are a noticeable difference in price than the non 3D counterpart. Plus to make it more expensive you have to have special 3D glasses with them that cost around $100 -$200 each not to mention how uncomfortable they are to wear during a full length 3D movie. You will also need to buy the 3D blu-ray which there is a very limited 3D collection at least for right now. You can watch some 3D channels on satellite but unless you are a 3D fanatic I would hold off on purchasing a new 3D television until the newer models that don’t require glasses come down in price. You will also want to research which 3D television to get because they are not all created equally.
Smart Flat Panels vs. Dumb ones – You may have noticed that most flat panels currently are coming out with wi-fi and a large host of apps including Netflix, Hulu Plus, VUDU, Youtube, VIMEO, etc etc. These apps can greatly improve your watching options. They may cost a small fraction more but if you like any of these services you will fully enjoy purchasing a flat panel television with these services built in. Most of them work very well and you can add your favorite apps and change them to your liking. It shouldn’t be long before all flat panels are smart ones. If you are into watching anything on the internet I highly recommend purchasing a flat panel with these built in.
New Flat Panel Technology – Flat Panels are coming that will have a “Kinect” interface where you talk to it and use arm motions to control it. They will also have built in cameras for apps such as Skype to make them even more versatile. It will only be time before these new technologies are cheap enough for the average consumer.