| Shopping for a Big Screen TV means avoiding | | | | |
| lots of people trying to dazzle you with new | | | | Your neighbor Fred says he's an expert on Big |
| technology. | | | | Screen TVs, and volunteers to help you buy |
| | | | one. Fred may be a good guy. . . he may even |
| You have to side-step slick TV salesmen | | | | know the difference between DTV and DLP. But |
| talking about "DLP", "EDTV" or "1080i". You | | | | Fred may also be a Boob blowing smoke out the |
| have to outsmart internet con artists selling | | | | rear of his shorts. How can you tell? Rely |
| "gray market" Plasmas. And you have to | | | | on the only person you can trust to look out |
| ignore bone-headed advice from Fred, the | | | | for your interests . . . you! Listen to |
| neighborhood know-it-all. | | | | Fred, but take him with a grain of salt . . . |
| | | | and do your own research! |
| Mistake #1: Don't Buy A "No-Name" Plasma TV! | | | | |
| | | | Mistake #7: Don't Try To Bring Home A Plasma |
| The most important decision you can make when | | | | TV By Yourself! |
| buying a big screen TV is to decide not to | | | | |
| buy a "No-Name". A device as complex as a | | | | There was a time you could go to Circuit |
| LCD, Plasma or DLP TV must be manufactured | | | | City, buy a 19-inch color TV, throw it in the |
| with the finest components by dozens of | | | | back seat and take it home . . . those days |
| expert technicians working in multi-million | | | | are over! Shipping a Plasma TV to your home |
| dollar plants. "No-name" companies use none | | | | is the only sensible way to get it there; |
| of those. | | | | it's too big, expensive, heavy and delicate |
| | | | to be shoved in the trunk of a car. Your |
| Mistake #2: Never Trust A "Seeing Eye" TV | | | | retailer will arrange shipping for you; make |
| Salesman! | | | | sure that insurance and order tracking are |
| | | | included in the deal. Don't sign for |
| If you walk into a TV showroom and don't know | | | | delivery until you've inspected your TV for |
| EDTV from HDTV, some slick salesman will | | | | damage. |
| smile and eat you for lunch! Don't let | | | | |
| salesmen make choices for you, or you'll end | | | | Mistake #8: Don't Install A Plasma TV Without |
| up with some outdated TV his boss wants to | | | | Help! |
| get rid of. Or you'll end up with screen | | | | |
| burn-in on your new Plasma when your son | | | | A Plasma TV, although thin, is actually very |
| hooks up his Playstation 3; or suffer with a | | | | heavy. A 50-inch Plasma TV can weigh over |
| dim display in your brightly lit living room. | | | | 160 pounds. Mounting a Plasma TV on it's |
| Do a little research before you make a | | | | table stand is a three person job; call some |
| purchase; it's not difficult. | | | | strong friends over. The delivery people |
| | | | will put your TV on the curb, or in your |
| (If you're not familiar with some of the | | | | living room, depending on what you paid for. |
| terms used above - DLP, EDTV, LCD - Google | | | | They won't install your TV on a wall mount, |
| the "123 Guide To Plasma TV.com") | | | | that service costs $200-$300. |
| | | | |
| Mistake #3: Don't Buy From A "No-Name" | | | | Mistake #9: Don't Fail To Connect A Dolby |
| Retailer! | | | | Sound System! |
| | | | |
| It's important to buy your Plasma TV from a | | | | You shouldn't settle for the sound coming |
| reputable dealer selling brand name | | | | from your TV speakers. Attached to your TV, |
| merchandise. The return of a faulty $2000 | | | | a Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound amplifier sends |
| Plasma TV won't bankrupt Wal-Mart or Sony; | | | | six separate channels of sound through |
| but could devastate a Mom and Pop electronics | | | | speakers in front of, on both sides of and |
| store. Try to make major purchases from a | | | | behind the viewer. Home Theater Systems |
| major retailer's website; make sure they | | | | start as low as $250 and go into the |
| offer a good return policy and have brand | | | | thousands; they include an amplifier, five |
| name Plasmas at a discount price. | | | | speakers, wire and a sub woofer. Dolby 7.1 |
| | | | is even more advanced with eight sound |
| Mistake #4: Don't Fall For Plasma Internet | | | | channels. |
| Scams! | | | | |
| | | | Mistake #10: Don't Forget To Budget For |
| We've all seen what look like great deals on | | | | Peripherals! |
| Plasma TVs online. But exactly what is a | | | | |
| great deal? It means getting GREAT | | | | For full enjoyment of your new Plasma TV, |
| MERCHANDISE at a GREAT PRICE. It's not a | | | | you'll need lots of other stuff: HDMI cables |
| great deal if you get CRAPPY MERCHANDISE at a | | | | for each peripheral, surge protectors, a TV |
| GREAT PRICE! You don't want your "new" | | | | stand or wall mount, a HDTV DVD player and |
| Plasma to be a returned or refurbished item. | | | | digital cable for High Def broadcasts. |
| Avoid "gray market" or "B stock" merchandise, | | | | You'll also need a Home Theater System with |
| and avoid sellers who aren't authorized | | | | at least Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound and a |
| retailers. | | | | comfortable viewing area. I'm not trying to |
| | | | scare you . . . a modest system can cost less |
| Mistake #5: Don't Play Video Games On A | | | | than $300, A good system between $800-$1000 |
| Plasma Television! | | | | and a Top-of-the-Line system $1500 and up. |
| | | | |
| The chance of screen burn-in on a Plasma TV | | | | Well, there you have it . . . the 10 Biggest |
| has been greatly reduced by improved | | | | Bone-Headed Mistakes you could make when |
| technology, but not eliminated. Computer | | | | shopping for the perfect Plasma TV! Avoid |
| programs, video games, stock tickers and | | | | them like the plague! |
| station logos can burn permanently into the | | | | |
| screen, ruining your expensive TV. LCD and | | | | Good luck . . . I hope you find the Plasma TV |
| DLP TV screens cannot suffer screen burn-in, | | | | that will thrill your family for years to |
| ever. | | | | come! |
| | | | |
| Mistake #6: Don't Let A Know-It-All Pick Your | | | | It's as easy as 123! |
| TV! | | | | |