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| you'll end up with some outdated TV his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