TVs are advancing so fast, everyone is either in the market for a flat panel TV or is going to be very soon. The most important things to consider are:

• Size
• LCD or plasma?
  
• Resolution
• Brightness & contrast
• Response time
• What connections should it have?
  
• Level of warranty and support required
• Do I need a digital set top box?
• Recommended sellers

Size

It's simple..the bigger it is, the more expensive it is. At the moment, the best value for money TVs appear to be in the 32inch to 40inch range. Be sure not to get a TV that is too big for your entertainment area - the general guide is that you should be sitting 2.5 times the diagonal of the TV from it. So if you buy a 32inch (81cm) TV, you should sit 80inches (203cm) away from it.

LCD or Plasma

This is a very popular debate. At the end of the day, factories in China are decreasing production of Plasmas and exponentially growing the amount of LCD panels produced - this is a good indication of what the market is demanding. Although Plasmas are a cheaper alternative to LCDs, they are:
- thicker and heavier
- most are not high definition
- effected by burn in
- use gases and moving parts rather than liquid crystals
Plasma TVs do have a higher contrast ratio than LCDs. This is because LCDs cannot show "pure black" because black light doesn't exist. If you use an LCD monitor and believe that this text is black, this is not an issue for you.

If price is a consideration and you are looking for a TV larger than 50inches, plasmas are a viable alternative. LCD TVs larger than 50inches will cost over $10,000.

Resolution

This is how many pixels the TV has. The more pixels the more detailed the image. High Definition TVs will have a resolution of 1366x768. Any TV with a lower resolution than this will become outdated very quickly.

Response Time

This is how quickly the TV can refresh a frame - the smaller the number the better. It is a very important specification for those that plan to watch action movies and sports on the TV. If you plan to watch a lot of action sports, make sure the TV has a response time of 8ms or better.
 

Brightness & Contrast Ratio

These measure how vivid and bright the images displayed by the TV are. Look for a Brightness of at least 450cd/m2 and a contrast ratio of 800:1 or more.

What connections should it have?

Most TVs come with the standard inputs. If you will be using high definition or will be using your TV as a computer monitor, make sure the TV has an HDMI port. HDMI is the latest high definition interface that can carry high definition digital audio and video through the one cable.

Level of warranty and support required

LCD TVs are expensive and it is important to ensure your purchase is protected. With a large TV, ensure that you are offered on-site warranty as these TVs can be a nightmare to transport once you have removed them from their original packaging. Look for a respectable seller that offers extended warranty and consider your options.

Do I need a digital set top box?

It is important to remember that a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link. Don't expect your LCD TV to be able to play you a video cassette you recorded in the 80's in any better quality than your current TV can. The same applies with you just wish to connect an LCD TV straight into the antenna wall outlet in your house. Recommendation: Make sure you use at least a standard definition set top box with an LCD TV.

Recommended Sellers:

Kogan Direct is an importer and retailer of quality stylish, high definition LCD TVs. All auctions start at 1 cent with no reserve:
Kogan Direct - Australia's No.1 Online LCD TV Retailer