LCD-Direct-View Flat Panel Television

Why so many bet on LCD-Direct-View as a rapidly emerging challenger to plasma.

But see a special warning for the obsessive!

A smart move - this will introduce many to the amazing world of lcd flat panel television.

LCD-Direct-View Flat Panel

LCD Direct-View Flat Panel PLUSSES.

Shallow depth.

Décor friendly.

LCDs need no convergence (alignment of the colors so they sit on top of each other).

Immune from "burn-in," so there's never any harm or worry from videogames if left on too long. Or network logos down there on the corner of the screen.

No speaker shielding necessary like with CRTs.

No altitude limits like Plasma.

Would you believe we are on the SEVENTH generation of LCD panels?

Less power consumption than CRT..

Bright image.

LCD-Direct-View Flat Panel MINUSES.

Some limitation in viewing angle and contrast ratio.

Picture quality doesn't equal the best available from the very finest tube TVs, specifically in the areas of contrast ratio, black level, smooth motion. (Look for LCD panels with single digit ‘response times’)

Angle of view

Warning for the obsessive:

Dead pixels are the result of flaws in the glass sheets that go into displays. Inevitable glitches in the manufacturing process mean that some pixels don't illuminate properly--or at all. Manufacturers can avoid most defects by scrapping bad sections of a glass sheet, but a few bad pixels usually crop up in other areas.

Here’s one manufacturer’s word on the subject: since such things are subject to review and change, we won’t embarrass the source:

"During the manufacturing process, it is not uncommon for one or more pixels to be fixed in an unchanging state. The visible result is a fixed pixel that appears as an extremely tiny dark or bright discolored spot. In almost every case, these fixed pixels are hard to notice and do not detract from the display quality or usability. A display with 1 to 5 fixed pixels is within the industry standards, and is therefore considered an acceptable display. LCD screens that do not meet this industry standard are rarely passed on from the point of manufacturing. If you notice more than six (6) fixed pixels on your display, or if there are several fixed pixels in a small area of the screen, contact XXX Technical Support."

OPINION:

Mister Weather called.

A friend called. He's been on TV for over 20 years. He wondered if he should get HD from his cable provider for his HD ready (relatively new set.) I said yes, yes, yes. He said he didn't like the way his HD TV was showing standard definition broadcasts because the 4:3 proportion only filled part of the wider screen and he didn't like the stretch modes. I'm with him there. I don't like the fattening or the shrinkage.

Without seeing them ALL, I believe that the different manufacturers have their own schemes for filling the screen with pictures that don't really fit. For example, these, from a highly regarded

Philips 32PF9996 LCD Flatscreen

Aspect selections include Automatic, which fills the screen with all sources except 720p; Super Zoom, which stretches the sides of 4:3 sources to fill the screen; 4:3, which displays 4:3 sources with black bars to either side; Movie Expand 14:9, which zooms 14:9 letterboxed content to fit screen height; Movie Expand 16:9, which zooms letterboxed content to fill the screen; 16:9 Subtitle, which shifts Movie Expand 16:9 upward so that subtitles are visible; and Wide-screen, which displays 16:9 sources properly. But, you can't change aspects with HDTV sources, and only two options (4:3 and Wide-screen) are available for 480p sources (think DVD.)

Incidentally, this set has the ambi-lighting which can 'match' screen color with backlights. Or be their version of white, or blue, or red - or off. I'd have to live with it to know if this was something I'd want. I do know your eyes prefer SOME lighting in the TV's room.

If you buy this one, you will need to be sure you have a PROGRESSIVE SCAN DVD player or you'll see artifacts - as the set lacks what's called 2:3 (aka 3:2) pulldown detection: digital technology developed to accurately convert and display content originally on celluloid film, which runs at 24 frames per second (fps) compared to the 30fps rate of television.

Users report loving the set with very high marks, though the database is fairly small so far. 720P sources don't fill the entire screen.

Learn more, or to buy at special price click this:

Philips 32PF9996/37 32" Widescreen High-Definition LCD TV

The SONY BRAVIA XBRs are worthy.  Check these if in the market for an LCD flatscreen. 

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