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Hi everyone! I've been thinking about buying a flat-panel tv for a while now and I am ready to get one. I figured that this is the perfect place to pose several questions. Please understand that, while I have learned much about CRT televisions, I know very little about LCD TVs ... but some of them seem so impressive to me, that I think I should get one.
First, here's how I plan to use an LCD TV. The TV will go in a bedroom, and I've already determined that a 26-inch screen would be perfect (anything smaller is too small, anything larger is both too large for the space and also for my wallet). I will be using it, at least for now, only for watching DVDs -- no satellite, no cable, no broadcast HDTV. I rarely watch TV, so I don't need those types of hook-ups right now. However, I love movies and want to get the best possible picture I can afford and also have the advantages of widescreen. Some people (including my brother-in-law) think I am crazy for wanting an LCD if I don't plan to watch HDTV -- because DVDs only output 480, as opposed to 720 or 1080. But I'm tired of watching DVDs on a regular TV, and I also don't really want to buy a widescreen CRT. (However, if any of you have reasons why I shouldn't go LCD for this purpose, I would actually be happy to hear what you think).
The LCD TVs I am considering are: JVC LT-26X575, Toshiba 26HL84, and Panasonic TC-26LX20.
Here are my questions:
1. How important is contrast ratio? What is a good contrast ratio?
2. While I will be using this exclusively for DVDs, I certainly want something that will not be obsolete if the future if/when I decide to get HDTV signals. Is there anything (such as connections) that I should look for?
3. The JVC model displays a 720p picture. Does this mean that DVDs will be upconverted? Also, what happens if it is only capable of 720p but a station broadcasts at 1080i? Will the signal be down-converted?
4. How important is response time? I read in an article that LCDs originally had trouble displaying fast-moving scenes -- is this still a problem?
5. Finally, some of the DVDs I have (particularly of older films) have a 4:3 aspect ratio. Will LCD TVs force the image to go widescreen, or can I still view them in their original ratio (with black bars on the sides)?
I know some of these are basic questions, but if anyone can help, I'd apprecaite it. Also, if you have any additional ideas, advice, suggestions, I'd love to hear them.
First, here's how I plan to use an LCD TV. The TV will go in a bedroom, and I've already determined that a 26-inch screen would be perfect (anything smaller is too small, anything larger is both too large for the space and also for my wallet). I will be using it, at least for now, only for watching DVDs -- no satellite, no cable, no broadcast HDTV. I rarely watch TV, so I don't need those types of hook-ups right now. However, I love movies and want to get the best possible picture I can afford and also have the advantages of widescreen. Some people (including my brother-in-law) think I am crazy for wanting an LCD if I don't plan to watch HDTV -- because DVDs only output 480, as opposed to 720 or 1080. But I'm tired of watching DVDs on a regular TV, and I also don't really want to buy a widescreen CRT. (However, if any of you have reasons why I shouldn't go LCD for this purpose, I would actually be happy to hear what you think).
The LCD TVs I am considering are: JVC LT-26X575, Toshiba 26HL84, and Panasonic TC-26LX20.
Here are my questions:
1. How important is contrast ratio? What is a good contrast ratio?
2. While I will be using this exclusively for DVDs, I certainly want something that will not be obsolete if the future if/when I decide to get HDTV signals. Is there anything (such as connections) that I should look for?
3. The JVC model displays a 720p picture. Does this mean that DVDs will be upconverted? Also, what happens if it is only capable of 720p but a station broadcasts at 1080i? Will the signal be down-converted?
4. How important is response time? I read in an article that LCDs originally had trouble displaying fast-moving scenes -- is this still a problem?
5. Finally, some of the DVDs I have (particularly of older films) have a 4:3 aspect ratio. Will LCD TVs force the image to go widescreen, or can I still view them in their original ratio (with black bars on the sides)?
I know some of these are basic questions, but if anyone can help, I'd apprecaite it. Also, if you have any additional ideas, advice, suggestions, I'd love to hear them.