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Showing posts from April 22, 2008

CRT Projection TVs

CRT (cathode-ray tube) projection TVs use the same technology as traditional TVs, but with a projector to magnify the image and achieve larger pictures with the same tubes. CRTs offer very clear pictures, last a long time and are the best value among rear projection TVs. However, they are also thicker and heavier, and are gradually being phased out in favor of more up-to-date digital technologies that are better suited to high-definition, gaming and PC use. So when you see an ad for a cheap projection TV, make sure you know what kind of picture technology it has -- the best deal may not be the best picture..

Advantages of Rear Projection TVs

You should always evaluate the good and the bad of a product before spending a lot of money. Here are some advantages to rear projection TVs: Low cost per-inch compared to other types of large-screen TVs 60- to 80-inch models are readily available for those who want very large sizes Newer models are approaching plasma and LCD flat-screens in thinness Easy to install -- no mounting or drywall work Perform well in ambient light

Limitations of Rear Projection TVs

There is always advantages and disadvantages to any product. Here are some of the issues you should consider when purchasing a rear projection TV: Limited viewing angles -- the picture becomes dimmer as the viewer moves toward the sides Still bulkier than flat-screen TVs Some rear project TVs tend to reflect objects in the room Rear projection lamps burn out with usage, and will cost $150 to $300 to replace Can be unappealing as permanent parts of a room

Evaluating a Projection TV

The best projection TV for you isn't necessarily the one that costs the most or takes up the least room. Before you make a purchase, check for these things: Be sure your set has at least one and preferably two HDMI inputs This is to make sure your set will work with cable boxes, satellite receivers and HD DVD players. Make sure the TV you're looking at displays colors to your liking. If you're looking for great blacks, it's best to consider DLP. Don't like the rainbow effect? Look at a more expensive set with three separate chips or consider LCD. Before you make your purchase it's a good idea to walk around the TV, so you can make sure the image quality is pleasing to you from different angles.

LCoS Rear Projection TVs

LCoS is one of the newest technologies for rear projection televisions. It stands for "liquid crystal on silicon" and is an advancement to LCD technology that creates a very high-resolution image. While these televisions are stunning to look at, only a few makers are using the technology, and it may be hard to find a set you like or a discount that would bring these rear projection televisions into reasonable competition with DLP or LCD sets.

DLP Projection TVs

DLP stands for Digital Light Processing. Essentially, a tiny, very precise chip manipulates light by changing the position of thousands of microscopic mirrors. The mirrors can turn on and off thousands of times per second, and are used to create a black-and-white picture using up to 1,024 shades of gray. Before that picture reaches the screen, color wheels are used to filter it so that the color is true and bright. Newer-model DLP rear projection TVs can produce more than 35 trillion colors. The picture quality on a DLP projection TV is usually gorgeous, particularly in more recent models that have three micromirror chips instead of just one. (The older one-chip models are prone to a "rainbow effect" when the picture changes focus.)

How Rear Projection TVs Work

Rear projection TVs are often an economical way to get a big screen and a great picture. They can be thinner than traditional CRT sets, but aren't thin enough to mount on a wall, as you might with a plasma or LCD flat screen. As the name indicates, a rear projection television contains a projector, which transmits images from behind the screen through a lens that magnifies them to fill the available viewing space. There are several different projector technologies in use. The most popular are CRT, LCD, DLP and LCoS.

LCD Projection TVs

An LCD rear projection TV sends signals to three small, high-intensity lamps (red, blue and green) then illuminates them from behind to produce pictures of often eye-popping quality. Still thicker than flat-screen TVs -- a 55-inch display might be 20 inches thick -- LCD rear projection televisions are a less expensive way to get the big, bright pictures you crave. They're also ready for high-definition programming and easily adapt for use as PC screens. The only downsides are that some LCD models have difficulty displaying true blacks, and others have what is known as a "screen door effect" -- a faintly visible grid on the screen, especially when sitting close to it. As with any TV purchase, you'll want to make a decision based on what looks good to you.

TV Warranties

Most of today's TV makers support their products with excellent warranties and good customer service. So why buy the extra one being offered at the electronics store? For high-end or mission-critical TV sets (perhaps those used in a business, for example), extended warranties offer peace of mind. Of course, electronics sellers want you to buy them every time. When is it worth it? How much does the warranty cost as a percentage of the TV's cost? If it's more than 25 percent, skip it. Will you use extra features like free maintenance? How much of a problem is it for you if your TV is not working? What is most likely to go wrong with your machine, and does the warranty cover it?

Who Invented Television?

No one person was the inventor of the television. Instead, it evolved through the work of many scientists and innovators over several decades. By the time the word "television" was introduced at the 1900 World's Fair in Paris, several inventors had taken steps toward the transmission of images over wires. In the mid-1920s, American Charles Jenkins and Scotsman John Baird both demonstrated the transmission of moving images. By the beginning of World War II, several nations and companies had seen the potential in television and a few thousand sets -- many of them built from kits by electronics enthusiasts -- were in use around the world. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the first U.S. president to give a televised speech, a talk at the 1939 World's Fair.

The High Definition Standard

The first high-definition television (HDTV) sets went on the market in 1998, and for several years HDTV was the province of video enthusiasts with money to burn. Recently, prices for HDTV sets have come down to within reach of ordinary families, and more and more people are looking forward to watching the Super Bowl, American Idol or Rachael Ray in stunningly sharp images with brilliant color. This doesn't always happen. For one thing, some networks and cable providers aren't yet offering HDTV signals. You can't receive a signal that's better than the one being sent out from the source. You may even find that you get a better HDTV signal with an over-the-air antenna than through your cable provider. When you go to an electronics store to look at HDTV sets, ask for the HDTV expert, and get this person's name and business card. Write down the model numbers of the sets that interest you, and use the Internet to verify any claims about a certain set's resolution. Ta...

The Future of Television

You can get e-mail on a television screen. You can watch DVDs on your computer. It's not hard to envision a future where the same screens serve up both the interactivity of the Internet and the wide range of entertainment available on TV. Americans have shown an appetite for giant screens and Sharp and Panasonic have obliged with diagonal measurements as high as 108 inches. Many people now have digital video recorders (DVRs) such as TiVo, which allow them to save shows to a hard drive, and even let the machine choose shows it thinks its owners will like. This kind of flexibility may become cross-functional, with recorded shows available on a portable player or on multiple screens in the same house. At the same time, it's becoming easier and easier to bypass commercial programming altogether and create your own. Internet video sites such as YouTube and Google Video have become a hit, often with such mundane fare as a home video of a kitten falling asleep. New technology will mak...

Television and American Politics

Since the 1950s, no U.S. political candidate has been able to ignore the pervasive influence of television. In 1952, vice-presidential candidate Richard Nixon took to the airwaves to defend himself against corruption charges in his famous "Checkers" speech. The speech -- in which he denied receiving unethical gifts, except for a cocker spaniel named Checkers given to his children -- is widely credited with keeping him on Dwight Eisenhower's ticket. That year, Eisenhower became the first presidential candidate to make and air political ads. His opponent, Adlai Stevenson, refused to follow suit and lost the election. Eisenhower later became the first president to permit a televised press conference. Nixon, who so cleverly used the medium to make an emotional appeal to the public in 1952, came off poorly eight years later, when he ran for president against a young New Englander, John F. Kennedy. Kennedy, with his fresh, handsome face, Boston Irish accent and optimistic outlo...

The Reality TV Phenomenon

To find the progenitor of today's reality TV, we need to look as far back as 1948, when Alan Funt began his classic show Candid Camera. This show created unreal situations and filmed the responses of ordinary people, often with hidden cameras. It was popular and ran for many years in one form or another. Another step in the history of reality television came to the airwaves in 1973, in the form of a PBS documentary called An American Family. Audiences were shocked at the family's unscripted dramas -- the parents' decision to divorce and the coming-out of their gay son. In the 1970s and 1980s, video equipment became more portable, and shows like Cops and America's Most Wanted took the audience out of the studio and into real locations to tell real stories. Cheap to produce, such shows quickly became a staple of television schedules. In 1992, MTV took the idea a step further by creating an environment in which "reality" could happen. The Real World series, which...

From Cabinet to Wall Hanging

The earliest commercially available television sets had tiny screens, with a diagonal measurement of just 5 inches. You could buy one from a factory for $150 (a large sum in the 1930s!) or assemble it yourself from a $58 kit. In the 1950s, as televisions became a standard part of a middle-class family home, women's magazines published articles on how to arrange your furniture to accommodate the new devices. "Console" models were made to resemble furniture, and many included cabinet doors so the screen could be tastefully concealed from view when not in use. A special type of lamp -- the "TV lamp," usually small and often shaped like an animal or quaint object -- was placed on top to help ease eyestrain from looking at the screen. (The lamps are now sought after as collectibles.) In the 1960s and '70s, television screens got larger, and more and more families could afford color sets. At the same time, transistors made possible the miniature or portable televi...

The High Definition Standard

Because HDTV broadcasting is digital, your TV can receive a much higher-quality sound signal than was possible with older systems. This makes a true "home theater" experience possible. Start by visiting your local Circuit City and talking with an expert about what kind of room you'll use for your TV and where you plan to put the TV and the seating for viewers. A knowledgeable assistant can help you design an experience that sounds as good as it looks.

An Industry Called Broadcasting 2

Just like TV programming has changed, so hasn't the styles of televisions. Take a look at the more recent developments below to get a better understanding of what is available: Larger screens -- 32- to 42-inch screens are common. LCD and plasma technology, both of which allow for a dramatic flattening of the once-bulky TV set High-definition television (HDTV), which offers a dramatically improved picture quality Digital broadcasting, which all U.S. stations must adopt by 2009.

History of Cable Television

Unlike the history of television itself, cable television can claim a single inventor, John Walson of Pennsylvania. In the late 1940s, he sold and repaired TV sets in mountainous Mahanoy City. When his customers reported they had trouble receiving Philadelphia stations, he set up a "community antenna" on a mountaintop and connected his customers' TVs to it via cables. A few years later, Milton Shapp, who became governor of Pennsylvania later on, used a similar antenna-and-cables system to wire an entire apartment building to receive TV signals, replacing the forest of antennas feeding each individual set. By 1962, there were about 800 cable networks in the United States, mostly receiving network broadcasts from major cities and sending them to rural areas and places with poor reception. In the 1970s came pay television, starting with Home Box Office (HBO) and satellite television, which allowed a single signal to be received all over North America. Thus began the history ...

An Industry Called Broadcasting

The first daily schedule in American television history belonged to a CBS station in New York City, W2XCR. Among its claims to fame was broadcasting the first televised wedding in 1931. Yet television remained a largely experimental medium, restricted to a few thousand electronics enthusiasts, until after World War II. By that time, American television makers and station owners were able to refer to a broadcast standard set by the National Television System Committee in an effort to impose order on the array of different technologies that had evolved. The NTSC standard remains in use in broadcasting to this day. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) began handing out television licenses to communities, leading to a boom in sales of television sets and demand for television programming. Half of all households in the U.S. had television sets by 1955. For several decades, TV was dominated by three commercial networks, NBC, CBS and ABC. More recentl...

Sharp's Aquos Line

In the late 1990s, Sharp television makers set out to conquer the LCD TV market. They did it, and continue to dominate with the AQUOS line of high-quality, high-definition models. Reviewers consistently praise the Sharp AQUOS televisions, citing high-performance video processing, wide viewing angles and excellent blacks. Many also recommend adjusting the factory default settings, such as turning down a bright backlight, to get the best possible picture.

Just for Gamers

Some of the biggest fans of high-quality televisions have been the people who play video games on console systems. Sharp has introduced a new line of televisions catering specifically to this market, with features to enhance gaming experiences. The AQUOS 32GP1U is a Sharp 32-inch LCD TV that's capable of the highest possible definition of display (1080p), a "game mode" that optimizes the TV's settings for game play and side-placed terminals for easy access to plug in game consoles. The set, also available in a 37-inch version, claims a viewing angle of 176 degrees, allowing for multiple-player games in a room without loss of viewing quality.

Sharp's Enhanced Definition TVs

"Look," you may be saying, "I just want a TV, OK? I don't want to play Xbox 360 on it or build a home theater or impress my geeky friends with my contrast ratios. I just want to spend as little as possible so I can catch the weather forecast or maybe watch a DVD with the kids." Sharp's enhanced definition TVs may be a good choice. EDTV is a step between standard definition and high-def, so if you're upgrading from an older TV you'll see a pleasing difference in picture quality. These Sharp flat screen TVs are available in sizes as small as 13 inches and fit easily into small spaces like kitchens, bedrooms, offices and workshops. And their prices put them within reach for almost anyone.

The D92U Series

Sharp brand televisions have a reputation for innovation -- they even won an Emmy for it, back in 2004 -- and the D92U series, announced early in 2007, is another step in that journey. Sharp claims industry-standard pixel response time and contrast ratios for these sets. In addition, all the models can display 1080p input -- the highest resolution available. This is of special interest to high-def videophiles and gamers, but ultimately yields a better picture for everyone.

The D43U Series

This series of Sharp LCD televisions represents the company's efforts to bring great quality TV into an affordable package. While the AQUOS D43U series won't appeal to those who have to have the brightest, best new thing, they'll most likely be popular with buyers who want an eye-popping picture, but don't need game-playing capabilities or high-end video options. Suggested prices start at $1,099 for the 26-inch model, which is likely to go lower once competing retailers start trying to outdo one another.

Power Usage and the Sharp TV

If you love great TV quality but are concerned about the planet (or just your electric bill) a Sharp TV may be the right choice for you. CNet compared power consumption for a variety of TVs. A Sharp 20-inch LCD TV topped the lot, costing about $13 a year to run. Besides keeping your consumption down, Sharp has put a great deal of thought into electricity conservation in its TV manufacturing. Its newest plant gets about a third of its power from renewable sources, such as solar power and fuel cells.

The D62U Series

Sharp's D62U series came out late in 2006, winning raves from reviewers for its sharp blacks and high resolution, but also garnering some complaints about irregular color bands across the screen. These Sharp AQUOS televisions were the first new line to come off the company's manufacturing plant in Kameyama, Japan. They were the first Sharp TVs to come in the "piano black" finish, which has proven popular among consumers. If you buy one of these TVs, expect to spend some time with the picture settings, calibrating them to look right for your environment and tastes.

Sharp's Aquos Line

The AQUOS line is the flagship of Sharp television, featuring LCD TVs that get consistently high ratings for picture quality and motion processing. Among Sharp's innovations with the AQUOS line are a proprietary pixel technology that packs more information into every dot of light, resulting in clearer, brighter pictures and a very fast refresh rate to make motion look fluid and clean.

Zenith TVs

Once, Zenith was a well-known name among American TVs. Today, it contracts with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in Asia to produce a line of budget TVs for the U.S. market. That means that the Zenith TV you see in the store may actually have been made by competitor LG. That doesn't mean you're getting a high-quality LG for less, though. The budget prices on these TVs are an accurate reflection of the picture quality. Unless you're getting a great bargain, these may not belong on your shopping list.

That 108-Inch TV? How'd They Do That?

The title of "biggest television" has gone to plasma TVs for years. So when a 108-inch Sharp TV -- an LCD TV, not plasma -- showed up at a trade show, the tech world took notice. It used to be prohibitively expensive to produce very large LCD TVs. Sharp's "8th generation" factory in Japan has a production line that focuses entirely on large-screen AQUOS units. This has helped to bring down the cost of production, partly through advanced energy conservation and partly through use of the world's largest glass substrates. A single piece of “motherglass” will yield eight 46-inch panels or six 52-inch panels for Sharp flat panel TVs.

Pioneer TVs

Pioneer has a high reputation for quality, and its Elite line is among the most praised on the market. What's great about Pioneer TVs? The Elites excel not only at displaying high-definition content, but at taking lower-quality pictures and making them look better, thus bringing viewers a little closer to the dream of seeing all their pictures in the best possible resolution. There is, of course, a cost for all that loveliness, which means the Pioneer high-end models cost a pretty penny. You may find what you want in Pioneer's mid-range models, which offer comparable picture quality for a good deal less money.

LG TVs

LG TVs represent a step forward especially for those who want to pull in HDTV signals from an over-the-air antenna. LG's tuners have won widespread praise for their strong signals. Some users have reported problems connecting their LG TVs to a DirecTV HDMI port. This is DirecTV's issue, but if you're a DirecTV user you may want to check with them before you buy an LG. LG has long been an electronics power in Korea, but has expanded aggressively into the U.S. market with good quality flat-panel TVs in both LCD and plasma. They're not yet a household name, but they're moving forward with innovations including a TV with built-in high-def DVR and a 13-inch LCD that sits in a refrigerator door.

Sylvania TVs

Sylvania has carved out a niche as a maker of low-cost, no-frills TVs that maintain pleasant picture quality and fit well into many different lifestyles. A 15-inch Sylvania flat-screen TV can be had for less than $200 on occasion. Some buyers of Sylvania's budget LCD TVs have complained of problems with startup or picture quality in motion scenes. Some of these may be fixable by calibrating the image controls on the set.

Panasonic TVs

While many TV makers are flocking to LCD and emphasizing that end of their product lineups, Panasonic TVs are sticking with plasma. Current features include Real Black Drive technology and upgraded V-Real image processing. High-end models also include two-way communication with the company's digital recording products.

Hitachi TVs

If you're in the market for a budget LCD TV, Hitachi TVs might make your shopping list. The only way to know is to go to an electronics store, like Circuit City, and try the Hitachi TVs out. Look at the picture quality and determine whether the colors are strong enough for your taste. If you're just looking for an inexpensive television for a guest room or a place in your home that isn't used frequently, Hitachi TVs might be the best choice.

Mitsubishi TVs

At the middle to high-end of the price scale, Mitsubishi TVs are sometimes stunning in picture quality and always attractive as part of a room. Mitsubishi offers plasma TVs, rear projection TVs and LCD sets in a variety of sizes. Their largest TVs are worthy of being the centerpiece of a home theater system, and users have praised Mitsubishi's well-thought-out remote control and useful product manuals. This brand is worth adding to a price-picture comparison list at your local store.

Advantages of Flat Panel TVs

The most obvious advantage to buying a flat panel television is the great reduction in size and weight over standard CRT models. A 32" flat screen TV can weigh as little as one-third as much as a CRT model of the same screen size, making it possible for a single person to carry and install a screen of significant size. Flat screen televisions are also easier to incorporate into the design of a room, with the flexibility of sitting on a narrow stand or being mounted on a wall. Instead of having to organize a room around a large, bulky TV, the television can become a pleasant, but not overwhelming element. Finally, flat screen TV prices have come down significantly, allowing these models to be manageable for many people who might have previously considered them a too-costly luxury.

Choosing a Plasma TV Installer

Picture it: You've bought your great new LG plasma TV, loaded it up into the back of the car and you're on your way home. Then something goes wrong. Maybe you get tangled in that big mass of cords in the living room. Maybe you simply can't get sound to come out of those rear speakers. Or, worst of all, maybe your brother-in-law drops the TV. If you'd rather enjoy your TV than spend time installing it -- or if you don't trust your brother-in-law's electronics skills -- consider hiring a professional installation company. A good installer will go over available plasma TV stands and wall mounts to be sure your TV is positioned correctly on equipment designed to look good and support it reliably. The company will also integrate related systems (sound, DVD, gaming, PC, maybe even lighting and blinds), tuck cables neatly away and even program your remote control. Ask for an installer who is insured and bonded and ask for references from previous clients. Especially fo...

Replacing a TV Bulb

LCD rear-projection TVs are lit with a bulb. Replacing this bulb is one of the few projection TV repair projects that a reasonably handy owner can undertake. When the screen gets dim, it's time for a new bulb. Unfortunately, these cost between $150 and $200. Your TV repair manuals should contain instructions on how to replace the bulb, but most manufacturers have made this process fairly easy -- just a matter of turning a screwdriver, taking out the old lamp and setting the new one in place. The hardest part may be getting to the back of the TV to do it!

Fit for Royalty

Samsung, the Korean electronics maker, got a royal command recently: Supply 100 flat-screen TVs for Queen Elizabeth II and her court to watch at Buckingham Palace. The order includes both LCD and plasma sets in varying sizes. There'll still be a few spots in the historic palace where you can't see a Samsung TV -- after all, the place has 775 rooms -- but the cash order was seen as a coup for Samsung, since the British royal family has previously relied television makers to lend or donate sets for their use.

Calibrating Your Color

Adjusting these settings will help you get the best possible picture out of your flat panel TV: Brightness: Controls the strength of whites on the screen. Contrast: Controls the depth of blacks on the screen. Temperature (or Tint): The most common adjustment for skin tones. Too "cold" and people look green; too "hot" and they look pink. Color (or Saturation): Controls how vivid the colors are on the screen. Sharpness: Brings out the edges of objects on the screen. Often set too high or given an artificial boost with "edge enhancement" features.

Plasma or LCD?

There are two main technologies being used for flat screen televisions: plasma and LCD. Which one is right for you? It's a matter of taste, largely. When you compare flat screen TVs in a store, it's hard to tell which ones are plasma and which are LCD, if you don't already know. That being said, here are some of the considerations to keep in mind: Plasma TVs are somewhat better at displaying motion and may be available in a wider range of large sizes. They are fragile and expensive to ship, and some do not work well at high altitudes. LCD TVs are more durable, lighter in weight, and easier to install. They are also slightly thinner than plasma TVs. In real-world situations, both kinds of flat panel TVs are likely to produce pictures that satisfy viewers, and will last for many years. It may be a matter of discovering which TV looks best to you and has the best price.

Choosing a Proper Wall Mount flat panel TVs

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There are a few things to consider in mounting flat panel TVs. First, make sure that you check the mounting holes on the back of your TV. Also, be sure you know the dimensions and weight of your set before purchasing your wall mount. Consider the mounting distance. Do you want your TV as close to the wall as possible? Would you like it to swivel or tilt, or would you rather have an extension so you can move the TV further into the room? Mounts for flat panel TVs come in several varieties: Fixed: This is the type of bracket that will mount flat panel TVs immovably to the wall and is also the mount most used for "flush" mounting. Swing Mounts: These mounts are adjustable allowing for more versatility. This mount can be near flush with the wall or extended into the room, plus it allows for rotation of the TV. Tilt and Pan mounts: Tilt and pan mounts allow for even greater motion than swing mounts. The range is from near flush to the wall to about 20 inches into...

HDTV or Monitor?

Your local electronics store, such as Circuit City, can work with you to determine the right HDTV set for your needs. One important consideration is where the viewers will sit. For instance, if you have a small or narrow space, the biggest HDTV won't give you the best experience. In general, the further you sit from the TV, the larger the screen size should be. In a 9-foot by 12-foot living room, you'll probably end up sitting about 8 feet from the screen, meaning that 65-inch behemoth is more TV than you need.

An Important Caution on LCD TVs

If you grew up with a CRT TV, you might recall how well it attracted dust. You may have even been handed some Windex and instructed to clean the screen. Do not do this with your LCD TV! Many ordinary glass cleaners contain ammonia and will either permanently discolor the display or leave a film behind. Instead, dampen a lint-free or microfiber cloth (like the ones that come with eyeglasses) and then wipe the screen clean. Don't use paper towels, which can leave fibers behind, and don't spray anything right at the screen -- just dampen the cloth. The good news is that LCD TVs do not collect as much static as CRT sets, and may not need to be dusted as frequently.

Panasonic TVs

Is plasma fading away? If it isn't, it's in part thanks to a Panasonic TV. Reviewers have been impressed with picture quality and color fidelity. It's definitely not time to write plasma's obituary. While others are scoffing at plasma, Panasonic is just improving their offerings. The Panasonic TV also boasts good connectivity with two HDMIs. This is great for connecting your Xbox to your TV without any trouble.

Calibrate Your LCD TV

Sad to say, your new Sony LCD television (or whatever brand you bought) did not come to your home perfectly adjusted for your living room. Indeed, manufacturers generally use settings that are wrong for home use. Why? Because they know that their TVs are most likely going to be displayed on a showroom floor with bright, fluorescent lighting. They want the image to "pop" and attract the customer's eye. The image that "pops" on the sales floor is not the best possible picture for home viewing. Some common adjustments can deliver a better viewing experience -- the one you paid for when you bought the TV. Use the same light you would normally use to watch TV. Experts recommend a dim light to the rear or side of the television (watching in darkness can cause eyestrain). "Warm up" your set by running it for at least 30 minutes before you start calibrating it. While the TV is warming up, get out the manual and locate the picture controls to adjust: Contrast (...

The D92U Series

If you're looking for Sharp brand televisions that offer the best features for gaming, it might be worth it to consider the new D92U line. It features full 1080p definition, with attractive "piano black" styling and competition-beating contrast ratios. This Sharp brand television is also the first LCD TV to be available with the upgraded HDMI inputs -- another gamer advantage.

Really, REALLY Big Screens 2

Circuit City Tip: A Panasonic plasma TV has led the way in super-sizing. The company is shipping a 103-inch model that costs $70,000. Of course, that's not in most people's budgets, nor will it fit in most people's living rooms. Electronics stores, like Circuit City, carry Panasonic models that are much better suited to the average household, topping out at 58 inches. If you're not sure which size Panasonic plasma TV is best for your home, don't be shy about asking an expert. They can explain the best options for a small space, as well as a larger room. Be sure to clearly explain the setup of your room and the distance between the TV and where you will be viewing it from.

How Rear Projection TVs Work

Rear projection TVs are often an economical way to get a big screen and a great picture. They can be thinner than traditional CRT sets, but aren't thin enough to mount on a wall, as you might with a plasma or LCD flat screen. As the name indicates, a rear projection television contains a projector, which transmits images from behind the screen through a lens that magnifies them to fill the available viewing space. There are several different projector technologies in use. The most popular are CRT, LCD, DLP and LCoS.

Really, REALLY Big Screens

They probably won't fit your house or your budget, but some plasma TV makers are super-sizing their screens to diagonal measurements of more than 100 inches -- perhaps three times the size of the average household TV. An LG plasma TV and a Samsung model both clock in at 102 inches. These behemoths are demo models at this point, used only to promote their makers' smaller-but-still-huge TVs. A Panasonic plasma TV one ups them with 103 inches and is actually in production and shipping. They're best suited to professional settings such as conference facilities, but no doubt a few home-theater enthusiasts with extra cash will manage to find room for them.

Heart disease-useful information

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Qn: What are the thumb rules for a layman to take care of his heart ? Ans: 1. Diet - Less of carbohydrate, more of protein, less oil 2. Exercise - Half an hour's walk, at least five days a week; avoid lifts and avoid sitting for a longtime 3. Quit smoking 4. Control weight 5. Control blood pressure and sugar Qn: Is eating non-veg food (fish) good for the heart? Ans: No Qn: It's still a grave shock to hear that some apparently healthy person gets a cardiac arrest. How do we understand it in perspective? Ans: This is called silent attack; that is why we recommend everyone past the age of 30 to undergo routine health checkups. Qn: Are heart diseases hereditary? Ans: Yes Qn: What are the ways in which the heart is stressed? What practices do you suggest to de-stress? Ans: Change your attitude towards life. Do not look for perfection in everything in life. Qn: Is walking better than jogging or ...

Mc, Mac

There are many Irish and Scottish names beginning with the prefix Mc or Mac (meaning "son of"). Mostly, this element is pronounced /m@k/ as in Macdonald , Maclean , McTaggart . If the part after the prefix starts with /k/ or /g/, then the prefix is pronounced /m@/ as in McKenna and McGee . However, there are quite a few names where the prefix bears a primary or secondary stress. In this case, the prefix is pronounced /m{k/. Here are some of the commoner names with this pronunciation: McAfee, McAteer, McAvoy, McEnroe, McIndoe, McIlroy, McIntosh.

Stress in Compounds: blue, green, red

English has a lot of compound nouns where the first element is the name of a colour. Here are some examples of compounds with blue, green, or red as the first element. All of these have the main stress on the colour term: bluebeard bluebell blueberry bluebird bluebottle bluejay blueprint bluestocking bluetit greenback greenbelt greenfinch greenfly greengage greengrocer greenhorn greenhouse greenroom greenstick greenwood redbreast redcoat redeye redhead redneck redshank redskin redstart redwing redwood Notice that compound colour adjectives have the main stress on the final element, so skyblue, seagreen and bloodred, for example, all have the stress pattern