How to Buy a Flat-Screen HDTV

Flat-Screen TV Shopping Tips

All right, you've made it this far. Here are key points to consider before you take the HD plunge.

Consider the alternatives: If you can live with a tabletop set that's 10 to 18 inches--rather than 4 to 7 inches--deep, DLP (digital light-processing) rear-projection sets can deliver solid performance in similar screen sizes and at lower prices. You just don't hear about them as much because they're not as sexy.

To learn about other big-screen TV options, check out "How to Buy a Rear-Projection TV."

Think HDMI: Get a set with at least three or four HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) inputs. Doing so will ensure that you can connect it to multiple HD sources such as digital cable boxes, satellite receivers, and Blu-ray Disc players. Try to choose a set with at least some front- or side-accessible ports; such conveniences can make life much easier when it comes time to connect a device.

Compare displays using various input sources: Most flat-panel displays will handle HDTV and DVD signals well, but mediocre cable and satellite signals will give some of them fits. Don't make a buying decision based solely on images generated from pristine sources, or based on what you see in the store.

Look for good black tones: When you're comparison shopping, bring along a DVD of a movie containing some dimly lit night scenes. Use it to check for good black reproduction and the ability to render detail in near-darkness.

Get to know the remote: A good remote can be your best friend, a bad remote your worst enemy. (Well, okay, we're exaggerating a little, but you get the idea.) Does it have backlighting or glow-in-the-dark buttons to help you see what you're doing when the lights are turned down? How easy is it to find commonly used buttons by feel?

Check the video settings: Grab the TV's remote, pull up the video-adjustment menu and look at the settings. If you thought the picture looked a little (or a lot) off on first viewing, try selecting the median settings for contrast, brightness, color, tint, and sharpness. Those probably won't be optimum, but chances are they're closer than what you found originally. A good display can easily look worse than a lesser one if it's poorly adjusted. Repeat your tests using a variety of sources, including a dimly lit movie, if necessary. Also keep in mind that you'll likely have to readjust the color settings for each source. Most HDTVs these days have input memories, so your set should keep the ideal settings for high-def movies on one input and your video games on another.

You can find the latest prices on both plasma and LCD TVs in PC World's Shop & Compare center.