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Ah--remember the good old days of television shopping? You walked into a store full of boxes with flickering screens; some even had swanky, wood-grain finishes. If the salesperson asked you what kind of TV you wanted, you would answer with a size, or maybe a brand.

Today, if you walk into an electronics superstore, you face an army of glowing screens that differ far more than their predecessors. Some are enormous and require several strong people to move them; some are dazzlingly flat and can hang on a wall. Some are squarish; some, rectangular. And prices fall all over the map. With so much variety, how do you decide which TV to choose?

Luckily, I'm here to help. Before you take the plunge and buy a new television, you should understand the different types of technologies and what to look for when you make a purchase. I'll explain the four major TV technology types and their advantages and disadvantages in terms of picture quality, size, and price. Ultimately, today's abundance of choices gives you a lot more flexibility in picking the TV that's right for you and your budget.

Today's TV sets also accommodate different kinds of TV broadcast formats: high definition and standard definition. But we'll get into that later. Let's start with the different screen types and how they work.