Product review by user

What is an LCD Display?

LCD is short for liquid crystal display, and while LCD technology has been around for quite some time, it has been only in the last decade or so that the technology became suitable for the high quality flat panel television and computer monitor displays we see today. The most notable feature of displays using LCD technology, of course, is the thinness of the unit, but the power behind that thin design is actually quite extensive.

The display on an LCD panel is comprised of picture elements, or pixels as they are known to computer geeks everywhere. The resolution the flat panel display is capable of is determined partially by how many pixels are contained in the display. A typical LCD panel display can range from hundreds of thousands of pixels to millions of pixels, and the higher the number of pixels the better the resolution will be. LCD televisions come in a number of different shapes and sizes, but they are typically designed to accommodate a 16 to 9 display ratio. This ratio makes them perfect for watching widescreen displays like DVDs, as well as traditional television shows.

What are the Differences between LCD and Traditional TVs?

LCD televisions, flat panel computer monitors and other devices have a number of built in advantages, and it is these advantages that have made them such a hit with technology buyers everywhere. Some of the many advantages of LCD technology include:

*Brighter display - the displays on LCD televisions are brighter than those on a traditional CRT television, due to the special way these displays work. While a traditional CRT television or monitor uses a tube to create the display, the LCT TV uses pixels, providing for a brighter display.

*Flicker free performance - the display of the LCD television or computer monitor will also be free of flicker, since the LCD display will have a constant source of light throughout the entire screen. Once the pixel is turned on it remains on. Contrast this to the design of the CRT television or monitor, which must refresh the screen periodically with a ray of light moving down the monitor or TV.

*Low power consumption - another big advantage of the LCD TV is its superior energy efficiency. LCD televisions will be up to 65% more energy efficient than traditional televisions, helping to protect the environment while saving you money.

*Ultra slim design - it is of course the thin and sleek design that turns heads and gets the attention of buyers. LCD displays can be as thin as 49mm (just over 19 inches), meaning that these TVs can be placed virtually anywhere.

*Wall mountable designs - Many LCD TVs are so thin that they can be hung on the wall as you would hang a picture. It is important of course to purchase a wall mounting bracket that is suitable for holding the weight of the unit.

A Guide to Some LCD TV Terms

If you are in the market for an LCD TV, you will likely hear a number of new, and sometimes confusing, terms bandied about. It is important to understand what these words mean to you, the television technology shopper.

*Aspect Ratio - the aspect ratio of the TV helps to determine its suitability for watching movies and television programming in true widescreen format. While the traditional television has always used a aspect ratio of 4:3, i.e. 4″ wide, 3″ high, the typical LCD television uses an aspect ratio of 16:9, providing a truer widescreen picture perfect for watching DVD and VHS movies, as well as traditional television programming.

*Candela - one of those words you may hear from time to time is candela. Put simply, the candela is a standard unit of brightness, and it is equivalent to the number of candles that would be required to produce the same intensity of light. Therefore a rating such as 450 cd/m2 means that it would take a concentration of 450 candles in a square meter area to produce the same amount of light.

*Contrast Ratio - the contrast ratio is simply the difference in intensity of light between the darkest black and the brightest white on the display. The higher the contrast ratio the sharper and cleaner the picture will be.

*HDTV - high definition television, or HDTV for short, is quickly becoming the standard for television signal technology, and it is important to look for an LCD TV that is HDTV ready.

*Inputs - the TV inputs are important if you plant to connect a DVD player, VCR, game console, computer or other device to the LCD display panel. There are many different types of inputs, and it is important that the TV you choose provide a number of different options for getting signals to the device. A TV with a great many inputs will allow you to connect a number of different devices to the TV, greatly enhancing its versatility and its value.

It is also important to make sure that LCD TV you choose has the proper tuner for playing the TV signal you have coming in to the house. Many plasma screen and LCD TVs will lack a built in tuner, meaning that they will need to pick up that television signal from a cable box, satellite TV box, DirectTV signal or other similar device. It is important to make sure you understand the type of tuner that comes with the TV you are considering, and it is important to purchase all the accessories you will need when buying the TV.

Speaking of accessories, it is important to buy only the highest quality component cabling to connect that LCD display to your DVD player, VCR, Laser Disk player, computer or other device. The highest quality cables will provide the best picture and sound quality, which will further enhance the display of the LCD TV you have chosen.

It is also important, of course, to get the very best price you can on the LCD TV you want. The suggested retail price of the typical LCD TV will vary according to a number of factors, such as the size of the display, the thinness of the display and the quality of the manufacturer. It is important to shop around as much as possible, and to read the reviews of all the models you are considering.

Finally, the ability to play several different television signal formats, such as PAL, NTSC and SECAM, is an important consideration. Different parts of the world use different formats for television signals and video products, and buying one of these multisystem LCD TVs is a good way to make it more versatile and useful while getting the best value for your money.

For more information see: http://www.planetomni.com

110-220 Volt Electronics - A multisystem TV is a TV capable of receiving and displaying different video systems like PAL, SECAM and NTSC. You’ll be able to operate a multisystem TV in 99% of the world. Their dual voltage design allows them to be plugged into either a 110 voltage source or a 220 voltage source. In some cases, the plug on the television will not fit your country’s outlet, so an inexpensive plug-adapter will be needed. They can generally be picked up at an electronics store such as http://www.planetomni.com for $1.95. With a multisystem TV, such as a plasma, CRT tube type, LCD or DLP, you’ll likely need a codefree (sometimes called region free) DVD player. These exist in many forms. When used with a PAL-NTSC TV you’ll be able to see the full 625 lines of resolution available in the PAL system and the full 525 lines used in the USA NTSC system. There exists a converting type of DVD player which is codefree in that it can read all of the world’s 6 regions and both standards, PAL and NTSC. 140,000 other products are available here: http://www.planetomni.com Tel. # 800-514-2984

Share This

LCD mounts are an important part of the LCD television set-up. They provide a means by which your LCD television can be attached to the wall, where they will be out of the way yet in prime location for viewing pleasure. The following are some of the best LCD mounts in the market today.

The SmartMount Universal Tilt Wall Mount can hold LCD televisions ranging from 10″ to 30″ flat screen panels. The wall plate is ultra-slim and holds the LCD screen close to the wall for an installation that is ideal for POS stations or office applications. It features a one-touch tilt, and the screen can be tilted 15 degrees without the aid of tools. For a prompt and hassle-free installation, SmartMount can be mounted to concrete or a wood stud. SmartMount also mounts to a metal stud with metal fastening.

The Peerless LCD Flat Panel Articulating Wall Mount offers a money- saving mounting solution for 10″ to 22″ flat panel screens. Truly flexible, this mount can fold flat against the wall to a 2″ depth or stretch out to 15.25″. Elegant in its make, this wall mount is ideal for conference rooms, offices, hotel rooms, etc. It has 180 degrees of rotation for the best screen positioning. It is relatively hassle-free when it comes to installation.

The Atdec Flush Universal LCD Mount is a comprehensive wall mounting solution for 90% of the monitors measuring 19″.

Moview wall mounts come with a stylish design, along with a ten- year warrantee from the manufacturer.

LCD provides detailed information on LCD, LCD Projectors, LCD Monitors, LCD Tvs and more. LCD is affiliated with LED Displays.

Share This

When purchasing a flat panel TV, there are a few things to keep in mind. Here, we’ve listed a number of considerations for you to evaluate.

High Definition Upgradeable or HDTV-Ready

If you see either of these terms used when deciding to purchase a flat screen TV, it means that the TV is capable of producing the highest resolutions possible for digital television today. “Upgradeable” means that you’ll need to first add a separate HDTV receiver before you can view the pictures in high definition mode (1080i or 720p). But, even if you don’t upgrade, the picture will still look fantastic. When watching regular DVDs or TV broadcasts, the picture will be almost as good as real HDTV because most have line-doublers to improve the picture.

16:9 Aspect Ratio

Unlike conventional televisions, new plasma, LCD and rear-projection televisions most likely have a wide, rectangular screen that is very similar to the shape of a movie screen. This is known as 16:9 aspect ratiofor every 16 inches wide, the screen is 9 inches high. Compared to conventional TVs, which are 4:3 in aspect ratio, the field of vision is wider for a new flat screen TV.

When watching DVDs at home on a 16:9 wide-screen television, you will be able to enjoy the full screen effect of the movie the way it was intended. On the other hand, when watching regular, standard definition television (like a news broadcast or talk show), you will need to either set the television to fill the screen entirely or watch with vertical black bars on either side of the picture.

Finally, remember that even though most television broadcasts are in 4:3 format, 16:9 widescreen format is the way of the future. Many events are shot in HDTV format (for example, the Olympics, special sporting events, nature documentaries, etc.) and as more and more people purchase high definition television, all broadcasts will be in high definition within the next few years.

Reverse 3:2 Pulldown

Television shows are usually shot on film at 24 frames per second. When transferred to video running at 30 frames per second, the picture quality is distorted in the translation. New televisions are able to correct those distortions through a series of reconversion techniques which reverse the distortions. The result is a smoother and cleaner picture.

When looking to buy a new plasma, LCD or rear-projection television, look for this feature.

3D Y/C Digital Comb Filter

The 3D Y/C digital comb filter’s job is to take the cable signal coming from the wall and separate the color, sound, brightness information into useable information. New plasma, LCD and rear-projection televisions have digital 3D Y/C comb filters that do a pretty good job of this so as to avoid what is know as “dot crawl” where the edges of objects appear rough. In addition, a good digital comb filter will also counter the effects of moir

Share This