Buying the Best Plasma TV - Practical Tips and Advice

Even if you already have a brand in mind, you'll probably find it difficult to choose a plasma TV without re-thinking your original choice. There is such a wide variety of brands and models to choose from that picking one becomes an all-out technological and mental excursion. But let's take much of the confusing science away and get down on the nitty-gritty. Here are some practical tips for choosing the best plasma TV and a few brands you might want to take a look at.

Size

It's hard not to fall in love at first sight with a plasma TV. They're thin, sleek and smooth, capable of high quality picture display. They're also not shy about size. In fact plasma TVs are often more impressive the larger they are. If you're seeking the best TV option for you with a mind for size, then the plasma TV is your choice.

Picture quality

When viewing two or more brands side by side, it's always easy to see the best plasma TV set because of its distinctive picture quality. These units are capable of producing real colours, so a display of a field of flowers won't come out as a blur.

Speaking of blur, the best plasma TVs today are also excellent in displaying smoother images even with fast or high speed action scenes.

Burn-in issues?

This was a major concern with plasma TVs in the past. However, with new technologies that allow for minimizing the use of the screen, this risk is significantly reduced and should no longer be a problem.

Best Plasma TV brands

If you're in the market for premium offers, then consider known brands and manufacturers of plasma TVs. A few you might consider:

Pioneer

Pioneer has always been known to produce high premium units, so if you prefer a slightly snobbish appeal for your newest toy, go for this brand. The Pro series is one of its best picks. Picture quality is tops, colour is explosive and intense (in a very good way) and images are sharp and true.

Where some plasma TVs have tried and failed, Pioneer has come out a winner. Black is deep and dark, so there's no need for your eyes and brain to compensate because the TV will do it for you. Pioneer definitely offers some of the best plasma TVs around. Just be prepared to pay premium as well, since this brand does not allow you to skimp on price.

Panasonic

If you prefer a more affordable unit, consider some of the models currently being offered by Panasonic. This brand doesn't have the snob appeal so much but it does deliver in terms of picture and audio quality. It's actually one very good reason why having a home theatre system is not impossible any more. Furthermore, you don't need to pay a lot just to bring a Panasonic plasma TV home - it costs about 50% less than a Pioneer.

Samsung

This Korean brand has gone a long way and is now one of the leading manufacturers of the best plasma TVs in the world. Side by side older brands such as Sony and Pioneer, Samsung is definitely a serious contender.

Other brands to check out:

Consider manufacturers such as Philips, LG and Hitachi. They have some of the best plasma TV models today, comparable in performance and quality to the top brands. If price is an issue, consider brands such as Vizio or Maxent. These brands may not have the same name recall as the others but they are slowly building a strong following, thanks to units featuring some excellent features.

Discount LCD TV is a consumer electronics website which stocks the latest plasma and LCD widescreen televisions from the major manufacturers. We have plenty of information and advice for buyers on what to look for when buying a cheap plasma TV.

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A Good Case for iPod

Just got that new iPod? Or just thinking about buying one?

Here's something else to think about. Whatever else you do with your iPod, protect it. The average iPod owner spends $40 on iPod accessories like external speakers, alarm clock docking stations, FM transmitters, and car chargers. Many of them are not spending any of that money on protection. There are any number of iPod skins and cases on the market. There's bound to be one to suit you.

Why does your iPod need protection?

Because, as great as they are, iPods are notorious for screen scratches, click wheel scratches, mirrored back scratches and even faceplate scratches.

Just handling your iPod can cause scratches. And they are somewhat fragile when dropped on hard surfaces.

You want that brand spanking new iPod all scratched up? You want to risk a million pieces if you happen to drop it on the sidewalk? Of course not, so give it a good case. At least a quality "sleeve" or "skin."

Silicone skin

This is one of the more common types of skin. They come in a variety of colors, sizes, textures and even a few different shapes. The good ones are pretty tough and the really cheap ones are ... well ... really cheap. The cheapies tear easily and never seem to fit like the good ones. The good ones are a bit more expensive but worth it. None of them, however, offer much protection from that nose-dive onto concrete.

Leather or Vinyl Case

Leather and vinyl cases are gaining in popularity. They range from plain vanilla all the way to Bling! They provide some shock protection but not such good scratch protection unless they have some other type lining and a clear panel to protect the screen. Fashion seems to be the key with these cases.

Hard Case

Typical hard cases are made of plastic or aluminum. Again, they range from the cheap "junk," through the medium priced "adequate," all the way to "iPod armor." They also cover the gamut from "boiler plate" to elegance in appearance. Naturally, the aluminum cases tend to be better protection than the plastic. But some plastic cases are quite strong and shock absorbing. Pay particular attention to how the case fastens. Armor is not much good if the latch won't stay put.

Summary

With any sort of case, you'll probably want to access the headphone jack, docking port, lock button, etc. without removing the iPod from the case. Most of the good ones allow all that, but look carefully. Some, believe it or not, cover them up. Buy the best protection you can afford. Your iPod deserves it.

Ken Davis
Happy iPod owner and webmaster
http://www.wegotmorestuff.com

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How to Keep Your Large Screen HDTV Under Warranty

Your new HDTV comes with a Limited Warranty. This is truly a limited coverage, and it only applies to parts for one year, and labor anywhere from 90 days to one year from date of purchase. Your TV warranty might have a separate time frame for the tube but it will only be two years at most. This doesn't sound like much when you figure to have your new TV for a much longer period and you certainly expect to keep it working longer than a year. There is a way to have better coverage and even additional benefits besides. You can extend the original warranty and upgrade to a more exclusive policy for just pennies a day.

If you bought the HDTV in a department or electronics store you perhaps remember the salesperson asking if you wanted an extended warranty. You probably said "No" because you wanted to avoid any extra cost while making your best deal. Well If this did happen to you, there is still plenty of time to get that extension plus more benefits besides. You can buy an extended warranty from a third party on most brands. I will explain how these work and where they are available.

First, let's examine what the original warranty covered. When shopping for the extended warranty, we would want the same terms of agreement (everything the manufacture covered originally) and maybe a few more bells and whistles. The extended warranty may overlap the original, but will cover a longer period.

The cost depends on the price to replace your TV, and will run from $200 to $600, or more. Typical plans are for 2 years or 4 years. Most contracts cannot extend the original warranty for more than 5 years. These can be purchased in a store or online. You may have to buy an extended warranty within the first 90 days or before the last 30 days of your original warranty.

Next, consider what risk you expect the TV to be subjected to. Some policies cover preventative maintenance and others cover little or none for simple repairs. Look for an option for In-home Repairs, a big savings when it comes to shipping a heavy large screen HDTV.

Finally you must decide if the additional $200 to $600 or more, is worth the investment.
HDTV's are an exception to avoiding the "extra expenses" such as an extended warranty,
because the newer technologies have many "black boxes" and "Niche" designs that require factory trained technicians to work on. Just like the new cars, they usually cannot be repaired by just anyone. Keeping this in mind, it usually makes sense to spend a few hundred dollars extending the warranty.

So, no matter where you bought your HDTV and as long as you do not wait to long, you can extend the manufacturers warranty and also improve the benefits with an extended warranty plan for just pennies a day.

Where to Get the Best Deals

Visit http://supersavetv.com for more information on Large Screen HDTV's and accessories. You can choose from all brands and sizes and get helpful hints for your installation.

The author, James Hayslip, is an Instructor for Information Technology and Graphics at a local college. He has developed many In-Home Theater Installations using the latest technology equipment that is available from discount TV stores.

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