Common Mistakes for First Time HDTV Buyers

Panasonic HDTV Television sets sold in today's market require much more thought and research than before, with various choices to pick from ranging in size, brand, display type and thinness just to name a few.

Having worked in the retail electronics industry for many years, I've seen hundreds of customers excited to purchase their first High Definition TV and ultimately end up regretting it.

Below are a few of the most common mistakes I've seen for first time HDTV buyers that can easily be avoided with some research.

Buying the Wrong Type of Display

Too often I see potential customers come into a store and ask for an LED TV without knowing what they're getting exactly. Simply put, a lot of people have the idea that LED is a superior technology to both plasma and LCD televisions, but don't really know why that is.

Those who require wider viewing angles would be better off buying a plasma TV since it's viewing angles generally trump those of LED an LCD TVs, and consumers who watch a lot of sports or action movies might prefer getting an LED TV with local dimming. It is important to thoroughly research the pros and cons of each display type before settling on one.

Screen Too Large or Small

Contrary to what pop culture tells us, bigger TVs are not necessarily better. The size of the room where the television set will go and how far away you will be sitting from it will largely determine what screen size is best for you. Another thing to take into consideration is viewing angle, couch width and family size.

If you will be sitting on a four or five seat couch about nine feet from the television, you would need the TV to be around 68 inches to be able to see all of the detail on a 1080p display. If you will be sitting closer or your room is smaller, getting a smaller screen size would protect your eyes from any strain.

Having Brand Name Preferences

Even though this doesn't apply to everyone, many people prefer to buy products from brands they've already had and are thought to be reliable. This mentality won't work too well with television sets, especially if your current TV is a very old CRT.

While some manufacturers like Sony, Samsung and Toshiba are still mostly the same today, older brands like RCA are no longer the same company, and many of these older companies have seen sharp declines in quality output and in turn decreased revenue. When shopping for a new HDTV, try to stay as neutral as possible when it comes to brand names.

Buying Too Much TV

The most common mistake I see from first time HDTV buyers is that they end up buying more TV than they need or can handle. If you don't think you need to have an internet capable Smart TV with Smart Apps that lets you browse the web, watch TV and read your emails all at the same time, then don't get it. On that same note, keep in mind that alot of these features like Netflix and Hulu are paid subscriptions, so make sure to factor these kind of services into your budget.

On a closing note, I would like to mention that after much research if you still feel intimidated by all the choices and technology, head to your nearest non-commission based electronic retail store with pen and paper in hand and ask questions!

It is not recommended that you order your first HDTV online before talking to anyone since you can't be there to see it for yourself, and there will be no sales associate to help answer your questions. Hopefully these warnings will steer you in the right direction, and get you on your way to owning your very first high definition television!