Five Things to Know Before You Buy an LCD-TV

These days, unless you're a technology buff, you're never quite sure what you're getting from a television purchase.  But if you want to buy a more advanced TV anyway - and why wouldn't you? - it's a good idea to know a few things about the technology before you go through with the purchase.  Sure, you'll want to know where you'll place the TV, and what room it will go in, but you'll also want to know more about the television itself.

1.  LCD's are generally HD-capable, but you'll want to make sure.

If you're obsessed with HD, then going with a Liquid-Crystal Display television is a good idea.  However, some smaller models might be exceptions, so make sure you read About.com's article about this to understand it better.  It's always best to double-check and ask if the LCD TV you're buying is HD-compatible.

2.  Like computer monitors, LCD TV's have resolutions.

If you see two numbers that look like this:  "1280x720 (720p)" then you're probably looking at the resolution of the television set.  A resolution refers to the amount of pixels contained in the television set - generally, the more there are, the more precise and crisp your picture will be.  If you want to play Blu-Rays, then you'll want to see a high number on your 40"+ LCD television sets, such as this:  1920x1080 (1080p).

3.  Brand.

Brand isn't always the most important thing about your television set, but it helps to know what brand you're buying.  For example, if one brand has a history of breaking down and broken machinery is your pet peeve, you might want to steer clear of it.  A little due diligence with your online research will help you better understand the brands available out there.

4.  LCD-TV's are not plasma TV's.

If you need an explanation about the difference, there's a good chance that you need some more research time before you buy our television.  For now, simply remember that the two television types are not the same.  You can always ask a salesman to explain the difference, but beware of making impulse purchase decisions right after you've learned it.  (Check out BestStuff.com for some more information).

5.  Whether you like how it looks!

Go into the electronics store and take a gander at the different TV's.  Don't like how it looks?  Then don't get it!