Three days and counting. Are you really going to spend Super Bowl XXXIX watching a television that was your constant companion during the Clinton impeachment hearings? There's still time to shop -- and you probably won't be alone.
Buying a new set used to be about as complicated as choosing the snacks for the big game. Up until a couple years ago there were only two practical choices: the venerable picture-tube sets and the clunky rear-projection models that are the size of a child's playhouse.
But the rise of digital, high-definition TV has brought forth an overwhelming array of technologies that sound less like home appliances than medical procedures: PDP (better known as plasma), LCD, DLP and LCoS. And if that's not confusing enough, the consumer electronics industry keeps moving the goal posts -- technologies evolve, prices shift (mostly downward, luckily) and the alphabet soup gets thicker.
The good news is that most of these new machines are capable of producing beautifully rendered, almost dreamlike images that were previously unimaginable in home televisions. Below is a play-by-play guide to making choices:
Pre-game huddle
Just as in football, preparation -- including key decisions before you hit the field -- is critical.
* Placement: You can see all kinds of big-screen TV placements in home design magazines, including over the fireplace (which usually makes the viewing angle uncomfortably high and, what's more, smoke can damage a screen). It's best to choose a spot that's approximately at viewing eye level.
* Flat or deep: Flat-panel televisions are sleek and impressive, but they have a futuristic look that might not be right for all decors and hanging a flat-panel on a wall might require professional installation. Also, the flats are generally more expensive than the new breeds of rear-projection sets.
* Measuring: Get out a tape measure and check the viewing distance from the seating area to the spot where you plan to put the set. Keep the tape measure handy -- you'll need it when you're out shopping.
* Widescreen: It's practically mandatory unless you are getting a little TV for a room such as the kitchen. An increasing number of TV shows are being shot in the widescreen format, so, at least for the main set in the house, go for a widescreen model (instantly recognizable as being longer in width than it is tall).
Game-on
