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The choice is vast, ever growing, and often confusing. Another choice is... set top box, cable, satellite, broadband, etcetera.
Where, and what use the TV is to be put to, will narrow the choice down somewhat... but, perhaps, the best option is to look at a few general points first, then study reliability, and finally consider the best suppliers and price.
After all the above detail has been dealt with... a few 'best buys' within each style/type of television will be highlighted, together with details of where to find them.
General Points
Plasma, LCD, and DLP are still very new technologies, still very expensive, and, add to this, the fact that their pictures are often worse than with a conventional widescreen TV, and you should guess that my advice is to leave it for a few years, let those with money to burn try it out and iron out the problems before you dip your feet into those muddy waters.
You can pick up some real bargains in end of the range TV's and the technology is already proven! New, or old technology, I would stick to the top recommended brands, which have top marks for reliability.
There is one LCD which bucks this trend and I will mention it below.
Another problem, which those in a rush to join the bandwagon of new technologies have not considered, is that, obviously, as they have not been available for that long... no-one can comment on their long-term reliability! It is a totally unknown factor.
Are you thinking along the lines of a 'Home Cinema System'? If so, you will need a very large room to experience the true benefits. Echo and noise polution can totally spoil the effect... picture the interior of a cinema with thick lined curtains, plush seating, and carpeting... if you have gone for the minimalist look and wooden floors, sorry, but the two could be incompatible. Also consider the huge number of trailing wires... if you have either small children or pets this could pose a dangerous problem. Some systems come with 5 or more speakers, sorting out what to do with the resulting wiring could pose a real headache!
Integrated digital television [IDTV] is normally far more expensive than buying a standard widescreen television, plus a set top box. Check it out, see which will be best value for YOU.
Reliability
For ALL televisions I, personally, would stick with either Panasonic or Sony... maybe not the cheapest, but in all the reliability studies they come out tops.
You may be surprised to learn of some of the manufacturers of televisions who came out as below average, I know I was surprised at some of the brand names... Grundig, Sharp, Hitachi, Bush, and Goodmans for instance.
Perhaps, a totally unbiased opinion is not possible, as praise is rare. But we expect the best reliability [and so we should] so why not complain when results don't live up to expectations?
We bought our main TV and VCR combined in a rush, just because we wanted a combi. Most probably we wouldn't have bought it if we'd had more time to consider... but [fingers crossed] it has been no trouble at all. If it gave out tomorrow, it wouldn't owe us a thing! Yet we know some people who bought exactly the same make and model television within a week of the time we purchased ours... theirs gave out in a cloud of smoke quite a few years ago. You never know... and the exception always proves the rule! It is not one of my recommended [or worst] brands, I hasten to add!
Do you know anyone who owns a small independent TV shop, or who repairs televisions? If you do, you will know what they do, they will sell anyone whatever brand and model they require... but won't themselves touch the less than reliable models. And if you do know someone, why not ask them what brand they would recommend to YOU?
But, after all, if all of us bought the most reliable models, televisions would probably die of old age, rather than spend their entire lives at the repairers... this would result in no repairmen being available when something actually did go wrong! But, again, why should it be you who pays repair bills all the time?
Suppliers and Price
First a list of the suppliers who we regularly recommend.....
• 24-7 Electrical
• Argos
• Be-direct
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• Littlewoods Home Shopping
• Tesco
I have just added the suppliers in alphabetical order... if you want to buy on free credit do have a look at the prices on the Littlewoods Home Shopping website... I was quite surprised. When you deduct the normal 10% commission they allow and maybe an introductory bonus you come up with quite a bargain... free delivery too!
Altogether prices for electrical goods on the Internet are in the region of about 20% below those on the high street... even the multiples.
You do, in a number of cases, have to pay for delivery... although if you live in the vicinity of some of our suppliers, they will allow you to collect... free. But even with this taken into account there is a significant saving.
Remember, if you pay by Credit Card, to check out what security this offers nowadays, some cards have changed their [small print]... rules and regulations.
Do check our page on Credit Cards for cards which afford extra protection in the form of extended guarantees.
Best Buys and Availability
Bearing in mind that Panasonic and Sony are our preferred brands for televisions of all types, I am just going to mention a few special best buys for particular categories of televisions, TV/VCRs, and Set Top Boxes with details of where you can obtain them... please remember to check for exact prices when you decide to buy, you don't want to miss out on any special offers...
First the 'Set Top Box' ... they aren't that expensive, so you might as well get the best available... Go For the Sony VTXD800 you will find it at, Tesco. You will be saving somewhere in the region of £20 by buying online. It rejoices in a remote which can control other makes of TV, surely a bonus.
For a TV/VCR try the Panasonic TX21AV1 which is a 21" and costs in the region of £250 online at 24-7 Electrical.
The ONLY recommended LCD television is the Sony KLV17HR3, you will find it at Littlewoods Home Shopping, and also Argos, AND online prices offer an appreciable saving of over £100 for the black model and over £150 for the silver one... over high street prices.
The IDTV recommended model is another Sony, the KD28DX200 which you will find online at an approximate saving of over £130. It is a 28" model and can be found at Tesco.
For widescreen televisions with cathode ray tubes we have representatives in two screen sizes, the 28" which is extremely good value for money, and the 32"... these types of television have been available for a considerable amount of time and are consistently reliable and good value. Even with a set top box to add to the cost, there will still be a considerable saving over comparable IDTV models.
First the Panasonic TX28PM1... the only stockists of this exact model [without any extras] are Littlewoods Home Shopping and it is truly a Best Buy at £399, when you take off discounts, etcetera, and consider free delivery and credit, it's a real bargain. At Tesco they stock the same model, but with a DVD player included.
Also you can find TX28PN1 and TX28DTM1 models at Argos.
Finally, for a 32" model... go for the Sony KV32FQ86 which you can track down at 24-7 Electrical.
Now for a special mention... Be-direct... the price you see is the price you pay on this site. This long established supplier trades on customer satisfaction. To find what you are looking for just click on televisions, then choose the type you are looking for. Good choice, and good prices!
Why not check out this direct link to where you will find a comprehensive selection of well priced models?
Brilliant Overseas Resources
Direct tv systems for your home - Satellite TV, it makes a world of difference. Get your free satellite dish today. Directtv and satellite dish systems for a higher quality in viewing, see movies and nature shows as they were meant to be seen.
Digital Satellite TV Dish Resources
The best online resource for satellite tv: compare directv,
dish network
Plasma TV Science.org - Plasma Television Reviews, Buying Tips and Plasma Screen TV Development
DLP TV Buying Guide: Read DLP TV reviews, DLP TV buying tips and view the top 10 DLP Projection TVs.
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Useful Website
The following is a not-for-profit organisation leading the digital TV switchover... plenty of useful information plus... to find out when your area will switch you can visit the postcode checker at their website Digital UK or telephone 0845 270 1802.
Links to useful pages within this website are included below...
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