Flat Panel HDTV Can Confuse Some Consumers
There may be some confusion among consumers concerning flat panel HDTV televisions, as they might believe that all flat panel televisions are capable of high definition reception. The reality is that while the vast majority of high definition televisions are equipped with a flat panel screen, not all flat panel televisions are capable of high definition. When choosing a new television and hoping to buy a new flat panel HDTV set, the purchaser must judge the capabilities on more than the flat panel screen.
Typically, a flat panel HDTV will be clearly marked as being high definition, but there are also different standards by which high definition is presented. While the industry standard contains a 16:9 aspect ration, known to most consumers as a widescreen, the use of a 4:3 or even a 5:3 aspect ratio can be found on some flat panel HDTV televisions. There are also variances in the resolution available on different sets, from a 720 to 1080 vertical display resolution.
When high definition televisions were first introduced to the public in 1998, manufacturers using liquid crystal display technology, known as LCD, were all flat panel and typically smaller than 27-inches, measured diagonally. When the plasma flat panel HDTV sets were developed, they were focused on the larger size screens, over 36-inches. The industry was initially willing to split the two technologies to their respective size sets, but LCD manufacturers were not willing to give up a growing segment in the consumer market.
Differences In Technology Often Divide Consumers
While there may be some noticeable differences in the picture resolution between a plasma flat panel HDTV and an LCD unit, many viewers point out that the refresh rate and brightness are two areas in which they see little difference. The refresh rate of the picture, somewhere between 40 and 60 times per second, is something that most people claim they can see and depend on the unit's technological information to see the difference.
Possibly the biggest advantage to any of the flat panel HDTV sets is the lack of weight in the older cathode ray tube and the thinness of the units. For example, a 36-inch plasma or LCD flat panel HDTV will be about four-inches deep and light enough to hang on the wall. A 36-inch CRT television can weigh nearly 150 pounds, or more, can be about two-feet deep and probably should not be hung from the wall, depending on the soundness of the building's structure.
