...And With An Eye On LCD Monitors...

By Zeeman Haus

It's no longer the wave of the future because the future is now. Those old heavy bulky dust collecting computer monitors are fading away as more and more PC users are turning to LCD monitors. If you are considering that change, or just attempting to figure out what the heck they are all about, keep on reading!

Those old monitors we're referring to are better known as CRTs. For those who are acronym challenged, as most of us are, that means Cathode Ray Tube. Longer than they were wide the fast fading away CRT left little room on your desk for the rest of your computer, the keyboard, mouse and that ever important cup of coffee. The new monitor in town is the much slimmer and space conscious LCD or Liquid Crystal Display monitor. Not only are LCD's a slim one to three inches but instead of weighing between 30 and 50 pounds like its predecessor it often weighs well under ten pounds!

You might be wondering what this new fangled technology is all about. Well, LCD monitors are able to provide a clear image thanks to its five layers consisting of a backlight, two different layers of polarized glass, a "mask" of those little dots known as pixels, and a wired grid. Confused yet? All this works together and when electrical currents pass through; a bit like all the planets aligning to form the image on your screen.

Improvements have been taking place for years with LCD monitors. In their infancy they were used primarily in Notebooks and Laptops. As technology made it all better, LCD monitors began to spring up for PC and home computer use. Now these space saving monitors are standard with most computer purchases. Some folks do still own and use the older CRT computer monitors but may be looking to upgrade to the newer, easier to view, less bulky LCD.

Just about any one of the big, and little, names in technology offer LCD monitors. Dell, Samsung, Phillips and Sony are big sellers of the LCD monitors and when it comes to choosing which is right for you it is best to decide based upon compatibility as well as preference for a particular brand. If you have a particular brand you tend like better than others, chancing are pretty good they have an LCD monitor to fit your needs.

As with all things in life, size counts, at least to most people. Assess your needs and your desires for determining the monitor size you'd like. For the most part the screen size is determined by measuring the display area from lower corner to the opposite upper corner. Screen sizes range from about 17 inches to 30 inches and as the screens get bigger the option for a wider screen becomes available.

As the popularity of LCD monitors has taken off the price has dropped to more manageable levels. Depending on where you choose to do business monitors can be located for a few hundred dollars (under a hundred if you dare to look into refurbished monitors) and over a thousand dollars. It is best to know a head of time exactly what size and make you are looking to purchase.

High Tech is here to stay and it all only seems to be improving on a daily basis. LCD monitors are a part of that improved technology and a picture perfect way to upgrade your PC system. - 32388

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The Popularity Of High Definition TV

By Kurt Russel

Most television viewers are realizing the inadequacies of cable service with bad picture quality as well as absence of scheduling options. This is resulting in more viewers looking for other alternatives, which gives more satisfying services as the cable television service suppliers have only limited HD programming to offer. This is happening since cable suppliers do not have the requisite technology to feed HDTV scheduling with greater quantities as well as varieties. Both Direct TV and Dish Network provide a variety of high definition scheduling that is quite appealing to television fans.

In this regard the Dish Network has gained a lot of popularity with viewers since they are able to supply more than 30 channels of HD scheduling. The DirecTV HD package offers a number of channels in HD; in fact, far more than any other provider (including cable TV) can offer. More numbers of HD programming could be added by the viewer to the already present program packages, provided by the satellite service suppliers. This can fit the budget of any television viewer as he can add HD scheduling to any basic package, which is offered to him at a very reasonable price. The standard package also includes a number of viewing choices and innumerable music channels.

You also have access to a high definition audio technology, which is part of the feature of HDTV programming offered by both the satellite suppliers. The digitalized surround sound quality resembles that from a CD, with Dolby noise reduction included and is clear and pleasurable to hear. Viewers therefore find the quality of sound coming from their high definition programming much better than the sound they are familiar with from their TV. To make the sound more realistic, may viewers connect their televisions to stereo speakers.

Additionally viewers can access a far superior picture quality when they take subscription packages from Dish Network or Direct TV HD. Though everyone talks about the superiority of HDTV, most viewers can not realize that the full benefits can only be appreciated with high definition programming. The unique technology of HDTV allows viewers to see a picture that is far more defined and precise with HD scheduling. Satellite TV is able to provide more channel options then cable since they have not even hit the capacity of their current hardware.

The fact that costs of HD televisions have been slashed down has made it feasible for more customers to enjoy viewing high definition TV. So much so that customers are finding that buying a HDTV is far more affordable and not very much more than a standard TV set. With the growth in the number of HD scheduling from satellite suppliers, we can always find that soon there would be more people who are also enjoying this type of facilities. - 32388

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LED HDTV - The Best Home Gadget for You

By Jon Moreno

Looking for a home gadget that will take home entertainment to the next level? Well, you can go on searching for hours from a wide range of home gadgets. But to put a halt to that, better concentrate on checking the best LED HDTV around.

LED HDTVs are some of the most popular home gadgets today. They are designed with families looking to upgrade their home entertainment setup in mind. No more sticking to bulky and ordinary analogue TVs. Nowadays, more families around the world switch to using LED HDTVs and explore what these are capable of.

But what's really exciting about LED HDTV? Well, it definitely offers a much better viewing experience. You see, when you buy an LED HDTV, you are getting the best possible resolution.

But the advantage does not end there. The LED HDTV's slim design, greater contrast, and low energy consumption are also worth checking out. You don't want to go on investing in a home gadget that consumes more power, right? So, better get yourself an LED HDTV and see that it's worth it.

Now, you might wonder how this differs from LCD TV. Although both have liquid crystal displays, the LED HDTV differs in a way that it is lit by light-emitting diodes, which are proven to give more clarity. With an LED HDTV, you can expect the images to be up to 40% brighter, the colors to be more vibrant, and the blacks to be truly black.

In the future, most TVs will be using LED technology because of its many advantages. But as early as now, you can already enjoy one at your very own home. LED HDTVs are very much available from your local and online retailers. But to experience more convenience and enjoy great savings, you should check out the wide options being offered online.

A new LED HDTV can really take home entertainment to the next level. Yes, there may be a wide option for home gadgets, but nothing does it better than an LED HDTV. So, get one now! - 32388

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Comparing LCD And Plasma Televisions

By Jason Thomas

When you used to shop for a television you never had as many choices as you have today. There are a wide variation in available televisions for your entertainment, so many in fact that your decision may require a little research prior to your purchase. The two most popular television types, on the market, include the LCD and Plasma televisions. Each have many great aspect and many not so great ones, therefore your choice will be based on the amount of use the television will receive and the area that the television will be viewed.

Lets start with the LCD television. This television utilizes individual lights to create the image on your screen. These televisions have a relatively long life span, at an average of fifteen years of use. An LCD television is also lighter than the televisions that you have grown accustomed to, and it is even lighter than many of the Plasma Televisions that are available for purchase. An LCD has high levels of brightness, however the contrast and black levels is where the LCD television starts on the downward slope.

Since individual lights are used on LCD televisions, they must block out light to create black. Another downside to the LCD televisions is that images that are fast moving will appear pixelated. So watching sports or fast paced action scenes may be a little unpleasant to the eyes. Although the newer the models have been manufactured to handle the situation much better these pixelated images do occur, just on a less frequent basis.

When you are purchasing a plasma television you will be getting the best brightness and contrast rates out of any television on the market. The plasma televisions are available in thirty seven inches and larger, and the prices are competitive to other television of the same size. When you are watching a program on a plasma television you will also have a clear picture no matter where you are in the room, unlike the LCD that you need to watch directly from the front.

On the other hand, Plasma televisions do have one significant drawback, which is also the reason Plasma is not often used for computer monitors. If a still image, like a DVD player logo, for example, is left on the screen for a long period of time, there is a chance that this image can "burn in" to the Plasma screen, leaving a permanent "ghost" after-image of that still picture. LCD TVs also occasionally suffer from stuck pixels, but it is rarely as severe as Plasma burn in. Plasma televisions typically have a longer life than LCD TVs, lasting up to 5 years longer on average with regular use and they do not suffer from the blockiness or pixelation common in LCD televisions with higher refresh rates. - 32388

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HD DVD Players

By Zeeman Haus

Obviously you've upgraded to a true HD TV and the difference in picture quality is breath taking. The real problem is now in the quality of your DVD playback. It has somehow become less crisp than it used to be. Part of this is perception and part of it has to do with your player. Looking at an HD DVD might save you a little money and enhance your movie watching experience.

There is a lot of talk on the market and on the showroom floor about HD DVD and what it does for you. The basics of these conversations go down like this: HD quality picture through the use of a better, more accurate DVD player than can utilize your old DVDs. The advantage is that you 1) don't have to buy a Blue-Ray player and 2) you don't have to buy all new movies to replace the ones you have. Both are sound arguments and a little flawed.

Having an HD DVD player will save you some time and money as well as help you eliminate a remote or at least avoid collecting another one. DVDs will play on your ne HD player, so you can get rid of your old DVD player or at least move it to another room.

HD DVD players use a laser with a short bandwidth than the old school players and this is their main advantage. Because of the shorter bandwidth of the blue laser, the HD DVDs are able to hold more date and load quicker. Because of the more data aspect, a high quality, high definition picture can be reached.

Another advantage for HD DVD players is simply that having one player that can play two formats saves you space. Otherwise you'd be losing space under your TV to yet another player. And no one wants to see that.

The packaging is another attractive aspect of making the change from standard DVD to HD DVD. They all come in the same packaging so the boxes are all the same size. When you consider what life was like when you made the change from VHS to DVD, the value in this is clear.

Pricing on most HD DVD players is, for the most part less than a blu-ray player. Some of this has to do with competition and the like. But when you think about what you will do with your old DVD player and the fact that a lot of DVDs are being released now as duel "DVD/HD DVD" sets, this is a pretty enticing buy. For me, I moved my old DVD player to the bedroom, now I can watch my old DVDs and my new ones anywhere I want.

The real plus to it all is that you don't have to start over on your collection and you can keep one basic unit beneath your TV instead of two, three of four different boxes. For we older people who remember the betamax/vhs wars if the early 80s there is the added comfort of knowing we don't have to completely switch formats again or hope we guessed which was going to become the standard. - 32388

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