Plasma or LCD?

With the start of the Beijing Olympics only weeks away, now is the time to start thinking about how you’re going to watch Australia’s top athletes compete against the rest of the world. As most of us are unable to get to Beijing, it will be a case of barracking for those in green and gold from the comfort of our lounge rooms.

These are the first high definition Games, meaning it’s the first time ever that all events will be transmitted in high definition (HD) quality. The only way to get the full benefit of this HD broadcast is to watch the Games on a high definition LCD or plasma TV. Plus, looking at making the leap to a high definition LCD or plasma TV is future proofing yourself for the flood of HD material to come onto the market.

Both LCD and plasma will give you all the clarity and high definition required to place you in the middle of the Olympic Games, but you must consider your own viewing environment and experience prior to making the purchase.

Plasma		LCD
Work best in dimmer lighting Handles fast motion pictures Provides more detail in darker scenes		Preferable in homes, with a lot of natural light Much crisper and stronger in colour reproduction Weigh less than the same sized plasma TV sets

The bigger the better?

Another important factor to consider is the size of the TV set. Many people think the bigger the better, but that’s not always the case. People with an average size lounge room can save themselves money and still get optimum viewing, by purchasing a 106cm (42”) or 116cm (46”) TV set. For example a Panasonic 106cm (42”) integrated high definition plasma TV will retail from $1699 or the Samsung 116cm (46”) integrated full high definition LCD from $3299 RRP.

Prices reduced

Prices are of course a major factor when shopping for your LCD or plasma TV. Prices have come down considerably since the 2004 Athens Olympics, when the average price for a flat screen TV was around $5000. A Samsung or LG integrated high definition LCD TV can cost as little as $1099 RRP. A 127 cm (50”) HD integrated plasma set from Panasonic for example, will cost you under $2400 or you can buy a full high definition 1080p plasma TV from an incredible price of $2899 RRP.

Personal Video Recorder (PVR)

And don’t forget, that if you can’t catch the action live, a Personal Video Recorder (PVR) can catch all the action in high definition on hard disk for a viewing experience like never before. Panasonic have just released the first blu-ray recorder with twin HD tuners and 500GB HDD, you can simultaneously record 2 HD programs while watching a blu-ray disc, and with 7 day EPG makes recording a breeze.

The wave of PVR technology is rapidly spreading across Australia. Where about a year ago there was only a couple of models with price tags around $1500-$1000, starting prices now are from as little as $499. Every PVR should have 3 key features:

1. Hard Drive
   This is where you’ll be storing all the recordings. The main differences between hard drives in competing models is their size. A 250GB model will typically offer 70 hours of recording at standard definition and approximately half that for high definition.
2. Digital Tuner
   Every PVR will have a digital tuner, which is the bit that decodes the television signals. Some important things to consider are, does the PVR have one or two tuners? The inclusion of a second tuner allows for recording two channels simultaneously or watching one channel while recording the other. Secondly, does the unit include a high definition tuner? This will ensure that your recording is captured in HD.
3. Timeshift
   All PVRs should offer the ability to ‘Pause’ live TV.

Visit your nearest Bing Lee stores!

With Bing Lee displaying all the major TV and PVR brands, now is the time to secure the hottest seats in the house in preparation for the XXIX Olympiad. Visit your nearest Bing Lee store and see the difference for yourself!