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Generally, FPTVs are pretty reliable devices. Both
LCD and Plasma panels are now rated to have useful
lives of about 60,000 hours which, if you watched
TV 6 hours a day, 7 days a week, would last about
27 years. More than likely, you will get a new TV
long before then.
As far as service goes, flat panels don't require
professional setup of convergence and alignment the
way the old CRTs and rear projection sets did.
However, if you are a critical viewer, you may want
to opt to have a professional calibrator come out
and set up your screen for optimum performance.
They use special tools that measure the light output
of the screen to correctly set color temperature,
brightness and contrast.
After you buy an FPTV, you are going to need to
connect it to your source devices via cables. The
one place where cable quality can make a
difference is in HDMI cabling. HDMI transfers
huge amounts of data at very high speeds and
the quality of the cable fabrication and connec-
tor termination can make a difference.
Also the longer the cable run the more critical
cable quality becomes. HDMI cables can be very
expensive so buying cables that are certified for
HDMI 1.3 or 1080p transmission makes the most
sense and will avoid transmission problems.
WARRANTY
AND
SERVICE
CABLES
Don't buy an FPTV sight unseen. You are going
to live with it for a long time and you want to
be fully satisfied with your decision. It's
recommended that you do your initial research
on the Internet and then go to a retail location
and take a careful look at the models you are
interested in, evaluating the performance and
styling aspects discussed here.
PURCHASING
FINAL
CONSIDERATIONS
11
Do your intial research on the
Internet and then go to the retail
location and take a careful look at
the model you are interested in
IF YOU DECIDE TO PURCHASE FROM AN
ONLINE RESELLER RATHER THAN A LOCAL
RETAILER, MAKE SURE YOU DO YOUR
HOMEWORK.
Check the reseller's feedbacks
and ratings and make sure they are in good
standing with BBB (Better Business Bureau).
Also, find out if there are any extra (hidden)
charges such as mandatory extra insurance,
excessive delivery charges, required purchase of
unneeded accessory packages (like over-priced
cables or cleaning kits) - which add to the total
cost of the purchase - and, if available, select a
"white glove" in-home delivery and set-up
option to assure the new big screen TV you just
ordered will not get left on the curbside. You
need to also clarify the reseller's return and
exchange policies in case the unit was damaged
during shipping and/or did not work out of the
box.
Finally, if planning to mount your new flat panel TV on a wall,
you will need to select an appropriate mount given the weight
and dimension of your new TV. Most manufacturers offer custom
mounts or recommend a selection of brands that fit their
models and requirements. Several universal mounts are also
available from reputable manufacturers. Thin mounts could help
maintain the low profile of your screen and match its style but
might have movement limitations as most mounts provide
titling motion but few provide telescoping capabilities. If you
prefer to have your screen to be fully adjustable, you might
want to consider a number of alternative mounts with a full
range of motion before settling on the right one.
INSTALLATION
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