In the past buying a television was not a complicated affair. Today however the technological landscape is considerably different and hence it is far more difficult to make the decision over which LCD TV to choose. The modern consumer must decipher the technical jargon whilst also make a choice between brands. Currently Sony Bravia, Panasonic Viera and Sharp Aquos are some of the more popular types of televisions although Samsung and LG are equally popular. Obviously brand name is not the only choice; equally important is the size of the screen and the resolution of that screen.

Brand naturally comes to the forefront of their minds when they think about buying a new television. Just as with the motor industry there is a great deal of badge snobbery with people choosing a Bravia or Viera purely because of the name that is on the model. That said, in the case of the Bravia or Viera, badge snobbery can relate to a high quality, technologically advanced piece of equipment. Ultimately the choice of LCD TV brand should be a decision based upon personal preference combined with detailed research.

When researching however it is important to recognise the fact that internet forums typically have limited worth as a research tool. For example, many forum posts highlighting the superiority of the Samsung or Bravia may have been written by Sony aficionados, limiting the worth of the post entirely. The best course of action when researching is to take heed of expert reviews and only use forums and user reviews as a general guide to finding the best TV set.

Even if the brands of LCD TV are similar there are marked differences, not purely in the style and design of the sets. For instance many industry experts regard the Bravia to currently be the best television on the market although the latest Samsung and Panasonic models do come close. LG models are considered to be the best budget option whilst those with no monetary restrictions should always opt for the Bravia.

Naturally the choice of brand should not be the only concern for the consumer. Of equal importance is the size of the screen and the resolution of that screen. Many people once they have decided to invest in a new flat panel television choose the largest screen size their budget will allow. This however is a common mistake, a LCD TV set that is too large for a room can actually diminish the viewing experience; in such cases a television that suits the size of the room is the best option.

In the modern age nearly all televisions particularly the latest Bravia, Viera and Aquos models all have HD compatibility. HD is the level of definition that the screen can display; the H refers to the fact that it is high definition, currently the most advanced available. Most televisions new televisions will be HD ready, meaning that they are able to display HD images adequately; for the ultimate viewing experience however Full HD sets should be the preferred option.

Even these full HD models may have problems however. One of the most common is image blur where the technology is not able to display the images fast enough to keep up with the action; this frequently occurs during football matches or in action movies. Fortunately companies such as Soy have realised the problem and now the latest Bravia televisions have a refresh rate of 200 Hz, three times faster than regular flat panels.

Hopefully this article has made it clear that choosing a LCD TV is as much about personal preference than anything else. That said, ensuring that any new device has the capability to display HD signals is essential. As with any purchase it is essential that a process of detailed research is undertaken before parting with the proverbial; 'hard earned'.