26" LCD Television Buying Guide

If you are old enough to remember the days when a television had antennas and the picture was highly unreliable and fuzzy, you are primed to appreciate an LCD television.

When I was a child I was forbidden to watch television for longer than a half hour on a school night. The television was kept in the basement, which made reception almost impossible. I remember feverishly fussing with the rabbit ears as I tried to bring in a Jerry Lewis movie in black and white. I only could get three channels and very badly at that.

Clarity

Today the television has changed considerably. The biggest change is from CRT to LCD. The liquid crystal display makes your picture significantly brighter, with higher contrasts than in the past. Viewing one, even in a bright lit room, will not dull the picture. Glare is negligible and the picture is wide and smooth, with no annoying lines.

Eye Strain

You do not have to worry about straining your eyes from watching too much LCD television, since they do not flicker as earlier televisions did. They are much clearer with a higher and better resolution than their predecessors.

Viewing Angle

You can watch your LCD television from almost any angle because they have a very wide viewing angle, generally 160 degrees wide.

Life Expectancy

Your LCD television is expected to have a long life. The average life expectancy of an LCD is 60,000 hours. This adds up to almost 7 years playing the TV continuously. If you just viewed the TV for 8 hours a day, it would last for almost two decades.

Light Source

Your LCD television is illuminated with backlights called Nits. If your TV is not designed well, your backlights could run out earlier than the life of the TV. As a remedy to this, you could extend the warranty for your backlights. As well, you should buy a well known brand for quality and reliability such as Sony or JVC rather than the cheaper unknown brands from Korea or China.

Energy Star Compliant

The United States Environmental Protection Agency has guidelines for manufacturing energy efficiency electronic products. If your LCD television is Energy Star compliant you will be assured of keeping your electric bills at a minimum when using this equipment.

Viewing Distance

For optimal viewing pleasure of a 26 inch LCD television it is advisable to ensure your room is wide enough to accommodate three to five feet distance from the screen.

Watch this video on how to buy an LCD television.