Flat-screen TV shopping tips
Flat-out ready to buy? Here are key points to consider before you make the big commitment.
Consider the alternatives: If you can live with a tabletop set that's 10 to 18 inches deep rather than 4 to 7, LCoS (liquid crystal on silicon) and DLP (digital light-processing) rear-projection sets can deliver performance approaching or exceeding that of plasmas in similar screen sizes and at lower prices. You just don't hear about them as much because they're not as sexy.
Compare displays using a variety of material: Just about any flat-panel display will handle HDTV and DVD signals well, but mediocre cable and satellite signals will give some of them fits. Don't make a buying decision based solely on pictures generated from pristine sources.
Check the video settings: Now that you've got the remote, pull up the video-adjustment menu and look at the settings. If you thought the picture looked a little (or a lot) off on first viewing,