Sunday, September 5, 2010

I can’t tell the difference between the knee and the elbow when LCD and LED TVs are concerned.


Our old TV has finally died and although I know it’s time to get one of those fancy new high-definition digital and 3D televisions I’ve been hearing so much about lately, I haven’t really gone to shop for one as yet because I am at a loss. It is not so much a demise of our equipment that had dutifully delivered us so many years of some of our favourite TV programs including our morning and evening news in the family room, but I’ve don’t know quite how to replace it. Sure, we have decided we want the best that’s out there and have decided on an LED TV. We’re all set to get our new LED TV but don’t know quite where to start. To be honest, I lack the basic technical know-how with most electrical goods and can’t tell the difference between the knee and the elbow when LCD and LED TVs are concerned.
The main reason I have been spending some time on the Internets to do some homework before going to the shop is that I do not want to look like a goose in front of the salesperson at the showroom, asking the wrong questions. To better understand LED TVs, I have done some googling to look at the basic technology behind most LCD TVs. Of course, even the basic is rocket science to me. It took me the whole morning on the Internets just to learn an LCD TV is basically a grid setup in front of a light. To the savvy, the grid of course is divided into pixels and each pixel has its red, green, and blue sub-pixels. What is a pixel? I shouted this question across the room to my son. “Look up on the Internets, Dad” was his nonchalant reply. Now, I need not have to explain further, why I have to spend the whole morning on the Internets doing my LED homework. I have also learned that in order to allow light to pass through the screen a physical gate is opened allowing light to pass through. The degree to which the gate is opened will determine the intensity of the colour and by varying how far the red gate is opened relative to the blue and green gates will produce virtually any colour. As if that is not enough to add further confusion and make matter worst for me, not all LED TVs are created equal. Most LED TVs really aren’t true LED TVs, rather, they use LED backlighting. Most LCD TVs on the market today use CCFL lighting, similar to fluorescent lighting for your room. The downside to CCFL is the light is always on when the TV is on.
In our fast-paced world of technology, what I have just learned may become obsolete in a short time. I better hurry to the shop before I turned myself into a goose.

5 comments:

  1. check out
    www.ozbargain.com.au
    before buying
    there are some great deals on there from time to time
    plus the comments there usually tell u whether the product is good

    just one singaporean to another

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  2. Hi Fellow Singaporean (Kah Ki Lang),
    Thanks, but I have alredy purchased a new TV with the kind help from another Sg, who went to the shop with me yesterday. Thanks again.

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  3. Thanks for a very humorous post, Uncle Phil. I really enjoyed reading it.

    When you have the money, buying the best is usually no problem. The salesman will very dutifully see to it that this is done. You are right, the thing is not to let him think that you are a goose... one that lays golden eggs, that is.

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  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  5. wah so fast u buy tv already.. i wanted to intro u Samsung Plasma 3D only 2000 bucks.. with free 3d bluray player and 3d glasses!!!

    ReplyDelete