This guide has been written to help people who want to buy a new high definition television. When you have read it, why not compare prices at http://www.uk.best-price.com.

TV makers use facts and figures in an attempt to make their products appear better than the competition. I hope that I am able to identify and convey the most important factors for you to consider and which are simply marketing tools.

Firstly, I would like to say that you shouldn't buy a TV simply because it's spec sheet looks impressive. Instead, you ought to go to a shop and look at the picture quality yourself. This is the best way for you to choose. When you've chosen you can then return home and find the best price for that set online with best-price. Now, more specifically, I'd like to talk about the features you may wish to consider while making your purchasing decision.

It is important that your new TV has enough inputs for you to plug in your DVD or Blu-ray player, your games console, your digital TV box and possibly your laptop or computer. Some HDTVs may also have a limited number of HDMI inputs. You do not want to end up having to unplug your digital TV box to make room for your games console every time you want to use it because there aren't enough HDMI inputs. Also, think about where the inputs are. If you're planning to use the TV with your computer or digital camcorder for example, why not look for a TV with a front facing port to make it easier to attach and use the device.

Flat screen televisions can be LCD, LED or Plasma. The most popular and the biggest seller is LCD. This is because it's often cheaper and is the only form that can be made in smaller sizes (between 19 and 42inches). LED televisions are similar to LCD but use a form of back-lighting to enhance the picture. Plasma screens are said to give a more natural picture, especially in low light conditions but tend to be more expensive and less energy efficient than LCD screens. As a general rule, if you mainly use a television for watching movies in low light conditions you may prefer Plasma while LCD and LED offer good all round performance which is better than Plasma in bright light and worse than Plasma in low light.

One accessory you will have to purchase after getting a new TV is a HDMI cable. They vary in price significantly depending on the manufacturer and whether or not they have any special features (such as being gold plated to carry the signal more effectively). My advice is that they make a hardly discernible difference and that a cheap one will be sufficient most of the time.

While looking at screens at the retailer be sure to see the remote control and look around the menu screens. What screen options are available? Does the TV have presets for viewing films or sports? Most TVs now contain a digital tuner so make sure that the programme guide is easy to navigate and that it's laid out ergonomically. You might be using the set every day so you should be comfortable with it.

Hopefully, while not exhaustive, this article has at least offered some useful information to help with your television search.