Buying a TV

In my living room there is a big TV set, a CRT so heavy I can barely lift it. To it are connected the video recorder, the HD/DVD recorder, the PS2, the Gamecube, and of course the TV cable. The TV has 2 SCART connectors, so I put the HD/DVD recorder in one, and a switchbox connecting the other 3 machines on the other. Works well, I can use any of these input devices, and thus watch VHS cassettes, or DVDs, or films stored on the HD, or use the TV to play on the PS2 or Gamecube.

The keyword here is "or". Obviously with only one screen, there can be only one form of entertainment at any given time. Since we bought the HD/DVD recorder we use the TV a lot for watching either time-shifted TV programs, or for watching DVDs. I barely get to use my game consoles any more.

So I decided I need a second TV. Obviously a smaller one. But with technology having advanced since we bought our CRT TV, I prefer a flat screen TV now. That should be small enough to install in the guest room, and hook up my Playstation to it. There is no TV cable there, but with the PS2 I can both play and watch DVDs.

Having come to that decision, I looked around for what exactly to buy, and got completely overwhelmed. Man, buying a TV has become complicated, you need a degree in electronics for it now. Do I want plasma or LCD? I guess LCD, because as far as I know it is cheaper and lives longer, even if the contrast isn't quite as good. What size? Now that question is more difficult than I would have thought. I want a small TV set, after all it is only a secondary TV set, and I don't want to spend a fortune. But when I see the smallest LCD TVs having 640 x 480 pixels, and reading about the PS3 supporting "high definition TV" with standards like 720p, I obviously need at least 1280 x 720 pixels if I want to use the same TV set for the PS3 in half a year. And after that specifications get hazy. How much contrast, viewing angle, luminance, and response time do I really need, and what would be a waste of money?

I guess I'll just brave the dangers of a entertainment electronics shop and pray for a competent and honest salesperson. I armed myself with at least a basic knowledge of what I want and don't want, plus a spending limit. I'll keep you posted about the outcome. If this is a success, I'll be playing Dragon Quest on the PS2 for a while, and write a review. There *are* other good games than WoW out there. :)