New T.V. What should I make sure I have?

andlay

Please advise, my parents need a new television and are unable to get either NTL or Telewest . I have searched the digital post code site and they are in an area for freeview channels.
Given the changes that are going on in t.v. production, what features should they ensure they have on the new set to prevent it becoming obsolete in the next decade or so. Also covering the screen type please.
Many thanks

alanobrien

Th one thing i am sure of is don't buy one with a built in digital receiver. Why ? because the technology is moving forward and its easier and less costly to replace an external freeview box than a whole TV !

This became apparant to me recently when i purchased a Humax twin reciever/PVR. The recievers in my Humax box are far more sensitive than my 3 year old freeview box and give a much better picture.

Just a thought..........

On the other hand i guess that you may be able to bypass a digital reciever that is built in to a TV by using a scart with an external box.

Either way my current preference is for an exernal box but i guess that will change when everthing becomes digital and analogue is switched off.

irnbru_2

andlay wrote:

Please advise, my parents need a new television and are unable to get either NTL or Telewest . I have searched the digital post code site and they are in an area for freeview channels.
Given the changes that are going on in t.v. production, what features should they ensure they have on the new set to prevent it becoming obsolete in the next decade or so. Also covering the screen type please.
Many thanks

No current TV is going to be obsolete in 10 years.
No current TV is going to be guaranteed for anything longer than 5/6 years.

If your parents are quite happy watching the existing 5 analogue channels then you can buy them the last of 4:3 standard CRT TV sets. When the analogue switch-off occurs, you can buy a Freeview box.

If your parents would like to have Freeview then you can buy them a widescreen CRT with a least one SCART connector. Either a TV with Integrated Digital reciever or a separate Freeview box connected via Scart.

In addition, if your parents watch DVDs then get CRT display with with at least 2 scarts one with RGB enabled.

If you think a CRT display is too big for their room then consider a LCD display.

If you think they'll get SKY for HDTV broadcasts then you'll need an LCD or Plasma which is HD Ready.

Finally, if current LCDs or Plasmas are too small you need to get them a home cinema projector.

I repeat no current TV is going to be obsolete in 10 years.