ResearchThe Real Deal on Screen Size
So, you’re finally upgrading to that HDTV that you have had your eye on for awhile. You go to the store and you start to really look at the 32-inch upgrade and you start second guessing the size. Doesn’t it look small? The fact of the matter is that if you currently have a traditional television, a 32-inch HDTV really is smaller! This seems backward since many refer to the televisions as widescreens or big screens, yet they are actually smaller when you compare the surface area measurements. The fact of the matter is that if you measure total surface area of the screen you’ll find that the HDTV screen is an amazing 11% smaller than the conventional television. You’ll find that it really doesn’t matter what size television you are measuring, all of the screens will be 11 percent smaller than the more traditional style television. You can actually have some fun with this if you don’t believe it by taking a tape measure to the nearest electronics store and measure the surface area and then tell the staff that one is actually bigger than the other. Of course, they will try to tell you that it is not if they don’t have a lot of experience, but you will be right.
Really Upgrade
If you really want to upgrade to something bigger and better you’ll have to consider how you will get a picture television than you actually have now. In order to actually get a bigger screen than you already have you’ll want to buy a television that is at least 6% bigger than your older TV. The easiest way to figure out how big your television needs to be to get a bigger screen surface is to take the diagonal screen size of the old television and multiply that by 1.0625. What this basically means is that if you have had a 32-inch television you will want to purchase at least a 34-inch television unless you want the actual screen to be smaller. Since you want to upgrade you will probably want to go even bigger than the 34, but it is all about the space and what you can afford, as well.
Making The Old Shows Look Good
While you are sure that all of your new shoes and movies will look great on your new television, you might want to give some thought to how those old television shows that you watch or your regular TV shows will look on your new HDTV. This is where screen height comes into play. You want to get an HDTV that is as tall as your old one so that you are sure that you are truly getting a bigger better picture no matter what you are watching, new or old programming. Unfortunately when you watch old television, or narrow screened programs on a HDTV, you will find that you have bands on the left and the right of the program instead of the top and the bottom. What this means is that if you are a far of regular television you will find that the picture is 33% smaller than it was on your old TV! Yikes, right? This is why it is so important to get an HDTV that is as tall as your old television.
Most of the time you can go to an electronics store with the size of your television and tell them that you need something that is the same height as your old television and they can point you in the right direction. A great idea is to always bring a tape measure with you, as silly as that seems. A new television is a big investment; you need to be sure of your purchase, and a tape measure can help you be sure.
As you can see, there is a lot to consider when you are moving from your traditional television to your new HDTV. You must not only consider the size of your old TV, you’ll also want to consider it’s actual height and how to make all of your television viewing exceptional, not just the new HD programs