Who’s going to win the format war, LCD, Plasma or OLED?

Who’s going to win? The wall bracket manufacturers and vendors. We think it’s going to be years before any technology takes over the market 100 % as VHS did to Beta with videotape years ago.

The investment in Plasma, LCD and or OLED TVs is just too high to switch your unit at the drop of a hat, and the life expectancy of these things is years, 60,000 hours of quality viewing time for the average LCD flat panel TV.

You spend a lot of money on your entertainment and it’s going to stay on those wall brackets for a long time.

We may see shifts in percentage in the market, though. For example, as more players get into the OLED game, prices will come down, screen sizes will get bigger and OLED will start taking a bigger market share.

LCD still outsells Plasma by about 8 to 1 but that’s mainly because of price and as technology advances, prices come down, so we may see a shift there as well.

For now, there’s room for everyone, but whichever you pick? They ALL need wall brackets.

What kind of mount or wall brackets should I get for my office?

If you’re looking to spice up your conference room with a large flat panel TV set, you should first probably opt for an LCD over a Plasma set, as Plasma TVs are more prone to burn in, and chances are you’ll be using the set for a computer monitor much of the time, and a desktop display can do nasty things to a plasma screen if it’s left up for lengthy periods of time.

The other thing to consider is what kind of mount to get. Ceiling mounts are very popular in business settings, as they leave wall space for white boards and such.
A ceiling mount usually will be adjustable to point the screen down towards the audience so they won’t have to crane their necks as much to watch.

Yet, a flat wall mount against one of the short walls can look pretty snazzy, too.

Either way you go, it’s bound to enhance your business meetings and result in more sales.

Where is the best place for my LCD or Plasma TV in my home?

This is not such an easy decision. If you currently have a small regular, old fashioned shall we call it, TV set of say 19 inches, and you’re planning on going for a large screen Plasma or LCD flat panel unit that is to be wall bracketed or put on a stand, you might have some redecorating to do, some furniture to move around.

Consider where the current

Should you ever consider buying a used LCD/Plasma TV?

Buying a used LCD or Plasma TV, is it a good idea?

It is if the set has a reasonable life span left in it. Plasma TVs usually have a life span of about 30,000 hours of viewing time, and LCD TVs have about twice that longevity, or 60,000 hours.

What you’ve got to consider:

1) How long has the current owner had the unit wall bracketed up there?

2) How many hours a day has the set been in use. Bring a sharp pencil or a calculator, you’re going to have to do some math.

3) If it’s a Plasma set, check for burn in. Plasmas are prone to this, especially if they have been used to play a lot of video games or are always on a news channel with a feed at the bottom.

4) Why is the seller selling the set? Is he getting a bigger one? It might be a good deal if he’s moving up because of better financial fortune.

5) If the house is for sale it’s also a possible good deal. Maybe they don’t want the hassle of moving and reinstalling it.

6) Is it still under warranty? If it is that’s a big plus.

7) If it’s a garage sale or estate sale, don’t be afraid to bargain. Bring cash and show it to him and say that’s all you’ve got. You might just make a deal.

What is the most popular LCD TV make and model and why?

From a reputable online source here are the top ten selling LCD TVs:

1- Sony KDL-40XBR4, 2- Sharp LC-32D44U, 3-Sony KDL-32M4000, 4-Sony KDL-46V4100, 5- Samsung LN46A550, 6- Sharp LC-46D64U, 7-Vizio VW46LF, 8- Samsung LN52A650, 9- LG 42LG50, 10- Sony KDL-52XBR4.

Let’s look at number one, the Sony KDL-40XBR4:

What is the most popular Plasma TV make and model and why?

According to an online source :

The TOP 10 PLASMA TVS are: 1- Pioneer PDP-5020HD, 2- Vizio P-50, 3- Panasonic TH-50PZ85U, 4-Samsung PN50A550, 5-Pioneer Elite PRO-110HD, 6-LG50PG30, 7- Panasonic TH-50PZ800U, 8- Samsung PN42A450, 9-LG 50PG60, and 10- Pioneer PDP-6020FD.

Now let’s take a look at the leader, number one, the Pioneer PDP-5020HD.

What kind of preparations should I make for self installation of my wall brackets?

Number one? Move all the furniture out of the way. You need room to work. If there’s tables or chairs or lamps in the vicinity? Unplug them all and move them to another room.

Number two? Give the kids money to go to the movies. A double feature even.

Number three? Have your wife take them and go to the movies herself.

Number four? Get the dog outside.

Number five? Keep the beer in the refrigerator until the job is done. Save it for when the wall bracket mounts are installed correctly and the set is mounted and operating and all the furniture is moved back into place. THEN, and only then, have a cold one if you are so inclined.

In fact? If you’re so inclined? Recline in your favorite recliner and if you’re lucky and smart, you’ve scheduled the job so you’ll just be all done with it in time for the big game to start. Enjoy.

Should I buy my wall brackets on line or in a store?

That’s a tough one. On line certainly offers you more variety. After all, likely every wall bracket mount kit made in the world is available somewhere on the Internet, while a store can only carry so many models, and probably only carries a few brands.

Probably this isn’t a big deal, and you can usually find what you want in a retail store, though you may have to do some driving around to get the best price or the particular make or model you want if you have your heart set on it.

If price and price alone is your main concern, then on line is probably the way to go. E-commerce stores don’t have the huge overhead of rent and insurance and sales staff that retail stores do and thus can undercut prices drastically.

Yet, you have to worry about reliability. And shipping and handling. That’s often a big hit when you buy on the Internet. We’ve seen cases where the shipping costs were much greater than the cost of the wall brackets.

Ulitimately, the choice is yours. If you know a good TV brackets website, then you should definitely trust it!

What questions should I ask the Plasma or LCD TV dealer?

How long is the warranty?

How much is the extended warranty and what exactly does it cover?

Does the set come with wall brackets or do I have to buy them separately?

If I have to buy them separately, what brand and model of wall brackets will fit my set best?

Is there a return policy?

Is delivery free?

Is installation free? If not, how much is it? Or do I have to find someone else to install it or do it myself.

If I elect to install the wall brackets myself do you carry the tools I will need to do the job right? If not, where do you recommend I buy them?

Try this one. A lot of people will be buying LCD and Plasma TVs in preparation of all US television broadcasting going digital come February 2009, so get a bunch of friends together and go to the store and ask,