Electronics are a huge part of our lives, and quite frankly most of us can’t live without them. Many of us, if we forgot our cellphone at home, would return for it even if it meant that we got to work late. Since technology is such an integral part of our lives, we need to be wise in our purchases.
I have been privileged to travel the world, and I must say that I am very impressed with the knowledge of most sales representatives in most technology stores I visited.
Disappointingly, here in Barbados most sales reps that I have encountered know little or nothing about the equipment they sell. On more than one occasion I have had to inform them of the incorrect display information they had for their equipment.
Too many people buy electronics without doing adequate research before making their purchase. One such piece of electronic equipment is the flat-screen TV and since its popularity is increasing, I believe this article would be beneficial to those who are hoping to purchase one.
Flat screen TVs are here to stay and as the years go by the price is dropping, making them more affordable and accessible to even the lowest income earners.
I believe that when choosing a TV, most of us make our decision primarily based on three things: type, size and cost. More often than not, men would also include the brand as well as online reviews from credible websites during their decision making process.
The three types of flat-screen TVs available to us are plasma, LCD and LED. Plasma TVs consume about twice as much energy as an LCD or LED TV. As a result, you plasma TV owners will pay more at the end of the month than LCD or LED owners, given the same usage conditions.
We as a people are very competitive and that sometimes clouds our judgement. Many people, if they have the money, would buy a 40-inch flat screen TV or bigger. Some of us are driven by having bigger and better than anyone else, but having a bigger flat screen TV also comes with a cost.
The bigger the TV, the more power it uses, and this results in a higher electricity bill. A 32-inch LCD uses about half as much power as a 52-inch LCD. Some researchers say that the size of the room you will be watching the TV in, as well as the distance you sit away from the TV, should be taken into consideration when choosing your TV size. Also, the larger the TV, the larger the screen and the more light it produces, which could be damaging to the eyes depending on the factors mentioned above.
As far as cost is concerned, three main things determine how much you pay: size, type and brand. The bigger the TV, the more you pay. LCDs are generally the cheapest of the three while LEDs are a little more expensive but are brighter, with generally better resolution.
Samsung, Panasonic, LG and Sony are the leading brands based on an article by www.consumerreports.org. As a result you pay more for these brands. Some of the cheaper brands are Sharp, Toshiba, Hitachi and RCA; the cheapest are TCL, Magnavox and Sanyo.
If you listen to the radio or read print media you will observe many plasma TVs being sold at discounted prices, which many of us are attracted to. Yes, you will get a nice, big flat-screen TV for a reasonable price, but the cost at the end of the month may not be worth it.
People, do your research. Check online reviews before you purchase any equipment, whether it’s a mobile phone, a laptop, an iPod, a television or even a fridge or stove. When you go into a store, take a picture of the product with your mobile phone and observe the display information or just write it down and then check it on the Internet.
Knowledge can indeed save you in the long run.
• Corey Worrell is a former Commonwealth youth ambassador. Email coreyworrell@gmail.com.
