Want a hot TV set?

BUYER'S CORNER

Take your pick from plasma TVs, LCD TVs and Digital Light Processing TVs.

If you are looking for a big television set to give you that movie-like experience, your choice is limited to a few brands.

In India television manufacturers that sell these big TVs include Sony, Samsung and LG. Even Philips offers some models, but its range is limited.

At the top of the heap are plasma TVs. The slim screen is built on a thin layer of two glasses. Plasma TVs have high brightness and contrast and provide for clarity in pictures unmatched by any other TV set.

A second, less expensive, option is a LCD TV. The thin and light form factor of liquid crystal display (LCD) is attractive. While the panel (the set itself) looks thin, the LCD is made up of pixels (picture elements).

Samsung has introduced yet another alternative by launching its Digital Light Processing (DLP) TV. DLP technology provides unmatched brilliance and clarity in pictures which earlier were available only on plasma TVs "� at a lower price. Developed by Texas Instruments, this new technology is fast becoming the new standard for digital movie theatres around the world.

The picture is created from the tiny mirrors tilting back and forth, reflecting light, making picture tubes redundant. Carl Zeiss, the world leader in optical technology for the last 50 years, supplies 13 out of the 15 lenses used in all Samsung DLP Tvs.

But if you are looking at something more affordable, try a projection TV. This has a larger screen than what you get with cathode ray tubes.

If you want to buy a plasma TV, be ready to write a cheque for Rs 2 lakh at least. Samsung's cheapest plasma TV, the PS42D4, carries a price tag of Rs 2.4 lakh. It has two-way six speakers, surround sound and very high resolution picture quality.

Sony has a Rs 2.49 lakh model (KE MV42AI) which boasts of a 107 cm display and 160 degree viewing angle, complete with a special 3D noise reduction system. It also has a really upscale model with a 155 cm screen and amazing clarity for Rs 12.99 lakh.

You could also look at Korean technology and buy a plasma TV set with a 160 cm display screen (63P3) for over Rs 10 lakh. LG has introduced plasma TV models (42 inches to 60 inches) with prices ranging from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 7.5 lakh.

If you want an LCD TV, you have some cheap options. LG's LCD models, RT-15LA70 and RT-20L 70 (these have a 15 and a 20.11 inch display screen) cost Rs 44,000 and Rs 89,000, respectively. Sony is more expensive "� its entry model KLV-21SG2 with a 51 cm screen comes for Rs 60,000. Samsung's entry-level 20-inch LCD TV will cost Rs 64,990.

As for DLP TVs, only Samsung offers them at the moment. The Samsung SP463HX, which is very slim and light, has five picture modes and has a price tag of Rs 1,64,000. You also get a free Yepp MP3 player with it "� if you buy this separately, it will set you back by under Rs 11,000.

Samsung also has two more DLP TVs in this price range, with freebies thrown in. The top of the line SP61L3 comes for Rs 3.2 lakh but you also get freebies worth just under Rs 1 lakh "� a free refrigerator worth Rs 78,500 and an MP3 player worth Rs 29,990.

As for projection TVs, they have big screens and don't cost too much. Samsung's entry level projection TV with a 43" screen is available for Rs 76,990.

Compare that with a 20" inch LCD TV (whose display size is half that of a projection TV) which is priced at over Rs 69,000. Sony's entry level projection TV with a 109 cm screen (43.6") is available for Rs 1.09 lakh. LG's 44-inch entry level projection TV carries a price of Rs 78,500. Prices can go up to Rs 1.29 lakh for other models.