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What you want to consider depends on how much space you have and what sources you will be viewing. (I personally have a 2 year old Sony Wega 34" widescreen CRT). If you have, or plan to get, a High-Definition source (digital satellite, digital cable) then you want an HD-ready TV. If you aren't sure whether you want to invest in HDTV, take a close look at an HD capable TV with an actual HD source. Notice how close you can get to the screen without noticing either pixelation or raster lines. Notice how bright the colors are and how good the sound is. Lots of stores with rows and rows of TVs often don't have them on HD input, so make sure you have a few of the HD-ready sets you are interested in comparing actually connected to an HD source. As for size, match the size of your room to the size screen you buy. For my smallish living room, the 34" screen is plenty big. Don't forget in the huge Circuit City and Best Buy stores the 56" or 62" screens may not seem as big as they really will be in your house. To get an idea of the size, cut out a piece of cardboard or craft paper that is 62" diagonal (or whatever size you think you want) and hold it up in your room or hang it from the wall. As for the technology to use, each has advantages/disadvantages. Usually, if you are looking for 36" or smaller, a CRT (tube tv) is still the best bang for the buck. If you are looking at larger sizes, the direct view types (LCD, Plasma) have a wide view angle. The rear projection types like DLP have a more limited view angle.
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