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Step 4: Narrow down your selection

Now that you have a good understanding of the amount of room you have for your new TV, the features that are most important to you and the approximate amount of money you are expecting to spend, it's time to narrow down your selection.

Ask yourself the following set of questions:

' How much weight am I able to lift (either by myself or with a friend / family member) into my car or truck, transport home and then lift into the spot where I want my TV?
Or
' How much am I willing to pay to have my TV shipped to my house and setup in the spot where I want my TV?

' Will I be watching a lot of movies on my TV?
Or
' Will I be watching primarily cable and network TV?

' Will I be hanging this TV on a wall?
Or
' Will I be placing the TV on the floor or on a stand?

Based on your answers to these questions, you should be able to narrow your selection down to an approximate size, display type and list of features that are important to you.

Step 5: Go shopping (both online and in the store)

I recommend you do two types of shopping before deciding on the TV that is right for you:

1) Online comparison shopping for price
You will be able to find the lowest price online by using a price comparison site, such as Pricerunner. Armed with the lowest price available online (be sure to include shipping in your pricing), you will be able to compare to the lowest price you are able to find in stores.

2) In store shopping for first hand experience
Nothing will tell you more about how well you like a TV than going to see and hear it in person. There is no better way to decide what you like the best than to experience it first hand. While you may have to deal with some salesman chatter in the process, I strongly recommend you view regular non-HD content, DVD's and HD content on any TV you are interested in BEFORE you make your purchasing decision. If you are debating on which type of rear projection TV to buy, doing this first-hand viewing test will also help you make a decision between DLP vs. LCD vs. CRT. Many stores will allow you to play with the remote and adjust the TV settings as well, which is also a good idea if you want to get a clear idea of what it will be like to operate the TV.

Step 6: Research online

Once you have narrowed your search down to a few specific models, I recommend that you read online reviews to get a sense of what other people have experienced with the models that you are considering purchasing. As you are reading, take into account the source of what you are reading and weigh their opinions accordingly. Is this a consumer just voicing a complaint with the service they received, or did they actually have a problem with the TV? Is this a professional writer who is somehow affiliated with the TV manufacturer? Does this person really have a grasp of TV technology and understands the limitations of the TV they are using?

After reading through and considering all of this information, doing shopping online and in the store and then finally doing some research online, I am confident that you will be able to make an informed and educated choice on the right HDTV for you. There are a lot of great TV's out there, but there are only a handful, at most, that will really fill all of your needs and make your HDTV experience the best that it can be. My hope is that this guide will help you find the best HDTV and that you'll enjoy many hours of use with your new TV.