Budget shopping tips: TVs Despite being "only" 720p, the Panasonic Viera TH-P50X10 is a good bargain.Flat-panel TVs are no longer playthings of the rich. In fact, dirt-cheap models can be had in every screen size and from numerous diverse makers. Here's a guide to finding your way through the budget HDTV morass. Bargain brands vs. name brandsValue brands such as Chimei and Teac, along with even lesser-known names including Palladine and Shinco, compete head-to-head against the Sonys and Panasonics of the world. You can get a great deal with an off-brand, although you should still do your research. When considering a bargain brand it's always worthwhile to see how much you're actually saving versus the same size, entry-level TV from a better known brand, especially in larger screen sizes. Maybe that couple hundred dollars savings isn't worth it to you, especially over the long lifespan of the typical TV. If you do go for a bargain brand, look around online for user opinions to spot any potential lemons. Often, however, you'll find most buyers are happy with their HDTvs, regardless of brand.Don't forget about 720p1080p resolution is everywhere these days, especially among larger LCDs, but that doesn't mean you can't find less-expensive 720p plasma models around. Did you know you can get a sizeable 50-inch 720p plasma such as the Panasonic's TH-P50X10 for around S$3,999 (US$2,944.27)? You can send even less at the 42-inch size. Trust us, you probably won't miss the extra pixels.You don't need a 100Hz or 200Hz LCDIf you have your heart set on LCD instead of plasma, it's worth remembering that motion blur--the reduction of which is the main selling point of 100Hz and 200Hz LCD TVs--is really difficult for most people to make out. Moreover, chances are the blur you see is inherent in the source, not the TV, and those higher refresh rate TVs can't do anything about blur in the source.Don't buy a boutique HDMI cableDespite the marketing hype, all HDMI cables are essentially identical--you're not going to get better performance from an S$150 (US$110.44) cable than you would from a S$50 (US$36.81) version. That's why it always makes more sense to buy cheaper HDMI cables widely available in stores.The original story first appeared in CNET.comTags: Plasma, 1080p, TV, Teac, cable
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