sets have three cathode-ray picture tubes (CRTs),Guest Posting smaller versions of the tubes used in conventional sets. The images from those small tubes are projected onto the back of a 42- to 70-plus-inch screen, hence the name rear-projection TV. Microdisplay sets use liquid-crystal display (LCD), digital light processing (DLP), or liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) technology in place of CRTs. These TVs are slimmer, lighter, and more expensive than comparable CRT-based sets. More of them are appearing in stores, and their prices are starting to drop.
WHAT’S AVAILABLE
Major brands include Hitachi, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Philips, RCA, Samsung, Sony, and Toshiba.
The smallest sets, measuring about 42 inches diagonally, offer only a few more inches of screen than a conventional 36-inch set. Rear-projection sets with 50- to 60-inch screens are the best sellers. The largest of these TVs have screens measuring 70 inches or more. Keep in mind that a set with a 57-inch screen could be overwhelming in a modest-sized room. CRT-based sets are floor-standing units about 24 to 30 inches deep that take up about 8 square feet of floor space. They weigh about 200 pounds and are mounted on wheels. Microdisplay models may require a stand. Most are about 15 to 20 inches deep and weigh about 100 pounds.