Back in the early 2000s a 100″ front projection screen was a very popular size (and still is) for a home theater screen. That image size for a 100″ 16:9 screen works out to be 87″ wide by 49″ high. That size was not too big, and not too small (for a home theater) – and worked out in a lot of basements considering the heights of basement ceilings in Ohio. Although it works well, one down side with a projector is that you have to have the lights turned mostly down and have a dedicated, closed off room.

I was in Micro Center the other day, and saw that they had a 98″ Samsung 4K flat panel on display.  It was HUGE at 86″ wide by 51″ high and although still more than most people might want to spend on a TV, at $4,999, the price wasn’t laughable. If you have a big blank wall in a large great room or bonus room, or have a multi-use basement/theater area, this could be a nice option for you. Several of the other big TV brands make 98″ models too, such as Sony and LG, and most 4K models range from $5,000-$10,000 depending on the quality level. Of course we’d have to make sure we can get it around bends and down stairs depending on where you’d like to put it, but if you want to make a statement and not have to worry about light in the room, replacing projector lamps, fan noise, running wires and power up to the ceiling, check out a 98″ flat panel TV instead of a projector.

There are lots of things to consider before doing this, here are just a few questions:

• Is the current TV the right size or should the new one be bigger or smaller?
• Do I have the correct cabling in place for the new TV?
• If the current TV is wall mounted, how will the current bracket work with the new TV? Will it be able to be at the right height without needing to be moved up or down?
• Is the current wall bracket the right size for the new TV?
• We are moving from a non “smart” TV to a “smart” one and are going to be streaming, is my network up to snuff?
• There are so many choices even within the same sizes of TVs, which one is right for me?
• Is my current surround sound receiver going to limit my picture quality?
• I want to ditch my cable box, how can I watch cable TV through an app on my new TV?
• Will my remote control need to be reprogrammed?
• …and many, many more

If you are looking for a more personalized experience than the Geek Squad can offer call, Tech Ease. I am set up to supply televisions at the same prices as the big box stores or can help you acquire the best TV for you. I will pay meticulous attention to your project and your home and will be available at the click of a call or text after the installation. Call me for more details, or a home visit – Steve (614) 653-7315

You are in luck. Frames around television screens are getting thinner and thinner. Just a few years ago, we used to say, for example, a 32″ TV was roughly 32″ wide. In those days, the norm for the width of the frame around the screen was about 2″ (and still is for some sets today). Recently though, more models, namely LED LCD models are offering “slim frame” technology. Some of the frames around these screens are .5″ or less. This translates to a 37″ tv with a slim frame ending up to be roughly 34″ wide, or a 39″ being less than 35″ wide. What does this mean? You can fit a lot more screen size in the same cabinet. Be sure to check those “slim frame” models out when you are shopping and don’t rule out the next size up based on your cabinet dimensions until you have confirmed the exact width dimension of the new TV not just the size of the screen.

If you need help picking out a new TV, call or email us!

We recently had a customer accidentally knock over and break the screen of their LG lcd television.  This particular TV was built in October of 2010 and sold for $699.99. Replacement lcd screen parts are very hard to find and very expensive.  We found prices ranging from $545 to almost $1,000 for a replacement.  Even if you replaced it yourself, it still wouldn’t be financially smart, considering the current model replacement is around $449. The bottom line is if you happen to break the lcd screen of your television, you will likely need a new one.