高科技电视选购指南.doc

Finding the Right Big-Screen Television Set A Guide to Making Sense Of Confusing Variations, Avoiding Costly Mistakes高科技电视选购指南Long after the Christmas trees have been taken down and the menorahs packed away, that television set you purchased as a holiday gift will still be around, looming over your family room for years. Its likely to long outlast all those iPods and digital cameras and game consoles flying off the store shelves right now. So you want to get the right TV set this time around. Do-overs are expensive if you dont.过完节，圣诞树拆下来了，大烛台也收起来了，而你为过节买的电视机却还在，并且还会在你家度过好几个年头。这台电视很可能比那些目前正在热销的iPod、数码相机、电子游戏机的寿命还要长。于是，你希望买到一台合适的电视机，如果没买对，又重来一遍，代价可不小。 Unfortunately, shopping for a television set is much, much harder than it used to be. The TV aisles in your local electronics store are like exotic galleries packed with confusing acronyms - LCD, HDTV, DLP - and staffed by clerks who often are either clueless, or so geeky, that they cant help much. This is not a great situation when youre spending thousands of dollars on a TV, not the hundreds people used to spend.不幸的是，现在选购一台电视机比过去难多了。走进附近一家电子商店的电视专区，就仿佛步入一个奇异的天地，LCD、HDTV、DLP等名词让你眼花缭乱。导购的服务员要么一问三不知，要么让你不胜其烦，总之就是帮不上忙。如果你打算花几千美元来买一台电视机，而不是像过去那样只花几百美元的话，这种情况不太利于你做选择。So, heres a rough, quick guide to buying a television this holiday season. Our aim is to provide a very basic cheat sheet so you can at least wade through the basics and talk to the salespeople intelligently. For greater detail, we suggest buying one of those glossy magazines that covers new TVs in depth. Even if you dont actually purchase the set at a store and instead opt to buy it online, we suggest visiting the store to see the TV so that you can judge its performance in person.在这里，我们向你提供一个快速、简略的指导，介绍一下如何在这个假期选购一台心仪的电视。我们的目的在于提供一个非常基础的介绍，这样你至少能了解一些粗略的知识，跟销售员交谈的时候显得聪明一些。如果想了解更详细的情况，建议你购买一本那种有光泽封面的、深入介绍新款电视机的杂志。即使你倾向于线上购买，不打算到商店去，我们还是建议你到店里去看一看，这样能亲自判断机器的性能。There are two basic types of big-screen TVs - flat panels, where much of the technology that creates the image is actually embedded in the glass screen itself; and projection sets, also called microdisplay sets, where the front screen is just a sheet of plastic and the key technology that creates the image is in the back of the set.42 Samsung HP-R4252 Plasma TV. Price: $3,499.99. For more info: .目前市面上有两种基本类型的大萤幕电视。一种是平板电视，这种电视产生画面的技术主要内置在玻璃屏上。另一种是背投电视，也叫微显示电视，这种电视机的萤幕只是一片塑胶板，产生图像的核心技术位于机器的后部。Within these two broad categories, competing technologies are slugging it out. There are two main types of flat-panel sets - LCD and plasma - and three main types of projection sets. Most new TVs are digital, meaning they can deal directly with the computerlike signals produced by newer TV transmissions. Older sets are considered analog, and were designed for older TV transmissions. Digital sets can display analog TV signals, but not always very well. All U.S. TV transmissions are due to convert to digital signals in the next few years.在这两大类的电视内，不同的技术之间也竞争激烈。平板电视中有两种主要类型：液晶电视和等离子电视；而背投电视有三种主要类型。大部分新款电视都是“数位”的，即它们都能直接处理类似电脑信号的新电视信号。老式的电视机则被认为是“模拟”的，是为老式电视信号设计的。数码电视也能显示模拟电视信号，但效果不是很好。在未来的几年，所有的美国电视节目都要转换为数位信号。HDTV versus ED and SDMany big-screen TVs are capable of receiving high-definition television signals, or HDTV - the most detailed, and best-looking, television available. But some cheaper digital models can only display lesser-quality pictures called Enhanced Definition, or ED. Others are stuck at standard definition, or SD, which is even worse.很多大萤幕电视能接收高清晰电视信号，高清晰电视即HDTV，是目前画质最细腻、最美观的电视。一些便宜一点的数位电视只能显示质量差一些的图像，称为增强清晰度电视，即ED (Enhanced Definition)。其他的电视只能达到标准清晰度，即SD，画质还要差。So, just because you have a big-screen, digital TV, that doesnt mean its an HDTV. Make sure any set you choose can handle HD signals. Also, many HD sets dont actually contain an HD receiver, or tuner - the component that actually pulls in the HD programming. They are merely HD-ready, meaning they can display HDTV if you connect them to an HD receiver, like a cable or satellite set-top box that is able to receive HD signals. Others have an HD receiver built in, though its usually limited to over-the-air HD broadcasts, which require an antenna, and cant pick up cable or satellite transmissions.因此，大萤幕数位电视不一定是高清晰电视(HDTV)。请确保你选择的电视能处理HD（高清晰）信号。此外，很多高清晰电视其实不带处理高清晰信号的元件HD接收器（即调谐器），它们仅仅“支援高清晰度”，也就是说如果你把它们接到HD接收器上，它就能显示高清晰电视信号。HD接收器可以是能接收高清晰信号的电缆或卫星机顶盒。其他类型的电视带内置的HD接收器，但这种接收器一般只限于无线的高清晰广播，这种广播需要天线，且不能接收有线或卫星转播。LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and plasma screens allow for large TVs that are very thin. If aesthetics are your biggest concern and youre interested in buying a TV that can be attached to a wall, you should buy one of these two types of screens. They also offer some of the best-quality pictures available.Flat Panel Screens - LCD and Plasma液晶显示幕(LCD)和等离子显示幕可以使大萤幕电视变得非常薄。如果美观是你考虑的首要因素，并且你有兴趣购买一台能挂在墙上的电视的话，不妨考虑买一台液晶电视或等离子电视。这两种类型电视的画质都是最好的。The actual technology in these two screens is quite different. LCD TVs are like the screens on laptops or flat-panel computer monitors. They work by passing current through tiny liquid crystals. Plasma TVs work by stimulating a captive gas with an electrical charge.45 Sharp AQUOS LCD TV, LC-GD7U. Price: $5,499.99. For more info: 这两种显示技术有很大的不同。液晶电视就像手提电脑的萤幕或平板电脑显示器。它们的工作原理是使电流通过微小的液晶体而产生图像。等离子电视则通过施加电压产生等离子气体，从而产生图像。Both technologies are rapidly becoming cheaper, but they are still mainly distinguished by how much they cost at certain sizes. LCD TVs are a bit thinner and much lighter than plasmas, but, at large-screen sizes, they are prohibitively expensive. By contrast, plasmas arent efficient to make at small-screen sizes.两种技术都在迅速降价，不过它们的主要区别还是在于不同尺寸的价格差别。液晶电视比等离子电视稍薄一点，重量要轻很多，但大萤幕的液晶电视价格昂贵。相反，等离子电视在小萤幕方面显示出不足。So, for people with typical budgets this holiday season, the only affordable flat-panel TVs today more than 40 inches in size will almost certainly be plasmas. Buyers of flat-panel TVs under 40 inches will very likely wind up with an LCD.因此，在这个假期，对于普通预算的消费者来说，唯一能买得起的、尺寸在40英寸以上的平板电视几乎都是等离子电视。想购买40寸以下的平板电视的消费者很有可能选择液晶电视。In general, both technologies deliver vivid, intense pictures. There are differences, but these have been narrowing, as the competition drives improvements in both camps. For instance, plasmas were long superior in viewing angle - the ability to see the picture well from the side - but some LCDs have caught up and even passed plasmas on this score.总体上来看，这两种电视技术都能产生清晰逼真的图像。两者之间虽然有差别，但随著两个领域的竞争厂商都在不断改进，这种差别正在缩小。例如，很长时间以来，等离子电视在视角方面都占有优势，即从侧角观看也有很好的画质。现在，液晶电视在这方面已经赶上来了，甚至超过了等离子电视。Early plasmas had a risk of burn-in, a situation where a logo or fixed text might remain visible even after you change channels. But this has been almost eliminated in new sets. Early LCDs showed ghosting during fast-action shots, but, again, this has been greatly eased in newer sets.早期的等离子技术有被“打上烙印”的危险，即萤幕上出现一个图示或固定文字，甚至在换台之后还能看见。不过新款的电视中几乎已经把它消除掉了。早期的液晶电视在显示快速动作画面时会出现重影，但在新款的电视中也大大改善了。TV geeks will see differences among the two technologies in areas such as contrast, color saturation and brightness. But these things vary among manufacturers and models, and most viewers wont notice fine distinctions. The best way to choose is to go to a store and compare with your own eyes, without worrying about techie jargon.一些电视机发烧友也许能看出这两种技术在某些方面的差异，如对比度、饱和度和亮度。但这些指标因生产商和型号的不同而有不同，且大多数的观者都不会注意到这些细小的差别。选择的最佳办法就是到商店去，用眼睛来比较，而不要理会那些文绉绉的技术术语。These two types of TVs will definitely set you back; LCDs come in prices ranging from $450 for 13 inches to $5,500 for 46-inchers to $21,000 for a 65-inch set. Plasmas go for about $2,200 for a 42-inch set and $12,000 for a 63-inch plasma screen. Yes, were still just talking about televisions here.这两种类型电视的价格无疑会让你望而却步。液晶电视的价格为：13寸售价450美元，46寸售价5500美元，65寸售价2.1万美元。等离子电视的价格为：42寸卖2200美元，63寸卖1.2万美元。没错，我们是在讨论电视机的价格。Projection TVsIf youre shocked by the prices of the LCD and plasma sets, you might find projection televisions a little more your speed. They tend to cost less than the flat-panel models, but still deliver a handsome picture.如果液晶电视和等离子电视的价格让你大吃一惊，背投电视也许更容易接受一些。背投电视一般比平板电视要便宜，而画质也不错。These sets arent nearly as thin as the flat panels, because they need depth internally to project the image they create in the back of the set. But if you dont mind sacrificing aesthetics, youll find some good options in this grouping.背投电视没有平板电视那么薄，因为它们的内部需要有一定的深度来将在后部形成的影像投影出去。如果你并不介意在美观方面作一些牺牲，你可以在背投这类电视中找到合你心意的型号。Projection TVs can be divided into three main categories: CRT (cathode ray tube) rear projection; LCD rear projection; and DLP (Digital Light Projection) rear projection. The first two are also called microdisplays, because they use tiny display chips to create the image in the rear of the set.背投电视主要可以分成三种：CRT背投（CRT：阴极射线管）、液晶背投和DLP背投（DLP：数码光处理）。前两种也称“微显示器”，因为它们使用微小的显示晶片在机箱的后部形成图像。液晶背投电视的机箱比较薄，如55寸屏的机箱只有20英寸深。液晶背投的尺寸在42至62寸之间。液晶背投电视利用许多微小的液晶屏来形成图像，然后把图像投影到前部的大萤幕上。55寸的液晶背投电视大约卖3000美元。50 Samsung HL-R5087W DLP Rear Projection TV. Price: $3,699.99. For more info: .CRT sets use the oldest and least advanced of the projection technologies, though they still offer good color and sharp pictures. Their screens range from about 42 to 65 inches, but their cabinets are notably deeper than the other types of projection sets, taking up a lot of space. They are, however, the least expensive of the projection TVs, costing about $1,800 for a 51-inch CRT.虽然CRT背投的图像色彩不错，画面很清晰，但在背投技术中是最老、最落后的。CRT背投的尺寸从42寸至65寸不等，不过机箱明显比其他两类背投电视要厚，很占地方。不过，CRT是背投电视中最便宜的，51寸的售价大约是1800美元。LCD rear projection uses a rather slim cabinet; for example, a 55-inch screen only has a 20-inch deep cabinet. They range in size from about 42 to 62 inches. These sets use tiny LCD screens and project the picture they create onto the large, front screen. A 55-inch LCD rear-projection set will run you about $3,000.虽然CRT背投的图像色彩不错，画面很清晰，但在背投技术中是最老、最落后的。CRT背投的尺寸从42寸至65寸不等，不过机箱明显比其他两类背投电视要厚，很占地方。不过，CRT是背投电视中最便宜的，51寸的售价大约是1800美元。DLP rear projection comes in screens measuring 42 inches and up while still boasting relatively shallow cabinet sizes. For example, a 61-inch DLP can have a cabinet of 19 inches. This technology uses a chip packed with tiny mirrors to create and project a TV picture. It generally costs more than a CRT, but is still less expensive than a plasma or flat-panel LCD TV. The images produced on a DLP are noted for their sharp blacks and grayscales. We found a 50-inch DLP for $2,200.DLP背投的尺寸在42寸以上，而机箱相对也比较薄，这是它引以为豪的地方。例如，61英寸的DLP背投的机箱只有19英寸。DLP背投技术使用一种布满细小镜子的晶片来形成图像，并