Price has taken a back-seat as customers look for size and design during TV purchase, say experts.
Televisions are fast becoming the epitome of sophistication, but when it comes to buying a TV the age-old battle of what ought to be the priority rages on. Is it the design, the brand, the size, the functions or the price that assume top priorities? e+ talks to two experts in the field of TV technology to find out the answers.
Size
"The first thing that people look for when purchasing a TV is its size," says Sayed Nayeemuddin, the manager of an electronic store in Dubai. "Size is very important, but that doesn't mean that you have to have the biggest one in the market. " cautions Nayeemuddin. Very often, he sees customers who purchase television sets, only to return them a day later when they realise that their living rooms are not big enough for a large screen TV.
"One must buy a TV that fits your home. Nowadays, we ask our customers about the dimensions of their room before they make a purchase, " he says.
If they are unsure, we often recommend that they opt for a standard 32 to 40 inch television set.
Design
Ratna Bahadur, the store manager for a large TV manufacturer, says that design is another important aspect of TV purchasing. In vogue are the flat/wide screen TVs. Another aspect are the brand names.
"Naturally, if they choose a popular brand they are likely to pay more," says Bahadur.
Type
Although television sets serve the same purpose as they did five years back, the technology has advanced at a rapid pace. "In the last 5 years we have seen Plasma and LCD TVs arrive into the market. Going by the trends, Plasma TVs are slowly being pushed out of the picture," says Bahadur.
The reason: "Plasmas use gas technology, whereas LCD use liquid crystals and have a much longer life and better picture quality." So naturally when it comes to pricing, LCDs are now more expensive than Plasmas. You can now purchase a 32 inch plasma for around Dh2,500, but a 32 inch LCD TV will cost you around Dh4,000.
Meanwhile Nayeemuddin elaborates on the factors that should be kept in mind while buying an LCD or Plasma."What you need to think about when you buy an LCD TV is the contrast quality," says Nayeemuddin. "But if customers are looking for a Plasma then they have to look more closely at the resolution of the TV."
Functions
Gone are the days when an electronic item served just one purpose. These days it's all about multiple functions and multi-tasking.
"A lot of people come in to a showroom and are not particularly concerned about features other than whether the TV has a PC input," says Nayeemuddin.
"People want to use their TV screen instead of using a regular PC monitor. It is more convenient to have everything connected to one device."
Another feature poised to gain popularity is the touch screen option. As with many mobile phones, you can now touch your TV screen allowing you to change channels, the volume or enter other available features.
TV with swivel stands is another option demanded by customers who love watching television as they move around their living room.
"If you move around a lot in your living room, then you would look for TVs with swivel stands," says Bahadur.
"By simply pushing a button on your remote control you can change the direction the TV is facing. On some stand this can move up to 180 degrees. "
Any extras?
"The surround sound system," says Nayeemuddin. "If you've taken pains to purchase a top-of-the-range TV set, it is only natural that you want to have the whole set-up. Five speaker surround is the most popular . It gives the viewing pleasure a boost."
Say hello to Blu Ray
Blu Ray players are the latest in digital technology," says Bahadur. Although these are still very expensive on the market, it is becoming very popular among consumers who wish to have it with their new TVs.
So in short, who wins this battle of Design Vs Function Vs Size Vs Price
"First is size, followed by type, then functions and surprisingly price is the last thing on most people's mind these days, when it comes to buying a TV," explains Nayeemuddin.
