As technology advances at breakneck speeds, buying a new television set seems to get more and more complicated. But with new innovations such as digital TV, HDTV, Freesat and home cinema sound, if your current TV set is more than 5 years old, now is a great time to upgrade.

This guide takes you through these new innovations and aims to help you make a purchase that will take your enjoyment of television to a whole new level.

LCD or Plasma

LCD and Plasma technologies work in very different ways, but the advantages of both are similar:

• No scanning lines enable a better quality flicker free picture.

• Sharp, clear pictures with less reflection from sunlight.

• Wide viewing angle - slim space saving design.

• Slim attractive TVs that can be wall mounted like a picture.

When choosing between a Plasma or LCD TV, it is really just a question of size. LCD is at its optimum performance up to and including 32 inches, whilst Plasma offers optimum performance at 37 inches and above. Therefore, if you wish to purchase a smaller flat panel set, then LCD offers the greater performance, in contrast if you are looking for a larger screen size, Plasma is the best option.

HD TV

Perhaps the most significant innovation to television since colour technology, High Definition (HD) TV brings detail, clarity and colour, with images often 4xs as sharp as those from traditional television sets. To view high definition programmes you must have a HD Ready TV. Sky and Freesat have already started broadcasting in high definition so you can now enjoy a range of your favourite programmes, films and sporting events with amazing life-like pictures.

If you choose not to invest in a high definition source at this time, you need not be concerned as all HD Ready TVs work excellently with standard broadcasts. As well as enhancing the picture quality and enjoyment you get from the TV, purchasing an HD Ready TV is a way of ‘future proofing' yourself.

Integrated Digital Tuner

A TV with an integrated digital tuner (also known as an idTV) allows you to receive all free to air digital channels, including E4, BBC3, Sky News and many more without the need for a separate set top box.

However, if you plan to team your new television with a sky digital subscription than an idTV may not be necessary.

Freesat

Freesat, is a brand new digital satellite TV service provided through a partnership between the BBC and ITV, giving you free HD programmes at no extra cost. Freesat has no contract, no subscription, just a one-off payment for the TV, satellite dish and installation. And because Freesat is broadcast via satellite, it is available to almost every household in the UK. Freesat TV is currently only available with Panasonic TVs.

Home Cinema

A Home Cinema System brings the full sound and big-screen experience of the movie theatre into your home. Technology has advanced so far in the last few years that you can enjoy amazing quality audiovisuals without paying a fortune. Dolby Digital Surround Sound allows you to become absorbed in the action, while a projector TV offers incredibly clear widescreen viewing.

• A Home Cinema System with Dolby Surround Sound takes movie watching to a whole new level. Wherever the action is on screen - that's where the sound comes from in your room. If there's a helicopter chasing the villain from behind, that's where you will hear the chopper blades! It's an experience that makes watching movies even more exciting and puts you at the centre of the action

• Projector TVs provide the closest experience to having your own private cinema at home. They can provide the largest possible screen size an affordable price. With recent advancements in technology there is very little difference between the three types of projection system; LCD, DLP and LCOS. Basically a projector + Dolby Surround Sound = the ultimate viewing experience!

This article has been brought to you by Laskys. LCD and Plasma TV specialist online shop Laskys is one of the first retailers in the UK to stock the new, award winning high definition (HD), Freesat VIERA series of Panasonic TVs. This product placement builds upon Laskys reputation to supply premium brand TVs, DVD players, laptops, digital cameras and games consoles at very competitive prices, offering unparalleled levels of service to their customers.