Screens for the screen pass

Three days and counting. Are you really going to spend Super Bowl XXXIX watching a television that was your constant companion during the Clinton impeachment hearings? There’s still time to shop -- and you probably won’t be alone.

Buying a new set used to be about as complicated as choosing the snacks for the big game. Up until a couple years ago there were only two practical choices: the venerable picture-tube sets and the clunky rear-projection models that are the size of a child’s playhouse.

But the rise of digital, high-definition TV has brought forth an overwhelming array of technologies that sound less like home appliances than medical procedures: PDP (better known as plasma), LCD, DLP and LCoS. And if that’s not confusing enough, the consumer electronics industry keeps moving the goal posts -- technologies evolve, prices shift (mostly downward, luckily) and the alphabet soup gets thicker.

The good news is that most of these new machines are capable of producing beautifully rendered, almost dreamlike images that were previously unimaginable in home televisions. Below is a play-by-play guide to making choices:

Pre-game huddle

Just as in football, preparation -- including key decisions before you hit the field -- is critical.

* Placement: You can see all kinds of big-screen TV placements in home design magazines, including over the fireplace (which usually makes the viewing angle uncomfortably high and, what’s more, smoke can damage a screen). It’s best to choose a spot that’s approximately at viewing eye level.

* Flat or deep: Flat-panel televisions are sleek and impressive, but they have a futuristic look that might not be right for all decors and hanging a flat-panel on a wall might require professional installation. Also, the flats are generally more expensive than the new breeds of rear-projection sets.

* Measuring: Get out a tape measure and check the viewing distance from the seating area to the spot where you plan to put the set. Keep the tape measure handy -- you’ll need it when you’re out shopping.

* Widescreen: It’s practically mandatory unless you are getting a little TV for a room such as the kitchen. An increasing number of TV shows are being shot in the widescreen format, so, at least for the main set in the house, go for a widescreen model (instantly recognizable as being longer in width than it is tall).

Game-on

When you hit the stores, the best way to compare models is side-by-side. Not all of them might be right for your situation and budget. Here’s a guide to the different types:

* Direct view: This is a modern way of referring to picture-tube TVs. Yes, they are still around and a great bargain -- about $800 for a 30-inch widescreen -- offering an excellent picture.

But the maximum screen size of digital, direct-view TVs is about 36 inches, which is on the small side of modern expectations. In addition, the tubes stretch as much as two feet backward (new sets are coming out that cut the depth to about 16 inches).

If direct view is your choice, make sure to get a digital model (analogs are still available).

On to the flat-panel TVs, which come in two flavors:

* Plasma: The price of these popular sets has dropped to the point where an acceptable-quality, 42-inch, high-definition television (HDTV) set can be had for about $4,000. They can show HDTV programming -- which is becoming increasingly available on network and cable/satellite channels -- at the HD resolution level set by the Federal Communications Commission.

But here’s a bargain tip: also available are enhanced-definition (EDTV) plasma sets for as much as $2,000 less. EDTVs don’t have resolution as good as HDTVs, but they can show HD programming, and if you’re sitting a good 8 or so feet back, it might be tough to tell the difference between the two.

The rule of thumb is to get the best resolution you can afford, but EDTV is easier on the pocketbook and the sets are available from many of the top manufacturers.

One more thing to keep in mind: Plasma TVs do best in rooms that are not brightly lit.

* LCD: These liquid crystal display sets are bright, beautiful and costly. LCD TVs are generally the most expensive, per screen inch, of all the digitals. They also tend to run smaller than the plasmas, although some new models are available in the popular 42-inch range.

The main technological problem concerning LCD is that at sharp viewing angles, the image on an LCD set can be distorted, although some models being introduced this year are almost distortion-free.

Still, if you have the cash -- a 37-inch widescreen model from a major brand will likely be more than $4,000 -- and want to go flat, these are great sets.

* Micros: If you don’t absolutely have to have a flat-panel, the bargain sets (relatively speaking) in big-screen TV are grouped under the industry term “micro-display,” which in most cases means “rear-projection.”

The types you will see on the shelves are the DLP (digital light processor), LCD projection (not to be confused with LCD flat-panel) and, in a few cases, LCOS (liquid crystal on silicon).

Top-of-the-line micros -- which can be 50 inches wide or larger, with a depth as slender as eight inches -- can cost several thousand dollars less than a comparable plasma TV and will likely last years longer. When the bulb that is the light source for micros eventually burns out, it can be replaced. When a plasma eventually loses its brightness, nothing can be done.

As for which of the micro types has the best picture quality, that’s basically in the eye of the beholder. Look at them side-by-side, if possible. Expect to pay about $3,000 or more for a 50-inch model.

Narrowing it down

Remember that tape measure? Now is the time to get it out.

After you’ve chosen a few TVs that you like in the store, measure backward from the sets to the approximate distance of your home seating. This will give you a whole new perspective.

And it might save you some money. Generally, it’s good to buy the TV with the sharpest image in your chosen size, but a less expensive TV that looked a bit fuzzy up close might look indistinguishable from a higher-priced set when you step back a few feet.

Post-game remorse

During the late 1990s when home computers were rapidly evolving, two sayings were making the rounds: The first person you meet after buying your new computer will tell you that you bought the wrong one. And by the time you get the new computer home, its price will have dropped.

Televisions are not evolving quite that fast, but it’s true that the technology, choices and pricing are all steadily changing. You just have to pick your moment to dive in.

And then enjoy. Your true friends, knowing the stress of buying a high-priced entertainment item, will not second-guess you. And they would love to be invited over for kickoff time.