UK consumers all set for the World Cup, but 3D vision not yet taking off

LED TVs are this year’s high tech must-have: searches are up 371% in a month on Twenga, the next-generation shopping search engine. However, 3D features are not yet a deal-breaker, with 3D vision in 12^th place among search criteria.

The top 10 LED TV search criteria on www.twenga.co.uk show diverse factors driving consumer choice:
Brands are crucial, with Panasonic in 1st place, and Samsung and Toshiba in the top 10.
Screen size is also significant, but the biggest screens are not in the top 10. Favourite dimensions are 42 inch (2^nd place), 26 inch (5^th place) and 32 inch (7^th place).
The colour of the casing is decisive, with white LCD TVs in 4^th place and silver LCD TVs 8^th.

On www.twenga.co.uk, users can compare 993 products from 158 shops, and read a buying guide: Upgrade your home with high-tech!

Visits as at June 7^th 2010, compared with a month before.

It seems that many people are in the market for an LCD TV, as our results shows that they are among our top product searches on Twenga, with Samsung, Sony, and Philips leading as the most popular brands. If you’re one of the many trying to figure out what is a LCD and what features are important, we’ve compiled a short guide to help you out.

The advantages of LCD:
o    LCD screens are more eco-friendly as they consume less energy and experience longer lives than does plasma screens.
o    LCD screens come in a wide variety of sizes, which tend to be lighter than comparably sized plasma screens.
o    Prices of LCD TVs are becoming increasingly competitive, with standard 32” screens running for less than £300.
o    Unlike plasma screens, LCDs are not at risk for image “burn-in” that can happen when the screen is left on for too long.

Screen Sizes:
The two most popular screen sizes on Twenga are:
o    32” screen (81 cm)
o    37” screen (94 cm)
However, if you are looking for a larger display, you can find LCD screens up to 70” in diagonal length (178 cm).

Key Features:
o    “Full HD” screen resolution provides a high-quality image for a reasonable price (about £400 for a 32” screen on Twenga)
o    Satellite receptors and integrated DVD, flash card, and disc readers are also popular features.

Technological Advancements:
o    Newer LCD TVs with 200 Hz provide more fluid and realistic images, and start at just over £1,000 for a 40” screen.
o    Samsung’s LED TVs (light-emitting diode) are the most lightweight models on the market, providing the most luminosity while consuming 40% less energy than classic LEDs.

Some of the most popular LCDs on Twenga:
o    Philips 32PFL5403D
32” screen (82cm), HD ready
From £249.99
o    Sony KDL-32W5500 LCD TV
32” screen (82cm), HD ready, Full HD 1080p
From £504
o    Samsung LE32A656 LCD TV
32” screen (82cm), HD ready, Full HD 1080p
From £500

Since Asus introduced the first Eee PC model in 2007, netbooks have become one of the most sought after products on Twenga. However, manufacturers’ and retailers’ descriptions do not always explain clearly what a netbook is and what makes them different from other laptops.

Netbooks are generally cheaper scaled-down laptops with 7” to 10” inch screens, small keyboards, small storage capacities and no cd/dvd drives.

They are ideal secondary laptops or as a first computer for technophobes. They are great for email, internet, word processing and can handle instant messaging, playing music, viewing online photos and videos. However, they are not suitable for gaming, audio and video editing or multitasking.

Users looking for a fuller PC experience but still packed into a small size should consider:
•     Ultra-Mobile PCs, which are even smaller touch screen business devices from £500 to £1000.
•    Ultra portables, which are more expensive, from £1000 to £15000, but are capable of gaming, have DVD drives with 11” to 13” screens.

During Q1 of 2009 netbook sales increased sevenfold to 4.5 million and made up roughly 8 percent of all PC sales. Acer is forecasting that global netbook shipments will reach 50 million in 2010.

Here are some the hottest netbooks being searched for on Twenga:

Popular netbooks on Twenga
•    Asus Eee PC S101: from £279. Aimed at executives (stylish design, good keyboard).
•    Asus Eee PC 901:  from £179. 20GB solid state drive, quiet processor (Atom), less likely to overheat.
•    Samsung NC 10 from £287. Large screen (10.2”), sleek design, best all-round performance.
•    Acer Aspire One A150 – £149. Cheapest with good keyboard.

Other popular netbooks on the market
•    Asus EEE 1000HE – from £309. Long battery life and good quality audio.
•    HP Mini 2140 – from £350. Great for business users, fast and rich in features.