Get the skinny on thin TVs and ways to mount them

Get the skinny on thin TVs and ways to mount them
www.newscanada.com
By J.R. Morris
Thin is in!
(NC)—Ten years ago I would never have thought that today I could walk into an electronics superstore and have the option of buying a high-definition TV thinner than a slice of bread. My grandmother just recently replaced her tube-style TV, which was affixed inside of a floor-standing cabinet complete with decorative gold handles and a wood grain finish. Now she is the owner of a sleek new flat screen.
Consumers have responded positively to the flat-panel market and technology advancements have made it possible for TVs to become thinner and have better picture quality than ever before. The Sony OLED TV (www.sony.com) boasts an organic light-emitting material that doesn't require backlighting structures that add thickness. This TV is a hardly believable 3 mm thick, or as the company says, about the same thickness as holding three credit cards together.
The standing name for these thin TVs is (what else) “super thin.” Super thin TVs are fantastic. Most of them offer HD picture quality and they look super sexy when mounted on the wall. In fact, wall mounts are growing in popularity too, according to Jim Wohlford, general manager for mount manufacturer Sanus Systems, which is developing a new line of “slim” models as add-on accessories for super thins.
“With the introduction of thinner TVs, we're seeing an opportunity to offer products that enhance the low-profile appearance for consumers who choose to put their TVs on the wall,” Wohlford said.
There are many advantages to mounting a TV. Getting it up on the wall and off a table provides safety reassurance for people with small children and pets. You don't have to worry about the TV tipping over and hurting someone or breaking. There is also a certain aesthetic appeal, such as the ability to hide cables behind the wall for a completely wireless appearance.
Consumers looking for a mounting solution might try Sanus' Vision Mount LR1A in-wall box. The box installs inside the wall between two studs, completely concealing the mount and cables so your TV rests flush with the wall. You simply attach the mount to the box, the TV to the mount and you're done. There's a little bit more to it than that, but for the most part, mounts are fairly easy for the average do-it-yourselfer to install in an afternoon.
Sanus currently offers three models of wall mounts for use with the wall box, all with full-motion capabilities so you can move the TV in any direction and extend it for the preferred viewing angle. Sanus' line of slim mounts is expected to debut later this year.
Not sure which mount is right for you? Go to the Sanus website (www.sanus.com) and select your TV from the list of brands and model numbers, and the Mount Finder tool will show you all the mounts compatible with your TV. Find the right solution and you'll be the envy of all TV watchers—even my grandmother. She's in the market for a mount.
www.newscanada.com