Converter Box Retailers. Online Retailers. Where can I buy a converter box? Converter Box Sellers. Free Converter Boxes. Order boxes from our site EZDigitalTV.com

Both LCDs and plasma TVs can offer a sharp, satisfying picture. But one question we hear a lot at this time of year is: Which is superior for watching sports?

It depends. If you’re looking to host game-watch parties, a plasma would probably serve you better. Its wider viewing angle ensures that everyone in the room can catch each play without the wash-out often experienced with LCDs as you move away from straight-on viewing. Plasmas are also less prone to motion blur, a flaw you’ll want minimized during fast-moving sporting events.

On the other hand, LCD TVs have come a long way in the last few years. 120- and 240Hz technology helps minimize the motion blur that had previously been problematic on LCDs. An LCD might also be better if you watch TV during the day in a bright room you can’t easily dim. A plasma’s glass screen can cause an annoying glare, but the matte screens on most LCD TVs are able to retain their contrast better in brightly lit environments.

Whichever display type you choose, we think a 50-inch TV offers an optimal game-watching experience.

If you’re in the market for a TV for the playoffs or Super Bowl, be sure to check out our blog, “10 Tips for Buying a TV for the Super Bowl.”

—Nick K. Mandle

Combing through hundreds of blog posts and news articles daily, Dirk Klingner, our technology-trend watcher, sifts through the noise to bring you the tech news most important to consumers. If you have a tip on a story you want to share, leave a comment below.

Craig Newmark Called to Advise Obama Administration on Technology (BayNewser)

In case there was any prior doubt, Craig Newmark has attained a significant degree of prestige in the tech world.

Why France and Germany Got it Right: IE Must Go (ReadWriteWeb)

"Currently it is evident that running IE6 on XP or Windows 2000 is a very bad idea, and any other browser would be a better choice for XP and Windows 2000 users," Kristensen (chief security officer for Secunia) told us. "It is also evident that there is an unpatched vulnerability in IE7 and IE8 which may or may not be exploitable on Vista and Windows 7."

Lexicon Puts $500 Blu-Ray Player In New Case, Charges $3000 Markup …And Gets Caught (Consumerist)

If you've always suspected that high-end audiovisual equipment is sort of a ripoff, the folks at Audioholics have confirmed some of your suspicions. In their review of the $3500, THX-certified Lexicon BD-30, the site just came out and said it: the player is another manufacturer's very nice $500 Blu-Ray player slapped inside a new case and sold with a $3000 markup.

Wouldn't it be cool if your could recharge your portable devices in 90 seconds? (ZDnet)

Over the weekend I’ve had the opportunity to play with a tactical flashlight powered not by batteries but ultra-capacitors…But the part of the flashlight that really interests me is the ability to recharge the light from a completely discharged state in 90 seconds. That’s right, a minute and a half. I didn’t believe it initially, but I’ve tested it and the claim is spot-on. 90 seconds charge time equals a total running time of 120 minutes. And the charger isn’t mains powered either, it’s a 12V DC charger that runs from a car cord.

ReCellular will recycle your phone and donate all proceeds to Haiti disaster relief (Engadget)

…The cellphone recycling company has launched a Phones for Haiti program, whereby you can donate your unwanted handsets and rest assured that 100 percent of the revenue raised from them will go to helping Haiti survivors rebuild.

Apple Retail Store to See ‘Experts’ in a Few Short Weeks (iPhone Blog)

According to a source, AppleInsider says that within a few weeks the larger Apple Retail locations will have a new “Expert” position to fill that will serve as a roaming counterpart to existing “Geniuses”.

Lighter Side: A Baby to Remember (YouTube)

With just a few weeks to go before the Super Bowl kickoff, Target has just kicked off a delivery and installation service for TVs, with prices starting at $99. The retail giant has partnered with Zip Express Installation, a nationwide provider with 16,000 installers, to do the heavy lifting and fine-tuning.

Here's how the $99 deal works: Once you buy a TV, you'll get a 3-hour window for delivery, then a one-hour window for installation. Basic installation includes unboxing and setting up the TV and connecting it to your cable or satellite or antenna. The technician will make sure the HD connections are working properly, then demonstrate how to use the features. And he'll take all the debris with him.

For $199 to $299, you get delivery and more. Depending on the package you choose, you can have Zip Express cart off and recycle your old set, connect up to three components to the new TV, wall-mount it, and hide the wires.

Target says it will provide this service for TVs you buy elsewhere. Alternatively, you could deal with Zip Express, which offers its services directly to consumers as well as through retailers like Target.

Best Buy stores have been offering free delivery and basic setup for TVs that cost $999 and up for several months. Their service includes delivery, unpacking and assembling the set, and connecting it to an existing source.

You can often get free shipping with online purchases from other retailers, notably Amazon.com and Crutchfield, but that typically doesn't include any setup or installation.

—Eileen McCooey

Today's electronics deals, courtesy of The Consumerist:

• Newegg: Western Digital WD TV Live Network-Ready HD Media Player $119.99 + $10 credit & Free Ship
• Newegg: Seagate Barracuda 750GB Internal Hard Drive + ECS G41T-M Socket 775 Micro ATX Motherboard $60.98AR
• Amazon: Logitech Rechargeable Speaker S315i w/ iPod/iPhone Dock $73.45 + free shipping
• Amazon: Flip Video MinoHD HD Camcorder $147 Shipped
• Amazon: Creative Labs Vado HD 8GB Pocket Camcorder (newest 2nd Gen) $114.99 + free shipping
• Dell Home: Studio Core 2 Quad Desktop PC & 20-inch LCD $699
• TigerDirect: Sony BRAVIA KDL-40VE5 Eco Series 40in LCD HDTV (1080p, 120Hz) w/ Blu-Ray Player $849

• P.C. Richard : Sharp 19" LCD 720p HDTV for $169.97 w/ Free Shipping
• NewEgg: Samsung LN46B750 46-inch 1080p LCD HDTV $1,299 + free shipping
• Buy.com : Nintendo Wii Wireless Nunchuck Controller for $14.98 + $4.68 Shipping
• Amazon:  60GB Xbox360 LIVE Starter Pack (hard drive, 3 month Live card, headset) $79.99 + free shipping
• Amazon: Heroes - Season One [DVD] $17.99
• Amazon:  Casablanca [Blu-ray] $14.99

Related: MP3 player Ratings and buying tips; Computer Ratings and buying tips; TV Ratings and buying tips; Pocket camcorder guide; Video game console buying tips and online video: Choosing a video game system; DVD & Blu-ray player Ratings and buying tips.

Neither Consumer Reports nor The Consumerist receive anything in
exchange for featuring these deals; the posts are intended to be purely
informational. These deals are often fleeting, with prices changing or
products becoming unavailable as the day progresses.

These posts are not an endorsement of the featured products or
the Web sites that sell them—though some of the sites may be included,
and recommended, in our Ratings of retailers for computers and other major electronics (both available to subscribers). Price shouldn't be your only criterion. Be wary of lower-priced deals that seem too good to be true, and check return policies for restocking fees and other gotchas.

For general buying advice for many of the products on sale above, check out our free Buying Guides.