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TV Expenditure

I've been looking at new televisions lately. I want to get a flat panel, but not because I want to have the latest and best. It's a safety thing. This photo shows our current setup.

I've read, though, quite a few articles, such as this one, that make me nervous about the risk of it toppling over onto my daughter should she bump into it once she begins walking.

I still want to be financially smart about what I buy. I've read that plasma TVs use quite a bit of electricity. One of my co-workers told me the one he had put out enough heat that he couldn't stand to be in the same room with it. So, plasma screens are out.

That leaves LCD and LED sets, which come in 720p and 1080p. I really don't care about HD. I don't think there is anything wrong with the resolution of the set my mom and dad had back in the 1970s. I could see it just fine. Therefore, a 720p set would be fine with me -- IF I knew that should television shows be broadcast in 1080p one day in the future that the TV I purchase would still be able to process and show them. I don't want to buy something that might be completely worthless within five years.

I'm hoping to find something that's Energy Star rated, too. Whatever we get, I don't want it to wind up costing us over the long run on our electric bills.
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