What Do We Do with the New TV?

It's the day after Christmas and all through the house every new flat screen owner is stirring with anticipation. What do we do with the new TV? You may decide the answer is a motorized television lift.

You have choices when shopping for a motorized TV lift. There are manufacturers in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. There are many designs, from "one size fits most" to a completely customized product. When any product is "new and improved" it pays to look closely at what the innovations are. If a product has been around for a while, have there been improvements to keep up with the latest in technology? Do the features add value? Some features can make a difference in performance, thus customer satisfaction. Some lifts are offered as part of a complete package, in a line of retail furniture. Others are sold to cabinet makers, designers, architects, or A/V professionals for custom installations. Which route makes sense for you, or if you are an A/V installer, for your customer?

When deciding where to purchase, you might want to consider the following:

• Ease of getting help in sizing and choosing the product that best meets your needs
• Readily available technical support from the manufacturer, distributor, or dealer both during the process and after the sale
• A means of feedback to the lift provider for continuous product improvement
• Improved features and technology, such as wire management and choice of control systems
• Options in installation, such as up/down, up/down/swivel, ceiling, ceiling pivot designs

There really isn't a "one-size-fits-all" in any audio/video product, including motorized television lifts. If you do custom installations you'll probably choose a lift manufacturer that will work with you to design a "built-to-order product." The best starting point for this project is to have the plasma or LCD chosen prior to ordering a motorized lift. Each TV manufacturer uses slightly different dimensions, so a 42" plasma from "Company A" will not have the same outside width, height, and depth as a 42" from "Company B." There is so much variation that a "standard size" in a television lift is an exception, rather than the rule. Check when ordering if slight modifications can be made at no additional charge. Also, look for a choice of control system at no additional cost and the latest in technology in the control system.

If you are the consumer, you'll decide if you want a custom installation or a standard retail product. When you have more choices, as you now do in purchasing a motorized television lift, it means doing a little bit of research in finding the right product for you.