One thing that most people have noticed about tv screens the past few years is that they have been getting bigger and wider. Those small, square boxes are becoming a thing of the past as more and more types of screens are replicating the cinematic experience. However, you might prefer your old-fashioned (or perhaps "classic") television, as it might seem odd to see your favorite sit-com or game show on a large screen. Whether you stick to your smaller television for nostalgic reasons, or you are in the market for a wide screen that will give you the feeling that you are at the movies, there are advantages to both large and small screens.
An important thing to consider when discussing the difference between large and small screens on televisions is Screen Aspect Ratio. This is basically the ratio of the horizontal length of a screen to its height. For instance, a traditional television has a screen aspect ratio of 4x3. Today's HDTV has a ratio of 16x19, and obviously gives a much wider view. This wider view, in many ways is an advantage, especially when watching sports or action films. There is an increasing number of programs filmed especially for HDTV. This means that, if you have a traditional television set, you will be able to see the whole picture, but there will be a black bar at the bottom of the screen.
However, those with HDTV experience the same thing on their televisions when they view a program that is designed for a traditional television (although these black panels will appear on the side). This is called a "burn in effect". Some people find it quite annoying, and other people hardly notice the black border. The only way to completely avoid a "burn in" effect when viewing programs not formatted for your type of television is to purchase CLCD flat panels which are more expensive, but which are not affected by the "burn in" effect.
A wider screen certainly allows you to see a film the way it was originally viewed in the theater. When a movie is prepared for a small screen, it is edited according to the "pan and scan" technique. Since small screens often cannot accommodate images of two actors at once, the editors have to zoom in on each individual actor as he or she is speaking.
This can create a "ping-pong" effect which is common in movies edited for television, and many of the reactions of other actors or periphery details are lost through this editing process. Action films that are edited this way tend to have lose-ups on the pursuer and then the pursued rather than showing a larger view of what is actually going on. It is clear that, with pan and scan editing, a lot is lost in the translation.
However, some people actually prefer this kind of "snappy" viewing and like the dramatic close-ups. This kind of editing technique has become such a hallmark of television, which some genres, such as soap operas, which feature pensive closeups, seem to have imitated the pan and scan style. Some people prefer not to feel like they are in a cinema when viewing their favorite sit-com, and like their oldfashioned TV sets.
The answer seems to be a combination of the best of both worlds. Small TV sets are so inexpensive that it is usually worth it to combine both options for one's home theater unit. This can solve the problem of "burn in" without having to shell out the money for high-tech panels; it is always possible to watch films and HDTV programs on a wide screen and to reserve your traditional viewing for a smaller TV. This way, you can still enjoy the full impact of action scenes on your wide screen, but at the same time, you can still experience the drama of close-ups for your traditional viewing.
While wide screen televisions seem to represent what is meant by the term "home theater" (i.e. recreating the theater experience in your home), smaller TVs are great for nostalgia and for traditional viewing. For those who feel odd about watching The Dick Van Dyke Show on a cinema-style screen, it is always possible to have a little table on the side for your old-fashioned TV. And don't forget the TV table for your TV dinner | 
