Unknown to many, buying a television for your home involves more preparation work than anticipated. With our HDTV Buying Guide Essentials, you can now equip yourself with the necessary knowledge to make the right purchase instead of regretting an impulsive buy later.

Fortified with Panasonic's NeoPDP panel and a multitude of features, the Full-HD VIERA Z1 seems to have reason to be the cream of Panasonic's plasma crop. With an ultra-slim profile and a separate tuner box, let's determine if this expensive piece of visual equipment is ultimately worth your while.