Plasma TV

With cable and satellite companies increasing the amount of High-Definition content they are offering to their subscribers, many people are deciding that now is a good time to think about replacing their old picture-tube televisions with a new flat-panel plasma television set.

When viewing a plasma TV, the first thing you will notice is the incredible high-resolution clarity of the picture. Available in resolutions from 720p, best for smaller TVs where the resolution is not as obvious, to 1080P, the highest resolution currently available, there is a plasma screen for nearly every budget. If you wish to take advantage of true HD programming, make sure your plasma TV is HD compatible. Some plasma television models are actually EDTVs, or “Enhanced-Definition Televisions”, which boast a higher degree of resolution and clarity than standard picture-tube sets, but do not have the resolution of a true HD compatible plasma television set.

Plasma TVs are also much lighter and thinner than traditional TVs. Typically only a few inches thick and less than half the weight of a similarly-sized analog television, A plasma television can free-up valuable floor-space and be mounted on a wall since they lack a traditional, bulky picture-tube.

The number of colors displayed by plasma televisions approaches 17 million, more than the human eye can distinguish, and with a higher contrast ratio, blacks are deeper and darker. The image also does not blur during fast-moving sports or action scenes, due to their fast screen refresh time and lack of phosphor lag (the time it takes for the pixels in the screen to change color and brightness as an image moves across the screen). LCD screens still suffer from motion blurring, however, as LCD technology was originally intended for reading motionless text on a computer screen.

Though both are quickly dropping in price, a plasma television is usually less expensive than an LCD television of a comparable size, particularly when comparing models with larger screen sizes.

If there are multiple television viewers in your household, plasma is the way to go. With larger screen sizes available than LCD televisions, generally 37-65 inches as opposed to LCDs offering of 17-56 inches, you can watch TV from farther away and more closely approximate the movie theater experience. Flat-screen plasma TVs also have a wider viewing angle, ranging from 160-180 degrees with no degradation in color and image clarity, making plasma TVs ideal for multiple viewers.

Imagine surfing the net, doing computer work or even playing games on your television from the comfort of your sofa. Internet connectivity is a feature supported by plasma television technology, and some newer models are even internet ready, allowing you to connect your plasma TV to your computer and use that enormous, crystal-clear screen as a monitor.

The purchase of a high-definition, flat-screen plasma television is made more attractive than ever these days with the growing amount of HD programming made available by cable and satellite companies to their subscribers. A plasma television is the crown jewel in any home theater system with its unsurpassed picture clarity and resolution, millions of colors and falling prices. Start shopping today!

By: Tom Verdi

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After readjusting the antennae or satellite on your old TV in hopes of fixing that junky picture and waiting on hold for hours with your cable company, can’t you just close your eyes and imagine the flawless picture you would get on a new plasma TV? You spend the next several months dreaming about and saving for this incredible new TV, all the while thinking of the perfect clarity in which you will be able to watch your favorite shows. But before finally choosing the TV you will take home, you should know a little more about some common problems with plasma televisions.

Mounting a plasma TV is an initial problem for many purchasers. Because of their large size, they are often unwieldy and difficult to mount. Most consumers don’t even know that mounting their plasma TV incorrectly automatically voids their warranty! Whether you install the set yourself or have a professional do it, be very careful not to grab the set in the wrong way–doing this can damage the screen and distort the images into a “starburst” pattern on portions of the screen.

A good rule of thumb is to never touch the screen, and a good way to make your investment last is to install a glass cover over the screen as a protective measure. Plasma screens don’t stand up to the wear and tear regular televisions do, especially if you plan on using your plasma television as a gaming console. The Wii system looks great on a plasma screen, but not if you hit the screen by accident! People offer differing opinions on whether the new gaming system causes “burn-in” on plasmas, but you can expect to have no problems if you take extra care during the first 100 hours that you use your TV. The screen should also be dusted on a regular basis to avoid rainbow-like arcs in your pictures.

A few other difficulties with plasma TVs have to do with display. Ghost shadows and flickering during broadcasting have been reported, but both can be minimized with additional accessories from your plasma television manufacturer.

Plasma TV has amazing potential but is still a relatively new technology. As it is still in its early stages, there are bound to be bugs to be worked out. Remember that sometimes simply turning off the set for a little while before turning it back on again can correct a problem.

By: Johnny Waymire

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When it comes to LCD TVs, Samsung currently produce arguably the best and most popular LCD TV models in the market. Panasonic on the other hand, holds the reign when it comes to Plasma TVs. To put it simply, if you are torn between buying a LCD and Plasma HDTV, you will have to choose between and Samsung and Panasonic model. Here is a quick guide to help you make your decision.

Viewing Angle: Both Samsung LCD and Panasonic Plasma TVs have similar viewing angles. Plasma TV’s viewing angle can be as wide as 178 degrees, while LCD TV’s are up to 175 degrees. Although both types of TVs have similar viewing angles, the images of Plasma TVs do not suffer from any degradation of quality even when viewed from odd angles. LCDs on the other hand, are best viewed from the front for the best visuals.

Refresh Rates: Traditionally, Plasma TVs have lighting speed refresher rates, similar to the rates of CRT televisions. LCDs on the other hand have much slower refresher rates, but recent technological advancements have greatly improved the refresher rates of LCD TVs. Some high-end (and expensive) LCD TV models today have refresher rates of 5ms.

Burn In: Plasma TVs are not well suited for the display of static images. After prolonged use of displaying static videos, they are prone to burn-in effects, where it will leave behind permanent video ‘residues’ on the screen, very much like a permanent shadow on the screen. Newer models today have significantly curbed this problem. LCDs on the other hand, are prone to a similar problem called “retained pixel charge” where a pixel (or a groups of pixels) remains discolored. Fortunately, this problem is fixable.

Life Span: Most LCD models today last between thirty thousand and sixty thousand hours. Plasma TVs take around the same amount of time to reach ‘half life’ (where the display fades to more than half of its brightness). Recently, Panasonic has announced that its Plasma TVs can last up to 100’000 hours.

Durability: Plasma TVs are generally heavier and a little thicker than LCD TVs. Due to its weight; it is best to leave the installation process to the experts, especially if you plan to mount your Plasma on the wall. Plasmas are also more fragile, so extra care should be taken when transporting them.

Image Quality: It is undisputed that Plasma TVs produced clearer and sharper images. This is due to this high contrasts ratio that is unrivalled by even the most expensive LCD model. The blacks are deeper and the visuals are more brilliant on a Plasma TV. On the other hand, the screen of LCD display reflects very little light, producing a better viewing experience in a brightly lighted room.

By: Troy Richards

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