Plasma Television Myths and Facts
Copyright 2006 SilkRoad Networks Inc.
Myths about plasma television persist even though these flat panel entertainment wonders have been around for a while and are widely used in home, offices and public areas.
Like all decisions in life, the decision to purchase a plasma television has both pros and cons. But that is not this article. This article is about the debate about what those pros and cons are to help you sort out the raging shouting matches on the technology forums.
Like any good, religious technology debate the debate between plasma televisions and LCD screens is as hot as between PC and Mac fanatics.
Anything I say here will be seen as wrong, even with the numbers to back it up, by one of the camps.
Since I have worked at the electronics department of a major department store before, I have seen the ups and downs of both camps. Which is why there is a CRT in my living room.
Now that all biases have been aired, let's try to see the debate:
1. Stupid Myths. If it sounds like something your father came up with (like needing to refill or recharge your plasma television) it is probably stupid.
2. Burn In. Remember the original reason for screen savers? Well, it is still alive and well today.
While it is true that a plasma television used a certain way will not have burn in, there have been enough examples of toddlers burning the screen. For the price of a plasma television, any example is too many. The manufacturers either need to fix the problem or issue rebates.
3. Fade. Yes, they both do it.
The only debate is in how long it takes to do it. Unfortunately, my last CRT was over 30 years old and still had a perfect picture. Again, there is not much excuse for any television wearing out.
4. Picture Quality. The manufacturers would have you believe that it is impossible to get as good a picture quality on a CRT as a plasma television or an LCD screen.
They are lying. There are CRT's with comparable picture quality, they are just hard to find.
5. The Myth of the Clean Room. Manufacturers love to advertise the image of a plasma television screen in a picture frame and no other electronics in the room. Yeah, right.
First of all, plasma televisions are hard to hang. Then you still have all your other stuff that needs to be connected, like VCR's and cable boxes and game systems.
What they never show on advertisements is the nest of cables, cords and power strips! Plasma televisions do not have anything built into them to help cut down the clutter.
6. Durability. Plasma televisions are fragile. Once you decide where they are going, then they are staying there because you probably had to have them professionally installed.
And if you want one over your fireplace, then you will need special carpentry to hold it in place.
Okay, most writers about plasma television myths assume that you are stupid. You probably are not. Therefore, you are not looking for questions on obvious myths, but the real possible problems that you might have with a plasma television. I hope that you feel more confident in your decision now.
New technology is always exciting and mysterious. Plasma televisions are no different.
However, if you question closely owners of plasmas to find their experiences, you will have a better idea of their performance and if these new televisions are for you. At the price, you want to be right
Ready for plasma? Louis Zhang provides jargon-free, relevant information on plasma televison technology, selection and installation. For more on plasma television myths, go to http://www.cool-plasma-television.com/recommends/plasmatv-mythsPlasma vs LCD TVs
For a layman, there seems to be no difference between a plasma and LCD TV. Both provide high-resolution, high-contrast images and both are flat, sleek and can be mounted on a wall. The difference lies in the technology that drives them.
Plasma TVs work with inert gases like xenon or neon, which are excited by electric pulses from specialized cells called pixels. This makes the gases glow. These glowing gases, in turn, produce the correct blend of red, blue and green light on the pixels.
The pixels are illuminated by a fluorescent light bulb, which is driven by semiconductor software on the motherboard.
LCDs are actually thin film transistors (TFT), which contain liquid filled crystals between two plates of glass. LCDs work by blocking out unwanted light. When the signal hits the TFTs, they contort to a required angle, thus allowing only the requisite amount of light to pass through. A lamp behind the screen or a thin LCD bulb provides illumination to...
Plasma > Plasma vs LCD TVs
Pacific Media Associates: Flat Panel HDTV Sales Resumed Growth in March; 40 to 45 Inch Plasma and 30 to 35 Inch LCD Were the Most Popular
Menlo Park, CA
(ContentDesk) May 11, 2006 -- Pacific Media Associates (PMA), the global market information experts on large-screen displays, reports that unit sales for flat panel televisions and business displays in North America grew by more than 12% in March over February. Their Flat Panel Display Tracking Service also shows that sales revenues increased almost 5% for the same period. After holding fairly steady since October, average street prices across all sizes dropped nearly 7%, in spite of tighter supplies than a year ago, according to Rosemary Abowd, PMA Vice President. Year-on-year unit sales continued to rise, up 110% over March 2005. The biggest gains were posted by the 40- to 45-inch plasma segment and the 30- to 35-inch LCD segment. Both gained about two points in unit sales share, and each accounts for about 30% of total unit sales, according to Abowd.Panasonic recovered the number one spot in unit sales, but Pioneer retained the lead in terms of total revenues....
Plasma > Pacific Media Associates: Flat Panel HDTV Sales Resumed Growth in March; 40 to 45 Inch Plasma and 30 to 35 Inch LCD Were the Most Popular
Plasma TV Be Aware When Buying Online
A plasma TV may very well be the next step in your home entertainment future and the potential sources for the purchase of a plasma TV have never been better. Because a handful of retailers have jumped on the plasma TV bandwagon and started offering these televisions as part of their home electronics line, the cost of a plasma TV has never been lower. The fact that the technology has become well-established has also helped lower the cost of the plasma TV. So where do you go to find great deals on plasma TV sets?
Any retailer or wholesaler that offers a good array of home electronics likely has plasma TV sets in stock or has a source for them. For many people, purchasing from a local retailer is literally the only option they'll consider because they want to check out the set "in person." While the cost has started dropping, a plasma TV still represents a major investment among your home entertainment components and you may be playing it safe to shop where you can actually...
Plasma > Plasma TV Be Aware When Buying Online
Kiwi Casino Gives Away Another Big Screen Plasma TV
(ContentDesk) April 29, 2006 -- Kiwi Casino (www.kiwicasino.com) gave away another big screen plasma TV last week to the winner of their Spring Clear Out promotion.At the rate Kiwi Casino is giving away big screen plasma TVs, pretty soon all of their players will have one. Heres what their latest lucky player Karen had to say about winning this fantastic prize: I have played at Kiwi Casino for a couple of years now and have never been unhappy here. The staff are very nice and the games fair. I was amazed to find that I won a 42" plasma screen TV. It will fit into our new family room just great.
Thank You Kiwi for the wonderful surprise. Karen, Missouri.Big screen plasma TVs are not all Kiwi Casino offers, in the last six months alone they have also given away thousands of dollars worth of Amazon vouchers and countless other bonuses and prizes, in addition to treating a Japanese player and his family to a guided tour around...
Kiwi Casino Gives Away Another Big Screen Plasma TV
Plasma > Kiwi Casino Gives Away Another Big Screen Plasma TV
Reduce Risk: Rent A Plasma Flat Screen Display
Plasma displays create a high quality image for corporate events such as conventions and conferences. Plasma screens play full motion video with the highest quality possible. But plasma displays carry additional risk and inconvenience
during transport.Plasma pictures are more vivid with a higher contrast ratio and richer, deeper colors, rendering more distinctive images than those created by other technologies.
This makes plasma displays the perfect attention-getting addition for your trade show booth or corporate event. "Since last fall, we have been slammed with plasma display rentals." according to Darcy Mann, Sales Manager at Rentacomputer.com.
"Everyone was renting plasmas to be delivered and installed at numerous convention centers in the US and Canada." Plasma flatscreen displays are being rented for conferences, conventions, video conferencing, trade show booths, computer training, and other vip events. Rentacomputer.com can reserve and install plasma...
Reduce Risk: Rent A Plasma Flat Screen Display
Plasma > Reduce Risk: Rent A Plasma Flat Screen Display
Plasma compared to dlp television and lcd
When you think of comparing plasma to dlp technology you should really compare the main aspect: picture quality.The contrast by definition is the measurement of black depending of the white amount. The plasma is a step ahead this time. The boast of this in the plasma technology is truly remarkable and it's possible to heard about ratios like 4000 to 1.But not all the manufactures can accomplish this level of quality and the main ration is only 1000 to 1.The dlp is a relative new technology on the market so it's not really fair to compare with plasma but some of the big manufacturers came close to the standard ration 1000:1.The clarity is the measured by the amount of lines and looking at the clean edge around the picture. So again dlp television compared to plasma is very difficult on this topic because both technologies have great reviews regarding the clarity. The plasma achieves this by conversion and processing and the dlp have made this possible using the best clean mirror technology.The...
Plasma compared to dlp television and lcd
Plasma > Plasma compared to dlp television and lcd