Whats the Difference Between Plasma TVs and LCD TVs?

Plasma and LCD TVs are the latest trend in home entertainment. Both offer unrivalled picture quality and resolution, while doing away with the bulkiness of the older rear-projection technologies. But with all of the hype surrounding these two types of televisions, what is the difference between them? Although they look- and are virtually priced- the same, they are not.

There differences are found in the way in which they display their pictures. Plasma TV technology is made up of hundreds of thousands of little pixels, each capable of displaying red, green, and blue colors. A plasma monitor often consists of two panels, which are filled with an inert gas, such as xenon or neon. When the pixels are excited by pulses of electricity, the gas becomes liquid, thus generating light. This light in turn then illuminates the pixels, causing them to display the appropriate color to form a picture.

LCD panels function in a very similar manner. A panel of thin-film-transmitters, or TFT, sends electricity to cells filled with liquid crystal. When the cells are struck by the electricity, the liquid crystals allow light to filter through. Unlike the pixels found in plasma TVs, LCD monitors create color by blocking out the appropriate wavelengths from white light.

So which is better? The answer to this question depends upon what you plan to use TV for. Do you just want to use it to watch movies and television? If so, then a plasma TV might be best, because they are capable of a higher better color saturation and contrast than their LCD counterparts and for displaying moving images. If you plan in spending a lot of time showing digital photography or plan on using the monitor with your computer, then a LCD display might be better suited to these purposes.

Both plasma and LCD technologies each have their advantages and disadvantages and your decision should ultimately be based on your monitor's application.

Tom Ace is the founder of Plasma tv Resources a website providing information on plasma televisions

Plasma TV The Price Goes Down

Plasma TV has become an important part of television technology. Over the past few years, there have been several major advances in the industry, including the plasma TV. As with any major technology advances, the plasma TV is quickly becoming more affordable - good news for the consumer.

There are several reasons the price of the plasma TV is becoming more affordable. The first is the same reason that most technologies come down in price - the fact that the technology becomes more widely understood and available. As more manufacturers go into business to make the product, the competition naturally gets more intense and prices go down.

Remember that the manufacturers of those first units are trying to recoup the cost of research and development. That makes the product - in this case the plasma TV - more expensive for the consumer. After the technology is slightly older, the companies who manufacture are no longer trying to recover those costs so they can sell the products cheaper. As long as a person holds a patent and other companies are not able to reproduce the technology, the price is more likely to remain high.

Another point that affects the cost of new technologies such as the plasma TV is simple supply and demand. As more consumers demand the product, more manufacturers will go to the expense of making the product available. At first, there won't likely be sufficient supply to meet the consumer demand but that typically changes after an initial introduction period. When there are plenty of plasma TV sets available to meet current demand, prices will drop.

For the consumer, this means that great technology - the plasma TV, for example - becomes more affordable in a relatively short period of time. Finding a great deal on a plasma TV should be as near as your online or local retailers.

Tom Ace is the founder of http://www.find-plasma-tv-stands.com a website providing information on plasma televisions

Shopping for a Plasma Television - 6 Top Things to Look For

To avoid going home with a plasma TV set that you'll want to dump in the trash after one week's worth of unsatisfactory viewing experience, make sure that your plasma TV has the 6 top things that have the power to make all TV viewers relax with a blissful smile.

Plasma Television Shopping - 6 Things to Look for

SIZE - If you're an ordinary person with ordinary TV-watching dreams, you'll surely want a plasma TV set that can dominate the whole room with its presence. You'd want a plasma TV set that makes your guests' eyes pop out at the first time they see it because it's impressively huge. No person can honestly say that he's truly content with a TV set that makes him squint just to see the number printed at the back of a NBA player's jersey. And this is plasma technology, after all. It will be sad if you'll waste all the viewing benefits offered by plasma technology with a reduced screen size!

BRAND - Getting any plasma TV is not enough. You need to think about the brand as well. There's a reason why plasma TV imitations are so cheap, and it's not just because they're made in China. It's because they're inferior in quality as well. Plasma TV imitations also have a shorter shelf life so you might not be saving money in the long-run. If you take a look at the TV market today, you'll notice that Panasonic presently enjoys the lead among all other electronic companies when it comes to making plasma TV sets. But of course you can buy plasma TV sets made by other well-known brands like Sony and Samsung.

ASPECT RATIO - Just because the plasma TV set you've your eye on is huge in size doesn't mean it can give you an equally huge display. This matter depends primarily on the aspect ratio of your plasma TV's screen. If you think this isn't important, think again. What if you're to watch a HDTV movie with subtitles? If the aspect ratio is small, the subtitles will be small as well, and if you can't read those tiny letters, how are you going to understand what the movie is all about?

PERSONAL MAILMAN - Nowadays, no self-respecting TV connoisseur would want a TV set that's only capable of being a TV. You'd want extra features from your plasma TV set as well, and one of those would be its ability to deliver messages at the right time and place. Forget about post-its or pinning notes to the refrigerator. Instead, you can key in your message in the TV screen and your message will be delivered at the time you've set.

SOMETHING WITH OOMPH - Aesthetics count very much in regard to plasma TV sets. Bulky is out, and trendy is in. Since plasma TV sets are manufactured in a number of shades and styles, you should opt for one that would go absolutely well with wherever it's going to be mounted.

SOMETHING SLIM - Size is indeed a factor, but you might not want anything beyond 19? if you'll also use your plasma TV set as a computer monitor. In this case, you should be after slimness rather than wideness. A slim plasma TV monitor would look great on your tabletop rather than any other bulky computer monitor.

Now that you know what the 6 top important things to look for are when shopping for a plasma TV, here are suggestions as to where you can find the ideal plasma TV besides retail outlets in malls and possibly enjoy discounts as well.

Auction Houses - Live or online, auction houses do sometimes auction off plasma TV sets and who knows if you'll get lucky when you go shopping? Of course, be sure that your item is in good condition before making any payment.

Secondhand Stores - If you're working with a very tight budget then consider purchasing your plasma TV from secondhand stores. Granted, you might take home that's obviously not brand new, but with a little creative decoration, nicks and scratches can surely be concealed from the public eye.

One good thing to remember is that prices for plasma TV, as well as other kinds of TV, are dropping and are expected to continue doing so as one new TV innovation after another is introduced to the market. So take your time shopping because costs are getting lower and lower each day!

For more information now go to: http://www.qualityplasmatelevision.com/index.html http://www.qualityplasmatelevision.com

The Facts About Plasma Televisions

Today?s market is filled with different sizes, models and manufactures to fulfill any movie watcher needs in today?s world, there are so many choices that most people are confused. There is a wide range of sizes, manufactures, models and screen choices available which would fulfill the movie bug needs these days, that is why we are so confused about what is the best tv to purchase. If you are one of those people that loves to watch DVD?s you need to make sure you look at the ratio of a plasma television screen, this is very important to consider.

The war between plasma and LCD continues with many people, it is almost like the war between PC and Apple users. The new LCD televisions are High Definition Television ready and digital television ready which will make these types of TV last much longer down the line as the HDTV signal becomes more widespread in homes. LCD televisions are now available at increasingly lower prices, and the smaller units are available for as low as two hundred dollars with several retailers. Many of the large manufacturers of electronics have created technology such as LCD screens, some of these companies are Sony, Samsung, Phillips, Toshiba and Panasonic, even computer system manufactures are getting into the TV market, Dell has created TVs that compete with other electronic giants.

Watching a show on HDTV explains why so many people are switching to this type of technology, you realize how the older type of TV picture clarity is not what you thought it was. HDTV has brought a new way of watching TV, plasma screens are crisp, sharp images and when the HDTV signals becomes more prevalent more and more channels and households will be able to enjoy it. The large size and high definition capability are just a few of those great features HDTV televisions.

The viewing angle in DLP is big. The plasma screen is a streamlined picture-frame screen that has a 160 degree viewing angle, the screen is evenly illuminated across the screen and it has no curvature. These types of televisions provide a much clearer image which will make your investment of this new type of tv a sound one. Bigger is not always better, and a certain distance must be maintained between the plasma TV and the viewing area for optimal viewing experience.

The plasma display is unsurpassed because of the aspect ratio of 16:9 and the incredible resolution of 1366 x 768. They have great resolution and incredible color definition. Using the display resolution of 1024x768 gives the TV a picture that is sharp and crisp and an almost 3D effect. Plasma TV allows you to experience high resolution HDTV and DTV signals with exceptional color accuracy.

As time goes on and the manufacturing costs diminish the prices will start to drop on plasma TVs and the cheap plasmas will be introduced which will cost in the $800 - $1200 range, and as technology get better the screen size will start to grow and the screen will get larger for less. You want the model with the right size and weight to look and fit right into your space. While quality is important size and color are equally important.

In setting up the environment for your plasma TV, a primary consideration is to determine the screen size to match the floor plan or available space where the plasma will be displayed.

David Marc Fishman is the owner of http://www.priceriot.com. Priceriot is a new online auction where prices drop as people shop for iPod

Development Of Plasma Television

Plasma television is the result of the gradual but progressive development and conversion of the concept of standard television into plasma. There was no concept of plasma until the last few decades, and this slowly came into being as the demands of the communications, entertainment, and television markets grew for improved and better quality imaging in standard televisions. The viewing public has enjoyed standard television programming for many years, but now, advanced research and development in these technologies have produced a flat-panel display with a wide screen with crystal clear picture quality and excellent sound clarity.

Plasma television is a new technology that is used to produce better quality pictures and sounds. The basic concept behind plasma TV is fluorescent light that is made up of free moving ions and electrons. When passed under normal voltage, the atoms have electrons, protons, and neutrons having negative, positive, and neutral charges respectively. Protons and electrons combine to give a perfect balance to the atom, and the total charges of the atom become zero. When current flows, negative charges collide with positive charges, and increase the level of energy. Xenon and Neon atoms have no shared electrons because of their stable and perfect outer shell that does not react with atoms. Resolution of imaging is excellent with more pixels per inch. This produces a better quality picture from the basic colors of green, blue, and red.

The quality of picture produced by the plasma television is amazingly realistic. Plasma HDTV (High Definition Television) is still the king of home entertainment systems. Plasma TV is the use of a full color flat panel of phosphorus for picture display. Plasma is known for excellent color combination and interactive color reproduction. These particular sets often are manufactured in larger sizes ? not smaller ? with a high display of 16.77 in unique colors. Light emitting diodes (LED) are used in the manufacture of plasma screens to display pictures with thousands of pixels changing thousands of times per seconds to create images.

There are many kids of plasma televisions available on the market today ? HDTV, EDTV (Enhanced Definition Television), and the old CRT TV (Cathode Ray Tube Television). Of all these types of televisions, plasma high definition televisions produce better quality pictures and sound for many hours of home entertainment enjoyment. The production of and demand for plasma televisions makes if more and more affordable for the average consumer to own. Some are designed especially for home theater systems, and these sets have LCD flat panels and can be viewed from any and every angle in your home. The plasma television market has experienced better sales in home theater entertainment than standard televisions.

J. Hall writes articles for consumers who want to find the best plasma television offers currently available. She has written for many major publications about the latest satellite TV deals and promotions and how buyers can find the best discounts.

Disadvantages of Plasma Televisions- What You Should Know

Plasma televisions have come a long way since they first appeared about a decade ago and they have become the newest must-have home appliance there is on the market. They're flat, hip and offer stunning images unlike anything we've seen on older television models before. Plasma televisions do seem to have it all, but are they the answer to all our home entertainment prayers or just a trend? Unfortunately, plasma televisions have a few disadvantages.

The cost

This is the number one consideration for many videophiles and plasma televisions are not cheap at all. When they first came out in the 90s, the price tag for plasma television sets showed a whopping $10000. That forms a part of a regular home mortgage and enough to have consumers running in the opposite direction.

These days, though, the price has calmed down thanks to better production practices and the magic of demand. In fact, a good-sized brand-name plasma TV costs at least $2500. That's still the price of about three regular TVs with a few video CDs thrown in. Compared to its nearest rival, the LCD TV, plasma televisions, one of its disadvantages, still cost more.

But with the price comes quality. Nowhere else can you find the kind of high-definition viewing pleasure that plasma televisions can offer. If their price is a disadvantage, they more than make up for it with their quality. Besides, for a genuine videophile, plasma televisions have a short return on investment and they will more than make up for their price in a few years. If you think of that, that's not really a disadvantage of having a plasma television now, is it?

Life span

Plasma televisions had a notorious reputation for conking out after a given set of viewing hours. In 2004, plasma televisions offered a disadvantageous 20,000 hours of viewing pleasure. Compare that to an LCD TV's 50,000 hours.

These days, however, plasma televisions have improved and been given longer life spans. Depending on the brand, plasma TVs have a half-life of 60,000 hours. If you're a normal person with a normal family having normal TV viewing hours, that should not be considered a disadvantage. Imagine this: if you spend at least 5 hours in front of your plasma TV, that will translate to about 33 years of use.

The viewing hours do not indicate an expiry date for your plasma television. The number of hours refers to the plasma TV's half-life, or the time when your TV screen burns at half of its original brightness.

Burn in issues

This is another disadvantage of plasma televisions. Plasma TVs are called that way thanks to the thousands of minute fluorescent lights in the screen. These lights are filled with gas which burn each time the TV is used. This is a good thing, because compared to the LCD and the older CRT TVs, a plasma TV need only light up when they're needed. LCD panels are like one big light bulb that is always turned on.

With regular TV use, that's really not a problem. The disadvantage appears when you display a static image on screen. What's a static image? If you're an HBO fan and you have your plasma television turned on to HBO for hours on end, pretty soon you'll notice a faint HBO logo on your screen even when you're turned on to ESPN or another channel.

That is also an issue if you're a heavy video game user. If you hook up your video game console to your plasma TV and play all day for days upon days, the hours of playing will burn in the image of, say, the life meter on your plasma screen. That will be a little embarrassing especially if you're having friends over and they'll see a shadowy image of your otherworldly pursuits right in front of their eyes.

But then again, the risk of burn-in only becomes a real threat and disadvantage if you use the plasma TV full blast. You can always cheat by reducing the TV's contrast to just 50%.

With every new technology, there are always good points and bad and plasma televisions are not free from these issues. In the game of 'who's-the-better-tv', there really is no one clear winner. If you choose a plasma television, then it's only because you like what you see, you can afford it and you can handle the disadvantages of a plasma television while enjoying the advantages.

For more information now go to: http://www.qualityplasmatelevision.com/Disadvantage-Plasma-Television.html http://www.qualityplasmatelevision.com/

The Plasma Set Television- How it Works and Why It's a Good Reason to Buy

Long before plasma set televisions made their appearance, people bought TVs for their size. The bulkier, the better and whoever got the biggest, meanest television screen won the game of one-upmanship with his neighbors.

And then picture quality came along. The game quickly shifted into whose TV made the grass look greener and Halle Berry better looking than she already is. These days, the gold medal probably belongs to plasma television sets.

Why plasma television set looks so good

If you have your old CRT (cathode ray tube) TV, you've probably been amazed at the technology that made pictures come alive through the screen. CRTs also use pixels or dots that when grouped together, form a bigger image. CRTs basically use a vacuum tube that fires electrons against phosphors. Three phosphors make up one pixel, which is made of red, blue and green colors.

The CRT technology has a measure of control on which phosphor group to hit and depending on the strength and length of the hit, the picture tube shows us an image with color and light contrast.

Now CRTs perform well and are in fact still popular in many parts of the world. The only drawback is that they are heavier, fragile and eat up a lot of living room space. You've probably noticed the same issues with your older computer monitors.

With a plasma television set, the technology is different. Gas inside a fluorescent light is excited to a degree and transforms into a plasma state. Pixels are still made with the same three basic colors, but since plasma can be aimed more precisely, more pixels can be hit to form an image. The result? A clearer, prettier picture on the television screen.

Not only is high resolution a feature that plasma television sets boast of, there are also the colors ? all 16 million and more of them. Imagine watching the TV and knowing there are millions of different colors dancing right in front of your eyes even if you can only name a few. There's dragon red, leaf green, ocean blue or maybe canary yellow and egg white, but that's just a drop in the bucket of all the color possibilities that plasma television sets can offer.

The view from the other side

Another reason why plasma television sets win a lot of admirers is that it gives the concept of 'sitting in front of the television' a whole new meaning. Remember when kids used to fight for the 'best seats' right smack in the middle for TV viewing? This is no longer true with plasma TV.

With rear projection TVs, the viewing angle is about 45 degrees to the sides. A plasma television set can give you perfect images even at 160 degrees! You can walk from one side of the room to the other and you will still have the same picture quality, so don't worry too much about Aunt or Grandma sitting to the sides of the plasma television set. They are enjoying themselves just fine.

The flatness is also there for a reason other than giving the excellent viewing angles; it also reduces glare. With a plasma television set, you don't even have to dim the lights for better viewing. It works just as well even with ambient light turned to the max.

Issues and myths

No, you cannot refill your plasma television set's plasma content or that it's too radiation-heavy. Those are urban legends that are too silly to be even given a second look. Plasma television sets are a product of the latest technology and as such, still have a few issues here and there.

One of the most common is the burn-in issue, where a plasma television set develops a burned-in image when it's tuned in for too long to a static picture. There is also the half-life expectancy where plasma televisions are expected to burn a little dimmer after a few thousand hours.

These issues are quite true, but the real threat to the life and quality of a plasma television set is really a matter of wise and careful use. If you keep it on hours and hours on one channel with a static image, then a burn-in issue might emerge, but this will only happen after hours of day-in and day-out use. The half-life has also improved from the 30,000 hours (allowing you 9 years of plasma TV use for 8 hours of viewing a day) to 60,000 hours.

The Holy Grail of television sets?

For now, plasma television sets offer a lot to drool about but many would-be fans are put off by its price. Imagine paying about $2,500 for a 42-inch plasma TV. However, plasma televisions are priced that way for good reason ? they offer tops in picture quality and contrast and even with the monstrous size some models are available in, you won't want a lot in the resolution department.

Getting a plasma television set instead of an LCD or some other high-def TV is really a matter of personal choice and budget. Shop for the unit that's perfect for you and enjoy all the other benefits you won't otherwise get had you made a different choice.

For more information now go to: http://www.qualityplasmatelevision.com/Plasma-Set-Television.html http://www.qualityplasmatelevision.com