The Origins of Our LCD Screens and High Definiton Plasma TV in Vintage Computer Monitors

It may be amazing to current computer users who are used to small compact LCD monitors. Not only were initial computer monitors large and cumbersome but that the early monitors used by computer enthusiasts were Cathode Ray Monitors that were not color,

Initial vintage monitors were monochrome - one color only not the brilliant color displays that we take for granted today.

Some of these monochrome monitors were green or orange iridescent. Others were similar to a black and white television that is grey scale.

It is taken for granted now by young computer surfers and gamers that television was always "color", not so.

Initially TV broadcasts were in "black and white ".

Color TV had been developed but the technology but the widespread use did not arise till the early 1970's and even later in some areas.

The broadcasts were seen as black and white on those sets and color on color sets. Color TVs could receive programs that were in the black and white mode as well. Sort of the backwards compatibility of the day.

What then would be the difference between the picture qualities of a television set a monitor has vastly greater resolution than standard TV sets.

The TV sets of that time (as opposed to current high end LCD and plasma high definition TVs) were basically 1950's technology - even the newer color TV sets. .

A monitor's screen display should be stable and of good quality, since the computer user may sit very close to the monitor and spend many hours reading the display.

If the images are fuzzy (low resolution) or waver constantly, you would have a throbbing headache and wavering eyes in no time.

Monitors have knobs to adjust for clarity. On vintage monochrome monitors these usually include a brightness knob which adjusts the illumination of the entire screen, and a contrast knob which makes the letters lighter or darker in relation to the background screen newer color monitors will have additional adjustments for color.

The question will arise - how did the vintage CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitors initially handle the color technology which came later and became the accepted standard.

A typical color monitor screen worked in much the same way as a standard CRT television.

The inside of the picture tube is coated with three different phosphors: red, green and blue.

Phosphors are special chemical compounds that glow with characteristic colors when bombarded a stream of electrons.

The phosphor gets "excited" and thanks to the additive properties of the color wheel the different colored lights resulting get mixed and that all types of combinations of the three primary colors result.

The end result is that virtually any color of the rainbow can be produced.

And as for the color white the eyes play a useful trick. When all three colors are mixed together in equal quantities, the eye sees this as "white light".

Finally the sharpness of the CRT color monitor or a TV set's image is determined by three factors: the monitor's bandwidth, its dot pitch, and the accuracy of its convergence.

Although the bandwidth and dot pitch are important to determine a good monitor, convergence is the real measurement.

Indeed we have come a long way from the initial simple vintage monochrome monitors. What we now take for granted with LCD monitors and indeed our high definition TV sets all originated with simple CRT monochrome monitor technology which was merged with the technology and tricks gleaned from the color TV industry.

We should all be grateful. We owe much to "Uncle Miltie".

Mr. Arthur Fellon Ace Employment Services Financial Services Interest in vintage computers www.vintagecomputermanuals.com www.vintageomputermanuals.com

How To Mount A Plasma TV On A Plaster Wall

After purchasing a plasma or LCD television as well a corresponding wall mounting kit, determining the wall on which to mount it, and making sure all of the necessary tools are available, the next step in mounting the television to a plaster wall is to choose the exact spot on the wall where the mount should be attached.

It is absolutely essential that the television mount is placed in a spot that has a stud or studs directly behind it. Anchor bolts will be used to secure the mount to the stud(s).

Obviously, a plaster wall alone cannot support the weight of a plasma or LCD mount and television, and at least one stud is necessary to ensure that the mount and the television are safely installed. Anchoring the mounting unit to two studs is more secure than using just one, so if there is a location on the wall where two studs are located and can both be used for the installation of the mount, this spot should be seriously considered for the placement.

Beginning the Installation:
It is recommended that the mounting kit be opened and the instruction and installation manual be thoroughly read and understood prior to beginning the installation process. Make sure that all the pieces are present and that all the necessary tools are within reach. Every brand and model television mount is slightly different from the next, so it?s important to follow the directions that come with the one that will be used.

Even if the instruction manual does not list this first, it?s a good idea to place the mounting rails into position on the back of the plasma or LCD television that will eventually end up on the wall. This will help ensure that the television will sit on the wall in its originally intended place. (Sometimes the brackets end up pushing the television up or down an inch or two. If the brackets are put in place first, a better placement estimation can be determined.)

Next, it?s time to mark the wall with indicators as to where the anchor bolts will be drilled into the wall. In addition, the locations where the cable will go from the television to the electrical outlet should also be notated on the wall.

After drilling holes where the anchor bolts will be placed and cutting out spots on the wall where the cable will enter and exit the wall, the next step is to the get the mount ready to affix with the anchors.

Prior to tightening the bolts, make sure that everything is nice and even, using a level. If everything looks good, it?s time to tighten the bolts so that the mount is fastened very snugly to the wall.

After fishing the cable from the cut hole near the mount down (or up) to the electricity source, the television can be added to the mount. Since many plasma and LCD televisions are extremely heavy, it?s recommended that at least two people help to lift it to the mount. After this is completed, all of the cables can be attached to the television, and the television can finally be turned on.

Jason West is the owner of the UK's leading Wall Bracket supplier http://www.tv-wall-brackets.co.uk.

Sony Plasma TV: Changing The Home-Theater Experience

The floating plasma screen glass panel design of Sony Plasma TVs will seduce the senses and inspire wonder at the beautiful picture clarity that the Sony WEGA Engine System creates, all while bringing style to any living room.

These slim, lightweight, and attractive plasma screen displays allow for amazing installation flexibility and project large images of unparalleled quality with these minimal space requirements.

Sony plasma TV provides a sensational flat-panel presentation. Able to accommodate either horizontal or vertical orientation, these plasma screens accept just about any video image or graphic signal currently used.

Hi-tech brushed aluminum or elegant charcoal gray bezels allow this enhanced- or high-definition plasma TV to blend seamlessly into every decor. Sony plasma TVs offer a high-impact medium for conveying your most important messages with their simple yet sophisticated styling.

Picture-perfect for viewing in the media room, living room, bedroom or home office, Sony Plasma TVs feature ultra slim cabinetry and a chic, frame-like design.

The new Sony Plasma TVs produce precise, detailed images regardless of the video source thanks to Sony's new pixel-by-pixel conversion system. This exclusive technology automatically identifies the resolution characteristics of the incoming video content and adapts instantly to reproduce accurate, sharp images.

The new Sony Plasma TV sets display crisp, stable picture images without video noise even when connected with non-HD video sources, proving that not all high-resolution plasma screens are created equal.

Sony Plasma TVs also boasts more than 1 million-pixel resolution by using a unique technique allowing more pixels to be packed into a tighter area. The result is majestic color contrast, stunning brightness, and precise pixel uniformity.

These plasma televisions can show programs in either the standard 4:3 aspect ratio or a theater-like 16:9 picture formats from DVDs, cable/satellite receivers, set-top boxes and high-definition receivers.

A multitude of flexible functions that maximize display performance are offered by every Sony plasma TV.

Sony plasma TVs bring a new standard to home theaters. Delivering superb image quality from any source, Sony plasma TVs are sure to provide total viewing enjoyment.

Here are just a few Sony Plasma TV Features:

* Ultra-thin, Lightweight Design
High-resolution flat plasma panels light enough to hang on a wall allow the user to open up space in a bedroom or living room.

* 16:9 "Wide-screen" Aspect Ratio
Wide-screen TVs, which feature a width-to-height ratio similar to movie theater screens, provide cinema-style entertainment at home. Finally consumers are able to enjoy full-screen viewing of high-definition broadcasts and DVD videos produced in 16:9 format from the comfort of their own homes.

* Every Sony Plasma TV is a masterpiece of design.
Sony Plasma TV will leave an impression add fashion to any setting. The Sony Plasma is a non-glare, high resolution plasma TV's featuring a fixed high performance search converter using high-speed sampling that optimizes picture quality--guaranteeing a perfect picture on the perfect screen.

Sony Plasma televisions provide ideal solution for conference rooms and digital signage applications with progressive scan images of 1 billion colors and a whopping 60k hour panel life. Flexible input boards and optional network solutions make it a snap to match the exact needs of the application.

This plasma TV display has panels that achieve a high contrast ratio with high brightness. The slim and lightweight design combined with precise, powerful image and smooth, vibrant picture edges make it ideal for duty as a digital sign at retail stores, airports, train stations, shopping malls, entertainment venues, hospitality rooms--anyplace a business or organization might need to grasp the attention of visitors.

Patricia Brown writes for several web sites, on shopping and products topics.

Plasma TV vs. LCD TV - Which is Better?

Plasma TV vs. LCD TV

You know you want to buy a flat-screen TV but you don't know if a plasma TV or an LCD TV would be your best choice.

This article explains the differences between plasma versus LCD TVs, then shows you how to get the best price for a plasma or LCD TV.

Plasma TV

A plasma TV screen consists of millions of multi-colored gas-filled cells. When electricity passes through the cells they light up and produce a picture.

Plasma TV screens have a much higher resolution than tube TV screens. In fact, the picture is so clear it's almost like watching a scene through a window.

Screen sizes range from 42" to 65" wide and are 3" to 4" thick.

LCD TV

LCD (light crystal display) TV screens are made up of a thin layer of liquid crystals sandwiched between two glass plates. When an electricity is sent through the crystals an array of tiny multi-colored pixels light up to create a picture.

LCD TV screens are thinner and lighter than plasma screens. They are the most screens for computers, and are quickly gaining popularity as TV screens.

LCD TV screens are anywhere from 1/4" to 4" thick and 2" to 65" wide.

Plasma vs. LCD Features

Picture Quality

When it comes to which type of TV screen is sharper and shows more detail, plasma TVs have a slight edge over LCD TVs, though LCD TVs are catching up.

Plasma TVs are also slightly better when it comes to viewing angle - how far you can sit to one side of a TV screen before picture quality is affected.

Screen Life

Screen life is the number of hours a TV provides before the picture begins to fade. Plasma TVs have a screen life of about 30,000 to 60,00 hours, depending on the make and model, while LCD TV's have a screen life of 60,000 hours or more.

Plasma TVs are also subject to "burn in." This occurs when a TV displays a still image long enough for a ghost of that image to be burned into the screen. LCD TVs do not have this problem.

HD TV

Both plasma and LCD TVs display HD (high definition) signals for a sharper, more three dimensional picture. LCD TVs, however, have a slightly higher resolution (more screen pixels) then plasma TVs.

Video Games

Plasma and LCD TVs are both great for video gaming, however because of plasma TV's tendency toward screen burn in, an LCD TV is the better choice if you play a lot of video games.

Portability

LCD TVs are thinner and lighter than plasma TVs, making them easier to move and easier to mount on a wall.

Plasma vs LCD TV prices

When it comes to which type of TV gives you the most bang for the buck, it depends on what you're looking for.

If you're looking for a large-screen TV - 42" or larger - plasma TVs are currently cheaper than than similar-sized LCD TVs. When I recently compared prices on 42" TVs, the cheapest plasma TV was $999, while the cheapest LCD TV was $1,367.

When it comes to mid-size TVs, I couldn't find plasma TVs smaller than 42." The cheapest 32" LCD TV I found was $619, while the cheapest 27" LCD TV was $550.

Visit the http://TheSatelliteTVGuide.com to get more information, to compare prices, and to get consumer ratings for plasma TVs and LCD Tvs.