LCD Plasma and HDTV Which is the Best System to Buy

It's worth the time to quickly understand the nature of these ingenious tools of electronics to better determine which method of technology you prefer or is more adapt to your location of use for these types of televisions. Let's quickly reference their origin of discovery and how they work.

LCD and the History of it's Discovery LCDs are everywhere we look, but it didn't happen overnight. There was a long time from the discovery of liquid crystals to the vast applications of LCD we now enjoy. Liquid crystals were first discovered in 1888, by Austrian botanist Friedrich Reinitzer. Reinitzer observed that when he melted a curious cholesterol-like substance (cholesteryl benzoate), it first became a cloudy liquid and then cleared up as its temperature rose. Upon cooling, the liquid turned blue before finally crystallizing. Eighty years passed before RCA made the first experimental LCD in 1968. Since then, LCD manufacturers have steadily developed ingenious variations and improvements on the technology, taking the LCD to amazing levels of technical complexity. And there is every indication that we will continue to enjoy new LCD developments in the future!

Plasma TV Display In a plasma TV display the electrical current running through it causes negatively charged particles to rush toward the positively charged area of the plasma or color spectrum, and positively charged particles are rushing toward the negatively charged area. This causes a collision of sorts and results in a luminous or florescent type of reflection of light which greatly enhances the color spectrum of light resulting in a clearer more defined display on the screen.

HDTV stands simply for High Definition Television. It is a broadcasting standard for sending television signals in digital format instead of the more traditional standard or analog method. HDTV is a vastly improved method of displaying more lines of information compared to an analog type of display of information lines. Where an analog processor can only display 500 lines of information, HDTV can process some 1800 lines of information and results in a much more refined and greater resolution display.

Now that you understand a little more about the current age of television monitoring, you can better choose your next television set. Keep in mind that as the technology improves, initially so does the price go up, but if you can be patient with your current model until the initial run on the 'new technology' subsides and the prices readjust for market share and affordability.

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Jim is an online netpreneur that enjoys sharing his discoveries on and off the web with his readers and hopefully provides some greater insights on technology and general knowledge. Check out his latest insights on the television market: http://wealthsmith.com/lcd-television.htm

Cheap Plasma Tv

Information on cheap plasma TV. For the person who wants to own a truly great plasma Television you can look in the various stores for inexpensive plasma televisions.

I trust that the following article will help you to better understand this topic.

For the person who wants to own a truly great plasma Television you can look in the various stores for inexpensive plasma televisions. As there are many another(a) types of plasma TVs you will be able to find the unlike features that can be found on a high end plasma Television and in some cases in a cheap plasma TV.

While the word cheap plasma TV may indicate a mediocre quality plasma Television or even a plasma Television receiver with a low sum of features, this is more often than not not the case. The unlike brands of plasma TVs will have features that many consumers want.

Sometimes these features will be high definition picture quality, at others you will be able to watch two TV programs simultaneously. There are still times when you can find rich color saturation in the different programs that you watch. These are all possible with many of the well known brands of plasma TVs

Innovator which is one company that makes both high end plasma TVs and cheap plasma TVs has comprise most of the features that you will find in a high end plasma television system into the cheap plasma TV.

The separate size of it for this cheap plasma TV is Forty-two inches and there is a connection for High-definition television useable as well. The sort out free view panel data format sizing that is about 16.9. Also these features you will find that this cheap plasma TV also has a digital joining too.

Since most of the plasma TVs are very expensive you can sometimes look into versatile finance options that are available. This alternate is available for cheap plasma TVs as well. The Pioneer cheap plasma TV is presently about $3000 to $4000.

As the plasma television industry is still seemly settled you can sometimes find an even take down priced cheap plasma TV. Panasonic which is another popular plasma tv brand has a good selection of first-class quality cheap plasma televisions that range in price. You should be able to locate a cheap plasma TV from Panasonic for under $900.

This inexpensive Panasonic plasma Television system has dozens of great features that you can expect to see from the other types of plasma TVs. This HD ready plasma tv set has a 16.9 freeware control panel that is integrate into the TV. This cheap plasma TV screen sizing is also 42 inches.

In any case all of these features to the Panasonic plasma Television you will find that there is also V-real technology from Panasonic itself reinforced into the plasma TV. For the person who is passionate about observation quality TV there are cheap plasma TV brands that offer low prices withal great high end plasma features.

In conclusion I?d like to say thank you to you for reading this article and good luck with any issues related to this information.

Michael Malega presents several cheap plasma tv articles for your information. You can visit Michael's web site at: http://www.best-cheap-plasma-tv.com/Cheap-Plasma-Tv.php

TH-42PX70 Review - Panasonic Viera 42" 1080p Plasma TV

Having dominated the plasma technology market over the past few years, it's no wonder that every new generation of Panasonic plasma TVs are greeted with much anticipation. The latest one is no different: having been unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2007 in Las Vegas at the beginning of the year, roll-out of the 10th generation plasma began in Europe (soon to be followed suit in the US) in March 2007. I encounter the Panasonic TH-42PX70 quite often in my profession, and so will give a brief rundown of its capabilities.

Panasonic plasmas have an excellent reputation for unrivaled black level and shadow detail, and I'm happy to report that the TH-42PX70 is up there with the best in this department. Batman Begins and Unforgiven ? both suitably dark films ? would have absolutely murdered any lesser competitors, but on the Panasonic TH-42PX70 I could still see fine shadow detail that could have so easily been engulfed by nothingness.

Furthermore, there's not very much you need to do to get the picture looking right: if all TVs were produced in this manner, ISF calibrators will soon be out of job. To attain the 6500 Kelvin (daytime) color temperature in which films are shot and broadcast, simply go into your user menu, select the "Cinema" mode (assuming you haven't done so when you first set up your TH-42PX70) and then the "Warm" color temperature. By doing this you make sure that you're watching the film as per the director's vision.

Traditionally image retention are a big problem with plasmas; not so with TH-42PX70. I had detected a slight hint of retention after putting on static images (from my computer) for 10 minutes, but within 1 minutes of resuming moving images the retention washed away. I really think that as long as you take the proper precautions, image retention on plasmas is a thing of the past.

Nevertheless, the TH-42PX70 has its own set of weaknesses. For starters, it still suffers from problems of false contouring where there should be fine gradation. Part of this is source-based as the problem largely went away when watching high-definition, but if you're sensitive to this kind of thing it may annoy you.

The previous generation of Panasonic plasmas was haunted with what is known as "purple snake" or "purple ants", where purple bands or pixels with appear around green areas with small change of gradient. In the TH-42PX70 I couldn't really see it when sitting from 8 feet away, but if I move closer to the screen at say 3 feet I would notice it... IF I'm looking for it. Just something worth bearing in mind.

When reviewing plasmas, I cannot refrain from mentioning buzzing noise, which is typical trait of plasma TVs especially with high-contrast scenes. In fact, I could vividly remember a massive plasma TV shootout I attended where a pure white background was used to test how loud the plasmas buzzed. In TH-42PX70's case, the buzz is more like a high-pitched whine, which didn't particularly trouble me when the sound was on, but if you have ultra-sensitive ears, this is something to take into consideration.

To sum up my view as someone who sees and installs more than your fair share of flat panel television, the TH-42PX70 does most of the important things better than most TVs. Sure it's has its flaws, but this is such a wonderful set-and-forget plasma TV that if I were shopping for a new plasma TV, I'd take this in a heartbeat.

Robert Keene installs home theater by day and indulges himself in high-definition films by night. For more info on Panasonic TH-42PX70 plasma TV, check out his website at http://www.th42px70.co.uk

Plasma Televisions: To Buy Or Not To Buy

As any other product or equipment, plasma TV screens have its own advantages and disadvantages and these are viewed in this article accompanying a few useful tips on buying a plasma TV.

The Advantages of Plasma Screen TVs

One of the key advantages of the plasma TV is its slim and light weight design often only inches thick. The space saving designs of the plasma screen TV allows for easy mobility and can be placed in areas where rear projection TVs would never fit.

Plasma TV screens provide highly accurate pictures displaying different contrast of colours. They have a larger viewing area effective for watching movies.

Plasma Screens comes in varied sizes from 21 inches to 103 inches, the largest plasma screen in the world. It is easy to purchase plasma screens up to about 65 inches.

The Disadvantages of Plasma Screen TVs

When compared with other rear projection TVs, plasma screen TVs generally has shorter longevity and lose their brightness after 2000 hours of use. The tube burns out faster than other television technologies and proves difficult to repair. The latest model plasma TV begins losing its brightness after 60,000 hours of use.

Plasma screen TVs has a very fragile technology and extreme care should be taken on installing and shipping them. Any mishandling may possibly damage the TV.

Plasma screens emit a humming noise in about 6000 feet elevation. It is of course a considerable issue for people living above 6000 feet elevation.

Tips for Shopping a Plasma Screen TV

It is essential to shop any electronic product by checking the online reviews and comparing the online shopping sites. The awareness of advertised contrast ratios is required. It is not easy to compare and contrast the ratios between manufacturers as there is no standardized measurement method. Reading consumer reviews will help you decide on which TV to buy.

If you are shopping in the UK, you can find Cheap TV deals to get extra discounts on televisions and read reviews using Plasma TV Reviews

Plasma Televisions

Now a status symbol among the rich and wealthy, a plasma TV is a high-definition (HDTV) alternative to the standard cathode-ray televisions sold today. It gives viewers sharp images and vibrant colors, particularly when used in conjunction with high-definition broadcasts. A quality plasma TV, however, does not come cheap. Its price ranges from $4,000 to $15,000 plus.

One of the main attractions of a plasma TV is a flat screen, which can be mounted directly on a wall. Manufacturers often employ surround-sound theater speakers and high-end receivers to complete the feeling of luxury. No wonder plasma TVs are such a craze these days.

In terms of science, 'plasma' refers to inert gases like neon and xenon that glow when in contact with an electrical field. Televisions usually rely on thousands of small 'picture elements', abbreviated as pixels. A bundle of three distinct colors, usually red, green and yellow, constitute one pixel in a color TV. Properly controlling the level of each color, all of the other colors of the spectrum can be produced in each pixel. The distance between the viewer and the screen is usually such that the individual pixels blur into each other and the illusion of motion is created as they change color. Plasma or not, this holds true for any television system.

The individual pixels in a plasma TV are made from three tiny containers of an inert gas like neon or xenon. There are thousands of these tiny tubes on an average plasma TV screen. All of them are sandwiched between two electrically charged plates. And plasma glows when exposed to an electrical current. A cable or broadcast antenna dispatches signals to a computer-processing unit. The antenna instructs the unit how to reassemble the entire picture hundreds of times per second.

A plasma TV screen contains more pixels than a standard television, so the image is noticeably sharper. If light conditions are ambient, a plasma TV will perform at its best. As flat screens have a viewing angle of 160 degrees, one can watch TV from almost any position in a room.

Plasma Televisions provides detailed information on Plasma Televisions, Discount Plasma Televisions, Wholesale Plasma Televisions, Plasma Vs Lcd Televisions and more. Plasma Televisions is affliated with LCD Televisions.

Buying a Plasma TV

Plasma TVs are the big screen televisions. The screen measures from thirty two inches to sixty five inches and is approximately four inches thick. Plasma TVs are known as flat screen TV. But not all big flat screen TVs are plasma technology. They can also be LCD technology. The plasma technology is based on neon and xenon gas filled cells that are illuminated by electrical pulse current. Varying the pulse gives different shades of red green and blue which makes the image on the screen. The image is crisp and clear.

If you want to buy a plasma TV, be prepared to spend at least several thousand dollars. They start in price at two thousand dollars and go up depending on brand, style, features, size, etc. When shopping for a plasma TV what do you look for? First of all, what size screen do you want? This depends on how much space you have where you plan to place the television. You need to measure to see what size your area can accommodate and what size will look best. Don’t automatically buy the largest screen there is. You need to have distance between you and the screen in order to comfortably view the television. There should be a least fifteen feet distance for the sixty five inch screen. You will probably want speakers to amplify the audio from the plasma TV. You can use your stereo speakers or you may opt for surround sound. This will add to the price.

You don’t need much room for your plasma TV because the screen can be mounted on a wall with slim speakers mounted next to it or placed elsewhere in the room. Plasma TVs with the big screens can enhance the video graphics of video games and can be a lot of fun to play on. The problem is that plasma TVs can be subject to “burn-in”. This is a situation where an image that has been on the screen for a while “burn’s in” and leaves a shadow or outline on the screen. Once this happens, you can’t get rid of the shadow. So if you plan to use your plasma screen for playing video games, you want to keep this fact in mind and be careful.

You can purchase plasma TVs in the store or online. If you shop online, make sure you are dealing with a reputable company.

Joseph is the proud owner of Plasma Tvs, a website that will explain everything you need to know about LCD Tvs. We invite you to visit our site today and see what we have to offer.

Plasma Television Buying Guide

Introduction

In six short sections, we’ll help guide you towards making informed choices on buying the plasma TV you need for your home theater or living room, tradeshow application, business or retail display, or executive and corporate boardroom.

The sections in this Buying Guide are arranged in an order and progression that we feel is most helpful in imparting key information towards a plasma TV purchase. First, we’ll take a look at the kind of environment in which you are setting up the plasma display. Next, we’ll see what kind of content you intend to watch on the TV and what sort of A/V devices you’ll be using to determine the plasma type for your needs. Then, we’ll check out important plasma specs you should know about and installation issues to pay attention to. Lastly, we’ll take a quick look at pricing and other cost issues that you may want to consider.

Ready? Let’s begin.

The Plasma TV Environment

Calculating the Correct Distance 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.

Plasma monitors are measured diagonally across the screen, just like any other television set. You can typically choose from the following sizes: 32”, 40”, 42”, 46”, 50”, 61”, or 63”. Bigger is not always better, and a certain distance must be maintained between the plasma TV and the viewing area for optimal viewing experience. Sitting too far away diminishes the overall impact. Sitting too close, however, could also present its own problems — as when you start seeing the screen’s “structure”; i.e., the dots or pixels that make up the plasma display. The right distance depends on the size of your TV.

- For 32” to 37” TVs, 6 to 10 feet from the screen is needed.
- For 42” to 46” TVs, 10 to 14 feet from the screen is needed.
- For 50” TVs, 12 to 16 feet from the screen is needed.
- For 60” and larger TVs, at least 15 feet of space from the screen is needed.

In determining the appropriate TV size for you, you should also consider the space required to install the unit itself. When recessing a plasma display unit, allow at least 3 inches of open space at the top of the unit and adequate ventilation space of at least 2 inches behind it as well. Remember, too, that most plasma displays do not have built-in speakers, so you’ll need to allow space enough to attach speakers.

Viewing Angles: More on TV Placement

Viewing angle is another factor that affects the viewing experience. Today’s plasma TVs offer viewing angles approaching (and sometimes exceeding) 170 degrees. This is much better than viewing angles for LCD displays and rear-projection TVs, and the wide viewing angles for plasma displays translates to a bright, clear picture for anyone in the room — no matter where they’re sitting.

Room Lighting and the TV Picture

Lighting is also important in the area where your plasma TV is set up. Plasma TVs generally do a fine job in rooms with regular indoor lighting, but optimal viewing may not be possible in areas with too much direct sunlight. Thus, windows that let in direct sunlight should have easily adjustable blinds or curtains that can eliminate reflections off the screen. Light from a window behind the TV also makes it difficult for the eyes to adjust to the very brightness of the screen, and window treatments are recommended in such cases. A little bit of controlled background lighting could also be helpful, as the background light gives the black portions of the picture a deeper, darker look.

Altitude May Increase Noise Levels

If you live in Denver, Santa Fe or other areas above 6,000 feet, be aware that some plasma displays may start exhibiting operational noise. This is due to increased pressure on the gases contained in the glass substrate of the plasma, a phenomenon that makes the unit work harder to cool the display element. Check to see if the manufacturer has a maximum altitude rating if you are setting up the plasma in high-elevation areas.

What You Can Watch on Your Plasma TV

You can choose between HDTV (High Definition TV) and EDTV (Enhanced Definition TV) for your choice of plasma display. Which type you prefer depends on the kind of material you intend to watch on the plasma.

EDTV is the perfect entry point into digital television, with a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio and an image resolution that is 200% better than today’s analog televisions. On the other hand, HDTV has up to four times the resolution and colors compared to EDTV, offering the ultimate visual and sound experience.

At present, only a limited number of programs are broadcast in true high-definition format (all major networks broadcast HD counterparts to their regular analog-signal broadcasts). In fact, if you plan to use a plasma HDTV for regular TV programming, you may be surprised to find that regular TV programming may even appear slightly worse, as the big screen exaggerates the flaws in standard TV programs. DVD images from most of the currently available DVD titles on the market today also do not fare as well on true HD plasmas. In fact, these DVD images appear better on EDTV plasma units, because the image resolution of a widescreen DVD (nominally 740 x 480) more closely matches the actual resolution (852 x 480) of the EDTV plasma display.

Why bother with a High Definition TV at all, you may ask? Because HDTV, paired with a true High-Definition or high-quality source, can produce truly stunning images. With a progressive-scan DVD player paired with, say, any of the recently released HD-DVD or forthcoming Blu-ray DVD titles (encoded in true HD format), your plasma HDTV can come to spectacular life and bring out unrivaled image quality. And as more TV programming becomes available in High-Definition format with the looming of the FCC deadline for switching to all-digital broadcasting, plasma HDTV sets will have more TV content to show. One thing’s for sure: Your HDTV won’t be obsolete anytime in the next few years.

Devices for your Plasma TV

With today’s plasma TV models, almost all of them will have multiple inputs that allow connection of various devices, with 32” or larger screens having inputs for connecting six or more different A/V components. Which video components do you have now, and which do you plan to add in the future?

At the very least, you’ll probably want to connect your antenna or cable box, plus a DVD player and perhaps a VCR. Other possibilities include a satellite TV receiver, video game system, or TiVo hard disk recorder. And if you use a camcorder, you will definitely want a set of front-panel A/V inputs on your new TV.

The newer plasma TVs will include digital inputs such as HDMI or DVI, which can accept HDTV signals from your cable box or satellite (and even some DVD players) in an all-digital format. Some plasma TVs also include a VGA or DVI PC input, which allows your plasma unit to pull double-duty as a PC monitor.

Connection tip: If you route your video signals through your home theater receiver, you can connect even more video sources. Most home theater receivers provide Composite Video inputs and outputs to enable video switching, making it easy to choose from among your video sources. If yours does, you may be able to connect your video components to your receiver, which will then send the selected video signal to your TV. Many receivers have S-Video connections as well, and some even include Component Video switching.

Plasma TV Specifications

When comparing plasma TV sets, it’s important to know what to look for to make sense of the specifications you’re presented with. Below is a quick rundown on the necessary specs that you need to weigh before making that all-important purchase decision.

Resolution: Resolution is a determining factor in selecting a plasma TV. Do you want HDTV or EDTV? HDTV, with a resolution of at least 1024 x 720, is the ultimate visual and sound experience, but what is available for viewing on HD is currently restricted to a few HD channels on cable, as well as the newly emerging — and necessarily few — DVD titles from the HD-DVD and Blu-ray DVD formats. On the other hand, most of the currently available DVDs actually play better when viewed on EDTV, because the image resolution of a widescreen DVD (nominally 740 x 480) more closely matches the actual resolution (852 x 480) of the EDTV plasma display. Choosing the type of plasma TV that you want, therefore, is a question that should be considered along with the type of content you frequently watch or will be watching on your plasma.

Inputs: A plasma television should work with any existing video component with standard A/V, S-Video, or Component Video outputs. In addition, most plasma TVs have DVI or HDMI connections for use with high-definition sources. Some plasma TVs also have VGA input connections that allow them to be used as monitors for a PC. At the minimum, look for the following specifications on a plasma connection: DVI-I or DVI-D, Component, RCA or Composite, and S-Video. Take into consideration your current component set-up — such as your satellite system, cable box, DVD player, and external stereo components — and see what kind of inputs or connectors they use.

Tuner: Check your plasma to see if it is HD-ready or HD-integrated. An HD-ready plasma TV is essentially a monitor that needs an external tuner source before it can function as a TV. An HD-integrated panel has a tuner built into the set and is ready for use. If you receive your HDTV programming via cable or satellite instead of over-the-air, you may not need a tuner at all, as you will be using the set-top boxes provided by your cable/satellite service to receive HDTV programming. Check with your cable or satellite providers for more details. Some cable/satellite companies do away with set-top boxes and provide their subscribers with cable cards instead. Check with your cable/satellite provider if they provide cable cards and the cable-card type that they offer, and then check the specification on the plasma for cable card slots.

Contrast Ratio: Contrast ratio is the measurement that determines the variation between the whitest and darkest parts of the image. This is an important specification, since plasma TVs with a low contrast ratio will make dark images look muddy and gray while making light images look washed out. A good measure of contrast ratio is 1,000:1 or higher. Anything less than 1,000:1 — especially on a set that is 42” or larger — may not provide optimal viewing experience.

Brightness: Without sufficient brightness, your image will look muddy and soft — even in a dark room. Viewing distance, screen size, and ambient room light will also affect the need for more brightness capability. A brightness rating listed at 550 cd/m2 or higher is good, but don't get bogged down with the technical number listed. Instead, make sure that the screen is bright enough for your needs as you conduct your own visual inspection.

Panel Life: Look for a minimum of 60,000 hours of panel life in your plasma specifications. This is the rating on how long it would take before your panel has half the brightness compared to when it was new. A 60,000-hour spec translates to approximately 20 years of viewing at 8 hours per day. (This approximation may vary, depending on the source and type of content, settings, environment, and use of your plasma TV.)

Anti-burn-in/Pixel Shift: Burn-in refers to the remnants burned on to the screen after a static image has been left on the plasma for a long period of time. To minimize or prevent burn-in, determine if the plasma panel utilizes burn-in protection, such as power management settings, full-time picture or pixel shift (both vertical and horizontal) technologies, or automatic screensaver functions.

Speakers: If you plan to use an external surround sound system, you won’t need audio speakers, but most plasma TV sets include speakers that rated anywhere from 7-12 Watts Pre-amp — which is much better than that of conventional TVs and sufficient for most viewing. Check your plasma’s specifications to see if it comes with speakers and if the speakers are removable.

Universal Remote: A universal remote can take the place of having one remote, so that it controls all the various components of your TV system, such as the DVD player, audio, cable/satellite etc. If you plan on buying a universal remote, check to see if it’s supported by the plasma set of your choice to make sure the plasma accepts universal remote devices.

Power Consumption: Power consumption for plasmas range from 240 watts to over 500 watts, If you’re concerned with how much energy a plasma set may use, check its specifications to determine power consumption. Units tend to have higher wattage requirements as the screen increases. A good rule of thumb is to compare similar-sized units together; units with higher wattages tend to use inferior components as a rule.

Installation and Mounting Options

There are basically two options for installing a plasma TV: Displaying it on a table stand, cart, or similarly equivalent horizontal surface; or hanging the Plasma TV (on a wall or from a ceiling, using wall mount fixtures).

One of the major benefits of plasma TV is the flexibility of mounting and installation options that are available. However, because of the sheer size of the TV, mounting presents its own sets of issues that need to be taken into account.

For wall (or ceiling) mounting, you will need two people (ideally), with at least one having enough experience to determine the strength of the wall, what is behind the wall, and the proper hardware to use; e.g., anchors, screws, etc. The last thing you need is to have your new Plasma TV fall off the wall and smash into bits because of improper wall mounting. Professional installation is highly recommended in this case.

Below are various TV mounting options you might consider:

• Table Stands are popular for displaying plasma units. These units, however, are not one-size- fits-all appliances. Sometimes one is included with the TV itself; other times you have to purchase the stand separately. Most consumer-oriented plasma TVs come with their own matching table stand, used whenever there is enough tabletop space to support the TV. These units are custom-made to manufacturers’ specifications, as each plasma display has its own requirements on how the stand fits the plasma. The table stand allows for maximum flexibility, as nothing is permanently affixed to the wall. (Add graphic)

• Plasma TV Carts are typically used in business applications for trade shows and in-house presentations. Table carts are often used in a courtroom setting or to mobilize up to the edge of a boardroom table for maximum visual presentation. The table cart may include a platform for placing a DVD player, laptop computer, or VCR. (Add graphic)

• Flat Wall Mounts maximize the space-saving benefits of plasma technology. This is generally the least expensive option, and it adds less than two inches to the total depth of the plasma unit. It is used in home theaters, living rooms, or company boardrooms to achieve and maximally offset the sleek appearance that plasma displays are known for. (Add graphic)

• Tilt Wall Mounts let you place your plasma TV above eye level, keeping the unit out of the way but allowing it to be readily viewable from anywhere in the room. A tilt wall mount typically allows 15 to 20 degrees of tilt (depending on the brand of the wall mount). This option is often used to install plasma displays above fireplaces and in bedrooms, and is also used for overhead displays in retail or industry (with or without an attached ceiling bracket). The tilt wall mount adds from 4 to 6 inches to the depth of the mounted display. (Add graphic)

• Articulating Wall Mounts use swivel arms to render the plasma unit flush with the wall and out of the way when the unit is not in use. Pulled out, this mounting device allows you to turn the display 120 degrees to either side and as much as 10 degrees up or down. It adds between 3 or 4 inches to the depth of the plasma mount (depending on the manufacturer of the wall mount), and is used for maximum flexibility in sports bars, library studies, and commercial display operations. (Add graphic)

• Ceiling Mounts enable you to mount your plasma TV where you want it in case a wall isn’t available. This option is generally coupled with a tilt mount, so that the display can be adjusted downward for easier viewing. Lengths of ceiling mount poles vary according to customer needs, but standard lengths are from 24 to 43 inches. Ceiling mounts are usually used for airport displays, checkout counters, hospital rooms, and bedrooms. (Add graphic)

Pricing and Other Costs

Plasma TVs are expensive, but they do fall into a few distinct categories. Below is a rough guide to retail and online pricing for plasma units (current as of this writing, May 2006).

- $1,000 to $1,500 buys you a plasma TV up to 42”
- $1,500 to $3,000 buys you a plasma TV up to 50”
- More than $3,000 buys you a plasma up to 65”

Also:

- Under $1,500 buys you a refurbished EDTV plasma
- Under $2,000 buys you an EDTV plasma
- More than $2,000 buys you an HDTV plasma

In addition to the cost of the plasma TV itself, you may want to factor in the price of accessories, such as cables, surge protectors, additional audio equipment, furniture, and room treatments to arrive at a realistic cost outlay for your plasma TV purchase.

Lastly, be aware of “standard” charges that apply to your purchase: a sales tax when the TV is bought at a brick-and-mortar establishment; shipping charges (especially if the TV is bought online); and delivery and/or set-up charges. Check and compare the manufacturer warranties for various plasma TV brands; extended warranties are always extra.

Microtek Lab Inc. is a consumer electronics company focused on scanners, plasma and lcd televisions, digital projectors, lcd monitors, digital cameras, home theatre equipment, and accessories. You can view their online store at http://www.store.microtek.com