How To Choose A Plasma TV

How To Choose A Plasma TV

If you're in the market for a plasma television, you should be prepared to do some research. This isn't a negative aspect of buying a plasma unit, nor am I implying that the technology and product quality aren't fantastic. As with any large purchase, you should just be aware of your individual needs and how each model of plasma TV may or may not fulfill these needs. Plasma screens are typically selected for their large size. There are no other technologies that can compare to the quality of a plasma television's picture in sizes above 40 inches. So, first off, determine what size best fits your specific needs.

The next issue to think about is location. The location where you will place your plasma unit will affect which unit you will want to buy. The location influences the performance and lifespan of a plasma television, so it's very important. If you are planning to mount your plasma TV in an entertainment center, make sure you take into account the television's need for proper ventilation. Also, the location may help you determine how large of a screen you want. If you'll be sitting fairly close to your television, a large screen may in fact provide a more uncomfortable viewing experience than a smaller unit that better fits the room.

A second consideration should be the features of the plasma television. Some features, like Anti-Burn in can be considered requirements, but there are options that you'll need to consider. A television may offer advanced DVI or HDMI connections that provide incredible resolutions of op to 1,000 lines, but if you have no devices that utilize this technology you'd be throwing money away for the advanced, but useless, feature. Or, you may want to connect your media center computer system to your plasma screen, in which case you'd prefer a DVI connection to create that beautiful, all-digital picture. Other inputs, when used with a personal computer, create very dirty, blurry pictures.

Finally, what variety of resolution technology are you looking for in your plasma television? If you have very high standards for video clarity, you may need a plasma unit that will display a true High Definition signal. Many models will claim to be HD, but you should look for a resolution of at least 1024 by 720 pixels, otherwise you will be losing quality. This resolution is vital for viewers who use their plasma as an interface for their computer, or to watch HD television programs. Progressive Scan DVD players and new digital television ask for high resolutions, but they only require a resolution around 852 by 480 for an optimal picture. These lower resolution, though still great, televisions will display a High Definition signal, but they will scale the picture before displaying it. This is more than satisfactory for the average user, and you should definitely consider what you will me viewing on your plasma television to better determine your resolution needs.

In general, take some time to plan out how you will be using your new plasma television. Investing some energy in research and planning will help make you make your ideal purchase.

Jakob Culver is founder of the website www.plasmatvarena.com providing information, articles and reviews about plasma tv's. To find more articles like this one visit the site http://www.plasmatvarena.com/

? Millennium Online Marteting Pty Ltd

This article may be reprinted for use in websites provided that the information box is kept intact. Email notice of intent to publish is appreciated but not required: millenniumonlinemarketing@hotmail.com

Plasma and LCD Televisions - A Side-By-Side Comparison

Want to know if a plasma television or an LCD television would be best for your needs? Here's a side-by-side comparison that will help you make an informed decision ...

What's the difference between plasma and LCD TVs?

Plasma TV screens are made up of hundreds-of-thousands of gas-filled, colored light cells. When an electrical current passes through those cells they light up and produce a picture.

LCD TV screens consist of a layer of liquid crystals sandwiched between two glass plates. When electricity passes through the crystals, an array of tiny color pixels light up and produce a picture.

Which one has the best picture?

Plasma TVs produce a slightly more colorful picture than LCD TVs. This is due to the fact that plasma TVs display blacks better than LCD TVs, which creates better color contrast, and produces brighter colors.

LCD TVs produce a sharper picture than plasma TVs due to their higher resolution.

What sizes do plasma TVs and LCD TVs come in?

Plasma TVs range in size from 42" to 65" wide, while LCD TVs are as small as 2" wide and go up to 65" wide." LCD TVs are thinner and lighter than plasma TVs.

Which one is better for video games?

Plasma TVs can experience screen "burn in." This happens when a still image is left too long on a screen, resulting in a ghost of that image burned into the screen. LCD TVs do not have this problem and are therefore a better choice if you play lots of video games on your TV.

Does a plasma TV or an LCD TV last longer?

Plasma TVs have a screen life of 30,000 to 60,000 hours, whereas LCD TVs have a screen life of 60,000 hours or more.

How much do they cost?

I recently ran a price check for plasma and LCD TVs. The cheapest large-screen plasma TV was a 42" inch model for $999. The cheapest 42" LCD TV was $1,367.

The cheapest 27" LCD TV I found was $550, and the cheapest 32" LCD TV was $619. There were no plasma TVs smaller than 42."

So what's the bottom line?

If you're in the market for a 42" flat-screen or larger, a plasma TV will give you the most bang for your buck. If you want a smaller TV, or if you're really into video games, then I'd recommend an LCD TV.

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

The author, Brian Stevens, is the senior editor for TheSatelliteTVGuide.com and has written a number of articles on plasma TVs and LCD TVs.

This Is Big. Monster Big. 103 Inch Panasonic Plasma Television

The new Panasonic 103 inch plasma television is out. The TH-103PZ600U with 1080p capability will have an expected SRP of $69,999.95 and is expected to be available for delivery in time for Christmas 2006. It will also offer a three-year in-home limited warranty, unprecedented in the industry.

In flat panel displays, plasma has technical advantages over other technologies, including LCD, when it comes to making larger size panels. Nevertheless, there are numerous technical challenges in making plasma panels that are larger than 100 inches measured diagonally while maintaining stable discharge and high picture quality across the entire surface of the panel.

Panasonic has overcome these technical hurdles by developing a new rib and phosphor for these super large panels. A "rib" divides each gas cell and prevents interference between adjacent cells to produce clear images. The 103-inch 1080p plasma panel, equivalent to four 50-inch panels in size, features consistent and uniform discharge, delivering the same accurate images from the center to every corner of the screen and brightness as the current 50-inch HD model (TH-50PX500). The panel incorporates Panasonic's 1080p HD high-speed pixel drive. The same high-speed pixel drive is used in the TH-65PX500 65-inch 1080p Plasma TV, which has been well received in Japan since its introduction last November, and the 50-inch 1080p Plasma unveiled at CEATEC JAPAN 2005 in October 2005.

The TH-103PZ600U provides stunning widescreen progressive display featuring full HD pixel resolution of 1,920 horizontal x 1,080 vertical, a contrast ratio of 4,000:1, and 4,096 equivalent steps of gradation. Its effective display area is more than 89.3? wide by over 50.2? high. The super-size 103? 1080p panel is equivalent in size to four 50-inch Panasonic plasma displays.

?Until now, the market for 100-plus-inch screens was dominated by front projection TVs. Panasonic now realizes another option in this sector. Our 103-inch 1080p PDP promises high quality images with high brightness, dynamic contrast, high resolution and excellent color reproduction that projection displays cannot match. We believe it will create strong demand as a multipurpose display for business, educational and medical applications as well as home theater use,? said Mr. Nagano, Director, PDP Device Business Unit of Panasonic AVC Networks Company.

William Coit is an expert on plasma televisions and he makes it easy to find the perfect solution for your home or business at http://www.williamcoit.com