Plasma TVs at high altitudes

An interesting factor to consider when planning your purchase of a new plasma television is altitude. Plasma TVs use millions of tiny, gas-filled chambers to create a picture. When you move to higher altitudes, the constant pressure in the chambers and the now lower ambient air pressure create a buzzing sound reminiscent of a halogen beer sign. This buzz is a combined result of the increased power consumption necessary to overcome the pressure differential, and the increase in fan use because the high power consumption heats the unit. This change in noise is really the only difference between operating a plasma television at sea level and one operating at extreme (above 6,000 ft) altitudes.

This noise increase provides a hint as to the more serious reason to avoid using a plasma television: lifespan. The life of a plasma screen is dependent on how hard it works through the course of its life. Operating these televisions at altitudes above what they were designed for puts an excess strain on their various components. Using a plasma TV above 6,000 ft. is more likely to annoy you with additional noise than anything else, but it's a bad choice in the long run.

This pressure change is why airplanes chose to use LCD screens over plasma screens on flights that offer video entertainment. LCDs use crystals instead of gas filled chambers, and are thus indifferent to altitude changes. That said, there are manufacturers who have designed plasma televisions for use at altitudes up to 9,000 ft. You'll pay for this upgraded design, so you must decide if the price difference is worth it. So, check the elevation information for your city to determine if this should concern you, because it's not always obvious. Denver is just under the 6,000 ft. window for operating a regular plasma screen. You may see a slight difference in the lifespan of the unit here when compared to an identical television located closer to sea level, but this is likely to be very small. If you're not sure what your local elevation is, or if you're close, but still below the 6,000 ft. recommended ceiling, do some firsthand research. Go to an electronics store and test out the various plasma TVs on display. Listen closely for a buzzing or humming. You may find that your local air pressure is low enough to affect the performance of a plasma unit.

So you've done your research and planning, and you're ready to buy your plasma television? Now make sure you check your local conditions and, if necessary, invest in a high altitude plasma unit.

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/

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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/

Inside Information About Hitachi Plasma Televisions

Hitachi plasma televisions are some of the best in the world because they offer great value for an extensive amount of features. They also offer great quality in the LCD market but plasma is the elite market for the best video quality. Some of the key factors that make Hitachi plasmas great are apparent before the screen is even turned on. The screen is sleek and sheen. It follows some basic rules that are rarely followed in the flat screen market. The screen has a completely black surrounding that is important to contrast colors. A black border around the screen creates an absolute contrast for the color to appear more brilliant. The border is also housed by glass to make it reflective. This also helps make the screen seem to stand out more. As you explore the controls, you notice that it will accept a USB connection on the side of the screen. This means that you can connect a digital camera or camcorder to view on the screen. On the back side you may notice one of the best arrays of digital connections available. First off, the TV has two HDMI connections. This is a standard now even though it is hard to find. There are too many digital connections today to have a television that accepts just one. For everything else, there are also 2 component inputs, 3 s-video inputs and 5 composite video inputs. If video is not enough, the sound is so superb that you may forget to turn on your stereo equipment. Treble has a very high range and the bass has great tight response. For feature hungry freaks, this television offers a motorized stand. Yes, from the remote control you can rotate the television clockwise or counterclockwise. Video capabilities bring 1080i video with unbelievable clarity. This Hitachi plasma television is a top notch addition to any media room.

David Stone is a regular contributor of articles and has over 20 years experience in the electronics industry. Find more great information at http://www.my-plasma-tv.info/