Looks can be highly deceptive; you must have heard this adage often. And it holds so true in this case as well. Both, LCD and Plasma are flatter and thinner versions of your age old television. The outward appearance might be similar but the technology used in both is quite different.
First things first, plasma television does away with the bulky picture tube and electron beam scanning of traditional televisions. The technology it uses instead is based loosely on the fluorescent light bulb. Cells form the entire display and within each cell two glass panels are separated by a narrow gap in which is filled with neon-xenon gas and sealed in plasma form during the manufacturing process itself. The gas gets charged automatically at specific intervals, whenever the plasma is switched on. The charged gas then strikes red, green, and blue phosphors, which we call s pixels, and thus a television image is created. Screen-burn of static images and generation of heat after excessive use are certain drawbacks that plasma has not been able to improve upon.
Two layers of transparent material that are glued together form the LCD panels. Technologically, it differs from the plasma in many ways. Out of the two, one layer is coated with a special polymer that holds the individual liquid crystals. Current is then passed through these crystals allowing them to pass or block light. An image is thus created through a different technology in LCD screens. An external light source is needed in case such as this as the LCD crystals do not produce their own light. A fluorescent bulb is hence needed to view the image created by the LCD.
Since no phosphors get burned up in case of LCD screens, the heat generated is much less. Also, there is no direct emission of light from the screen itself. Keeping the budget and requirements in mind, one can now easily decide which one to go for-LCD or Plasma...what do ya say?! (Andrena Markley)
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Andrena Markley is the webmaster of http://gazette-world.blogspot.com . Get updates on Cool Gadgets and latest gizmos from the site.
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As you search for the perfect HDTV, you'll come across dozens of different terms that explain different types of technology, different styles of display and different levels of quality. One term that you will need to be familiar with is the screen resolution. An HDTV picture is made up of many small dots, or "pixels", and the amount of pixels that are used to make the picture is referred to as the resolution. In general, the more pixels, the better, and since an HDTV has more pixels than a regular TV, that's one of the things that makes it better.
There are two different levels of resolution commonly used in modern HDTVs. The lower one is called "720p", which means that there are 720 rows of pixels and it's a progressive display. In a typical widescreen HDTV, each row has 1280 pixels. The higher resolution, 1080p, means 1080 rows of pixels, usually with 1920 pixels per row.
What, you may ask, is a progressive display? In a progressive display, 30 times a second, the screen shows the full picture, then erases it to make room for the next frame. The other way to show a picture is with an "integrated display". That's where the TV draws the even rows of the picture on the screen, then the odd rows, then the even rows of the next frame, and so on. This technique has been used in regular TV sets for decades, because it takes about half as much effort and looks almost as good as a progressive display. Now that we have better technology, though, we can make every HDTV with a progressive display and bring picture quality up to the highest possible level. TV shows are still usually broadcast in an integrated format because it takes less bandwidth, but an HDTV will always "de-interlace" these shows to display progressively on screen.
If you want to get a really big HDTV, you'll want to seriously consider 1080p resolution. In any set larger than 50 inches, a lower resolution will look choppy, since you'll be able to see individual pixels.
So, it would seem that 1080p is clearly better, and 720p is not really worth considering. But, there are actually some good reasons to choose 720p over 1080p.
Input source.
You will only get the full benefit of a 1080p HDTV if you are watching 1080p content. Almost all TV broadcasts are still in 720p or 1080i, so a 720p set will handle them fine.
Screen size.
If the screen size is smaller than 50 inches, it will be very hard to tell the difference between 720p and 1080p. At a normal viewing distance, they will look essentially the same.
Cost.
A 1080p set will almost always cost more than a similar set built with 720p resolution. If you can't see much difference in picture quality, why spend more?
Other factors.
When looking at the big picture in your HDTV purchase, the screen resolution is only one factor. Contrast ratio, black level, likelihood of problems and even customer service can all be more important factors than screen resolution. Don't let one exciting feature convince you to buy an inferior set.
The best way to get that big picture is to do research on the internet, look at HDTV reviews, see the sets in person if possible, and think about the factors that are really important to you. Using an online HDTV tutorial can also help point you in the right direction.(By Tom Webster)
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About the Author
Tom Webster is a researcher and copywriter who writes for FlatHDTV.net, a guide to the HDTV revolution.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_Webster
What are the inherent differences between a Plasma screen TV and an LCD screen?
A plasma screen is based similar to a fluorescent light bulb where the image displays make up of cells. The images consist of pixels and they display images using a combination of colors.
LCD uses a completely different technology compared to the typical plasma screen. It consists of 2 layers of transparent material. One of them is polarized while the other is coated with a special polymer that binds together sets of liquid crystals and they depend on an external light source, unlike the Plasma screen, to produce sparkling images.
Basically, plasma screens are larger, have deeper colors and are more accurate in terms of color and saturation. They are also better at tracking pictures (not as prone to lag). However, they are actually more susceptible to the burn-in of static images and generate more heat in general. There are also screening altitude problems - especially when you place them at higher altitudes. Prolonged usage of plasma screens also causes them to burn out quickly.
LCD on the other hand has no burn-in problems. They are also able to run at cooler temperatures and are not as prone to altitude problems compared to Plasma screens. The images are also considerably brighter compared to plasma screens. LCD screens are has more lag problems compared to its counterpart.
At the end of the day, regardless of whether you choose a Plasma screen or an LCD screen, the best option is to see which of these screens fall within your budget because you have to factor in maintenance costs as well.(Rachel Summers Green)
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Rachel Summers Green is an avid blogger and a passionate Infopreneur. Check out her publications and offerings at http://www.plasmavslcdreviews.com
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Plasma HDTV - The Truth About Plasma TV Lifespan
Posted by Clement Yonathan Labels: Articles, PlasmaIf you're still living back in the days when Plasma TVs were only supposed to last a short time then you need to drag yourself back into current reality.
The truth is, a Plasma HDTV can last you up to half a lifetime - that's no exageration with several major companies including Panasonic, Samsung and Pioneer listing longevity of up to 60,000 hours.
Equivalent Longevity To LCD TVs
This now means plasma TVs are now equal to LCDs in longevity which is impressive considering LCDs were supposed to run them out of town when they first hit the market and many were shouting the "death of plasma."
Many are still clinging to the claims of nearly a decade ago that plasma TVs burnt out too quick and were not worth their purchase price in comparison to their shelf life.
That's true in a sense when one needed to shelve out nearly five figures for the pleasure of putting one over their neighbors in the "keeping up with the Jones'" race but things have turned around dramatically since then.
THe price of plasmas has dropped significantly - thanks to new technology, more units being sold and the competition from LCD units. Plasma burn may even be thing of the past although don't dare test it by leaving your screen on a still image for more than ten minutes.
Today's models are thinner, have superior anti-burn technology and consume much less power. From a viewing perspective, they have always been superior especially from TV viewing distance and viewing angle.
4 Tips For Longer Plasma Life
The figure of 60,000 hours longevity will differ from brand to brand so keep in mind that some are superior to others. Here are some important tips in keeping your Plasma HDTV working in tip-top order for many years:
- keep it in a well ventilated area
- do not leave static images on the screen for longer than 8-10 minutes
- avoid watching in very brightly lit rooms; in other words, plasma TVs perform better in normal lit and dimly lit areas
- make sure the unit is turned off when you are not using it(Dean Caporella)
Want to learn more about choosing the best home theater TVs? Get the latest tips and tricks in home theater set-up, buying and installation with our in-depth reviews.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dean_Caporella
Many people are unsure as to what the difference is between LCD flat screen TVs and plasma TV sets. In fact it is only the screen and the way that the the image is created that is different between these two, and even between them and your big cathode ray tube TV : the rest is pretty much the same.
Let's look first of all at what LCD and plasma really are. Most people are acquainted with LCD from the display on their calculators but have never come across plasma before. So what is plasma? It has nothing to do with the clear fluid in the blood, but is a fluid of a sort in that it is a gas (which is technically a fluid).
The plasma in a TV screen is formed from neon and xenon gases that, when electrically charged, turn into what are known as ions. As the energy passes through this ionic cloud of gas they start moving faster and faster, and the negative and positive particles that make up the ionic gas become attracted to each other. When they collide they release a photon of energy. A photon is akin to a 'particle' of energy that is part particle and part wave.
This plasma is contained between two plates of glass with a tiny space between them. The inside surface of the plate that you view is coated with hundreds of thousand of tiny cells, each of which are coated with phosphor, a substance that emits light when hit by a photon. These can be excited to produce either blue, green or red light, and which are excited by the photon is determined by the energy of that photon.
The TV signal is converted to electrical energy that excites the photons of the plasma gases to specific energies according to the color of the original subject, and so excite the particular set of phosphor needed to produce the color. As red, blue and yellow can produce just about every other color of the rainbow, so red, blue and green do the same with photon sensitive phosphors.
On the other hand, an LCD (liquid crystal display) screen is totally different, and much more difficult to explain. To put it in simple terms, a liquid crystal is one that is more liquid than solid, and whose structure can be oriented by electromagnetic fields to either block polarized light or allow it through. Polarized light is light that is arranged so that its vibrations occur only in one plane, so that it is easily filtered.
Basically an LCD works by cells either allowing light through or not. This is colored by the use of red, blue and green filters in the front of each pixel, so that if light is passed through a pixel it is colored. If it is not passed through, then it is not colored. Therefore, both systems work through the use of the same three colors of light, just as the old cathode ray color TV does. With CTR the screen also contains red, blue and green phosphors, just as with the plasma screen, which are excited by a beam of electrons aimed at each specific pixel.
The choice between plasma TVs and LCD flat screen TVs depends on your specific needs that are beyond the scope of this article, but suffice it to say that each has its own merits and drawbacks, and whichever you choose will likely be a compromise. The situation will remain thus for many years since High Definition TV is not dependent on any particular system, other than it it is certainly not the old CTR, or Cathode Ray Tube TV.(Peter Nisbet)
For information on the pros and cons of LCD flat scree TVs and the plasma types visit Pete's site at LCD Flat Screen TVs & Plasma Tvs where you will also be given the opportunity to purchase from eBay at very low prices.
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Everyone wants quality and affordable LCD HDTV and all manufacturers say that their TVs are both of high quality and affordable. So is that mean all LCD HDTV out there worth buying? How does a customer choose the right LCD HDTV? Well the answer is it all depends on your needs. Will you use it to play games or an alternate computer monitor or just simply to watch tv programs? When you're anxious to buy your first HDTV take a deep breath and relax. You'll need a cool head to choose between all those brands and models.
Okay, let's start. Some things to look for on an LCD HDTV are it's maximum resolution, color depth, and refresh rates. The higher the numbers the better. First is the maximum resolution. Current LCD TV market mainly offers 720p and 1080p resolution. However, if you want the highest definition, that would be 1080p (1920x1080). This resolution is now coming onto more and more monitors, but it also comes with a higher price tag. You can clearly see the difference in image resolution between a 720p TV and a 1080p TV. So, don't waste your money to buy cheaper yet lower resolution TVs only to become disenchanted with it in a couple of months later and then scoop your pocket again to get a 1080p HDTV.
Next is the color depth and refresh rates. You'll want the highest possible color depth and refresh rates. High color depth means that the images will have natural colors. Red looks red, green looks green, black look pitch black instead of dark grey and white looks pure white instead of light yellowish color. High refresh rate is especially noticeable when you're watching fast movements either in movies or games. The high refresh rate allows the image transition looking smooth.
So, now that you got the resolution, color depth and refresh rates taken care of it's time to look at the other aspect for example the speaker. The built in speakers you'll find in a LCD HDTV usually have so so quality. So if when buy it's probably better to go to your local store and listen to the sound. Ask the seller to play an action dvd or something like that and lister for yourself. If you're not really sure what a great speaker should sound like then you could try reading the online reviews for the TVs. Learning from other's experience and opinions can make your buying decision a lot easier.
Other things you may want to consider before buying are the TV design (will it look good in the TV room?), whether it has a built-in Digital Tuner (so you can take advantage of the new Digital broadcast signals), is a wall mount included (so you can hang it on the bedroom wall) and other accessories. They may not be all that important but you sure want to get the best bang for your buck right? (Ivan A Cuxeva)
Digjaya.com is the right place to go when you're looking for HDTV. So if you want to buy a Panasonic TH-42PZ700U 42" 1080p Plasma HDTV, or Toshiba REGZA 42HL167 42" 1080p LCD HDTV, or Sony Bravia KDL-40V3000 40" 1080p LCD HDTV you can surely find them there.
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