This book provides a full and comprehensive coverage of video and television technology including the latest developments in display equipment, HDTV and DVD. Starting with TV fundamentals, the bulk of the book covers the many new technologies that are bringing growth to the TV and video market, such as plasma and LCD, DLP (digital light processing), DVD, Blu ray technology, Digital television, High Definition television (HDTV) and video projection systems. For each technology, a f (more…)

Newnes Guide to Television and Video Technology, Fourth Edition: The Guide for the Digital Age – from HDTV, DVD and flat-screen technologies to Multimedia Broadcasting, Mobile TV and Blu Ray (Paperback) is a post from: Best Plasma HDTV Guide

Author: Art Gib

Plasma televisions are becoming more and more popular in American households because of their amazing picture quality. Most people who are looking for a serious home theater start looking at plasma HDTV’s. Compared to LCD TV’s, they have much richer colors and the black and dark colors are much blacker. There are several advantages and disadvantages of owning plasma television. Learn the pro’s and con’s before you head out to the store.

Advantage #1 – Picture Quality
The main reasons people choose plasma over LCD, rear projection and front projectors is the picture quality. Because of the plasma technology, the colors displayed by plasma TV’s are superior to those of any other kind of television. Many people think that when the color black is displayed on their TV that it is actually black. However, most TV’s can’t actually display blacks. They are just dark shades of gray. Plasma TV’s produce very black blacks because of the plasma technology.

Advantage #2 – Screen Size
Plasma TV’s start in the 42 inch and higher range. If you are looking for a large TV, there are plenty of plasma options. LCD screens range from cell phone screens clear up to 65 inch televisions but a large plasma TV is typically a better buy than a LCD TV. If you are buying a plasma TV 50 inches or great, make sure you get a HDTV with 1080p resolution. 1080p is the highest possible resolution and if you are viewing a large screen TV, you will actually see the difference between 1080p and 720p. If it is a smaller TV, the difference is hardly noticeable and not worth the extra money.

Disadvantage #1 – Cost
Plasma TV’s are typically the most expensive televisions on the market. They used be nearly double or triple the price of similar LCD HDTV’s. The prices are slowly dropping due to advances in technology but you will usually pay more for a plasma TV than the same size in a LCD or rear projection television. Plasma TV’s also cost more to run because they require more power and electricity. It isn’t a major difference but over the course of a year, you might pay an extra couple hundred dollars in electricity bills.

Disadvantage #2 – Screen Size
Because plasma’s aren’t usually available in less than 42 inch screen size, you can’t get a smaller TV if you are limited to a certain size. Most flat panel owners are looking in the 30 and 40 inch range and you will find your options are somewhat limited if you are looking for a plasma television. If you are buying a smaller screen, you don’t have to have 1080p resolution. Many new TV’s come with 1080p but if you have the choice, a 720p might save you some money and you won’t even notice the difference.

About the Author:

Art Gib is a freelance writer for YouReviewElectronics.com, a website featuring the latest Panasonic TV reviews.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Advantages and Disadvantages of Plasma TV

Advantages and Disadvantages of Plasma TV is a post from: Best Plasma HDTV Guide

A Plasma HDTV Incorporates The Best In Modern Technology To Give Superior Picture Quality is a post from: Best Plasma HDTV Guide

Once you decide that you’re ready for a large-screen TV, you quickly discover that you only really have two main options – a plasma HDTV or an LCD HDTV. Plasma HDTVs were first on the scene, but the recent mass production of LCD HDTVs by major manufactures has put the best LCD HDTVs pretty much on equal footing with the best plasma HDTV. That said, you will still have to make a choice.

If you’re like most people, you not only have no idea how the two differ, you don’t even know the areas you should be considering in order to determine how they differ. But they do indeed differ, and knowing the difference is extremely important if you’re going to get the HDTV that’s right for you.

You can essentially boil the differences between plasma HDTV and LCD into twelve basic points. In some areas, plasma HDTV will win out. In other areas, LCDs will win out. In yet other areas, it will depend on your own personal taste in order to decide who wins out.

The twelve ways plasma HDTV and LCD differ are the following:

1. The first is a technical issue, and may seem a little boring, but it really does affect other areas. A Plasmas HDTV is made of chemical compounds called phosphors. LCD TVs use millions of liquid crystals.

2. The next area is related to how big the HDTVs are and the availability of larger sizes. You have a wider selection of larger-size TVs with plasma HDTV (though LCDs are catching up).

3. The next section is “small size,” which is also important. Plasma HDTV doesn’t come in smaller sizes, which you will need for places like the kitchen.

4. Next is viewing angle. Plasma HDTV’s tend to have a wider viewing angle (though, again, LCDs are getting better).

5. Although the manufacturers may not like to admit it, each “can” suffer from certain problems. Plasmas can suffer from burn-in effect; LCDs don’t.

6. Another problem area, for LCDs, is “delay.” LCDs can produce a jagged figure when in motion. Plasma tends to do significantly better.

7. The next area is life span. You can replace the light source with an LCD, thereby bringing your original picture back. With plasmas you can’t, although the life span of a plasma TV is typically lonf enough to make this problem not truly an issue.

8. In the next few sections, the theme of “picture quality” is considered. First, color: LCDs produce sharp, lively colors. Plasmas produce warmer and more accurate colors.

9. Next is brightness levels and the TVs ability to handle different lighting. LCDs tend to do better in bright-light conditions.

10. Also related to picture quality is “black levels.” Even “low end” Plasmas typically produce blacker blacks.

11. Another area to consider is contrast range. Plasmas, produce a higher contrast range.

12. Last, and certainly not least, is price. At the moment, plasmas tend to run a little cheaper, but this is changing rapidly as LCDs flood into the market. By the time you read this, in fact, there may be no difference at all. Although, this price convergence seems to once again beginning to diverge in Plasma’s favor as a result of supply and demand factors worldwide for LCD based screens which are used for many other applications in addition to HDTV screens.

Essentially, which one is right for you will all comes down to taste: What potential negatives will you not really notice? What positives do you want more of? What do you really want the TV for – movies, sports, news, regular TV shows? Both plasma HDTV and LCD have strong advocates in their corners. Both have deliriously happy customers. But those happy customers are only happy because they knew what they wanted before they made their purchase. If you want to make the right choice, you’ll have to decide what it is you want and which of the two TVs can best give you that.

How the Best Plasma HDTV And LCD HDTVs Differ is a post from: Best Plasma HDTV Guide