| shopping for a new television? Have you decided | | | | permanent ghost type image is burnt into your screen |
| what you are looking for? There are so many choices | | | | when these images are on your tv for long periods of |
| out there how will you ever decide? There are | | | | time such as tv station logos or control panels in video |
| seemingly unlimited technologies to choose from. There | | | | games or anything that stays in one place too long on |
| are Plasmas, LCDs, DLPs, CRTs, HDTVs, rear | | | | your screen. Plasmas have this tendency while LCDs |
| projection, front projection, flat screen, flat panel just to | | | | do not. However plasma manufacturers are using new |
| name a few and the list of different technologies | | | | technologies to prevent this and the newer models are |
| seems to grow by leaps and bounds every year. This | | | | less likely to suffer this problem. Also to be fair LCDs |
| is actually a good thing for the consumer since it | | | | have a similar problem though due to different reasons |
| means an ever improving quality of products to | | | | when pixels retain their charge too long or get stuck |
| choose from but all this technlogy makes the job of | | | | ghosting is possible. |
| choosing all the more difficult. | | | | Next lets consider the life span of the two tv types |
| There isn't enough space here to examine all the | | | | which should always be a big part of any purchase. |
| different technologies in any signifigant detail but we | | | | Here the LCD takes the lead by a good margin. While |
| can look at a couple of the more popular choices on | | | | the plasma has a lifespan of 20,000-30,000 continuous |
| the market today and make some comparisons. Two | | | | hours of use before the gases used to make the |
| of the most popular types of television are Plasmas | | | | images starts to fade the LCD can go on for |
| and LCDs so lets take a closer look at these. | | | | 50,000-75,000 hours and even then the bulb used to |
| Starting with the screen size we see that the Plasmas | | | | backlight the screen can be replaced. The plasmas are |
| tend to have some advantage currently with screens | | | | also very fragile while LCDs are fairly durable making |
| from around 32 to 63 inches while LCDs range from | | | | shipping, handling and installing a possible issue as well. |
| 13 to 45 inches on average, however LCDs are | | | | If you also consider that plasmas are a little heavier |
| catching up. While there are larger screens available in | | | | and bulkier where the thinnest plasmas are about 3 |
| both types they tend to be more expensive than most | | | | inches thick and the LCDs are around only 2 inches |
| people are willing to pay for but they are becoming | | | | making the LCDs less expensive to ship and easier to |
| more affordable as technology improves over time. | | | | install, then the LCDs start to look like they might be a |
| Another aspect of the screen is the viewing angle | | | | better choice. |
| which comes into play when the television is placed in | | | | There are other issues to think about such as screen |
| a larger room to accomodate more people usually | | | | brightness where the plasmas probably have better |
| with the larger screen televisions. There isn't a big | | | | contrast and better black backgrounds while the LCD |
| difference here with the Plasma having around a 160 | | | | screens don't reflect as much light and therefore seem |
| degree angle and the LCD with about 175 degrees. | | | | to be brighter but ultimately the choice will be one of |
| An important trait to consider when comparing these | | | | personal preferance. |
| two is the refresh rate of the screen which is the | | | | To be sure with technology constantly changing at a |
| ability of the tv to handle rapid movemente in video | | | | rapid pace most people will find it hard to aquire all the |
| such as action scenes and also comes into play if you | | | | information needed to always make the perfect |
| plan to use the tv for video games. The plasma has a | | | | purchase but you have to spend some time doing a |
| slight advantage over LCDs here but again the LCDs | | | | little research in order to insure you will be happy with |
| are improving as they were originally designed for data | | | | what you buy and that it will suit your needs |
| not video. You should be looking for rates from 15ms | | | | effectively.Do your homework before you buy and |
| all the way down to 5ms. | | | | enjoy your purchase. |
| Here's something you don't want to happen to your | | | | Written by Steven W. |
| new high dollar television. Its called burn-in where a | | | | |