Plasma technology has existed since the 60's, believe it or not!
Originally plasma TV displays were available only for commercial or business use.
They were at first unavailable in stores, and then early consumer sets were extremely expensive for homeowners.
They were in the $25,000 range early on.
Totally unaffordable then... But the picture on those sets seemed absolutely magical.
Prices for plasma TV's are currently in free fall, but naturally, some budget models are built for performance and value.
If You're buying a plasma TV, it's important you find out how can you pick a model with the size and features you can afford.
You don't want a set that will be out of date too soon, you want to enjoy your purchase, and be pleased with it.
You don't want to feel like you were sold a lemon.
Though I have nothing against lemons, if I want lemonade..
But , let's try to get champagne, instead.
With prices starting around $1,000 for the least expensive models, Plasma TV sets around 42" and 50" are currently the price value leaders in flat panel sets.
So a Plasma HDTV is within reach of most budgets.
There are some details to think about before you buy...
1: Consider where your new baby will go when you get it home...
In bright rooms, the display of plasma TV panels can be ruined by external light.
By this, I mean you will note that some plasma screens have a shiny surface.
Some sets have an anti reflective filter that cuts that problem down, as well.
If the front of the screen is shiny, meaning it has no AR coating, this can produce annoying reflections, especially in brightly lit rooms.
Also, some sets are monitors only; they don't include speakers or a tuner for any type of analog (old style) or digital (new style) TV signal.
Most new High definition sets should have a built in digital and analog tuner and may have high quality, if small, speakers.
Check this by listening to the set in question... Turn up the volume!
There is no clunky converter box with these sets, which is perfect for a wall-mounted plasma TV.
Like conventional televisions, you can also choose to mount plasma TV's on a desktop stand.
Make sure you protect you children and pets with an anti tip cable to the wall behind, because flat panels can overbalance easily, especially if a dog or child goes behind or in front of the set and pushes it far enough...
2: Or on your wall.
However, a plasma TV is a heavy unit to trust to bolts in drywall or sheetrock.
Weighing in at 50 pounds or more, plasma TV's need adequate support and lots of ventilation because of the heat they generate.
Naturally, you may want to check with a building pro if you are mounting one on your wall.
Even placing the set on a table or A/V stand can be problematic.
I have seen one go through the toughened glass of a unit that was rated much higher than the weight of the plasma that was placed on it.
This did not happen until some months later. Go figure.
3: Picture quality varies considerably between different makes and models of plasma TV's, so be sure to read reviews before you go and lay down your hard earned.
Naturally, HD pictures look better the smaller or finer grained the pixels are, and the larger the screen, the more this applies.
As an example, if you were to look at some cheaper Plasma sets, the screen looks quite coarse because the pixels are large.
Kind of like a Newspaper picture, pictures are dotty or pixelly up close.
(Use a magnifying glass on a color newspaper to see this effect)
Sometimes visible to the naked eye as the "Screen Door effect"
This is where the picture looks like the view through a screen door.
For information about Solarization, a related problem which is a common problem in cheaper flat panel sets, click the link below..
The high pixel count of a High Definition plasma display provides fine detail for outstanding HD TV reproduction.
The widescreen or 16:9 aspect ratio lets you enjoy DVD movies with a big theatre feel.
Look for 720p or 1080p in the specifications and Don't buy HD ready TV sets..
720p is great for sports and car racing shows because of the refresh rate...
1080p is better for quality and all round performance
But a HDTV with 1080p and 120hz refresh or better has the technology to beat both of them...
4: How does a plasma display panel work?
In a plasma TV, the individual pixels or picture elements are filled with an inert gas such as neon or xenon.
The effect is like a bunch of incredibly tiny red, green and blue flourescent lights, which through a trick of the eye, can produce a really beautiful picture.
Of course, your regular TV does a similar thing, with an electron beam...
But Cathode Ray Tubes can't be made as large or as thin as plasma, and probably never will be...
And though there are great strides in that direction, for example SED, they won't be available anytime soon..
And, though plasma manufacturers have improved consumption requirements they consume a bit more power than your current old school set.
It is wise to study reviews of the models you want, to learn the facts about specific models of Plasma HDTV before you consider making a purchase.
5: And don't forget ask about manufacturers warranty, and call your insurance company to insure your new Plasma HDTV in case it is stolen or accidentally broken.
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