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Plasma TV

The debate has been raging for a decade about whether plasma TVs are better or worse than LCD TVs. Given that no clear winner has emerged from the ferocious debate, it's fair to draw the conclusion that plasma and LCD TVs each have plenty to recommend them. Plasma TVs give TV viewers (and game players) access to the highest quality viewing available in the market today and - along with the latest LCDs - make for a great choice for your new TV.

What is plasma?

A plasma screen is made up of hundreds of thousands of individual cells that are held between two large planes of glass. The cells contain neon, xenon and helium gas, which lights up when energised by electrodes. This light is a result of the gas becoming a plasma - an ionised gas that glows - which gives these TVs their name. While the details are complicated, it's helpful to think of every one of the individual cells operating like a coloured fluorescent light.

Plasma: the new black

For many, the main difference between plasma TVs and LCDs - and the main advantage of plasma TV screens - is in their display of things that are black. With LCD screens, the backlight shines through even the darkest colours, producing a dark grey, rather than black. The latest LCDs (and especially the ones with LED backlights) have gone a long way to fixing this issue, but for full colour contrast, plasmas are hard to beat.

Other advantages of plasma tvs

While plasma's advantages over its rivals are all narrowing, there remains a gap in a few areas:

  • Better viewing angle: Plasma TVs retain image fidelity when viewed from a more extreme angle than LCDs.
  • Less image blur: When viewing fast-moving images, such as sport, LCDs tend to have more noticeable blur, with plasma tv pictures remaining clear.

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How to choose a TV

Buying a new TV these days can be a harrowing experience! Just 10 years ago, the choice was a simple one – you just needed to decide what size and what brand you wanted.

Now, with LCD and plasmas, HDTV, digital televisions and set-top boxes, gaming consoles and an intimidating array of sizes and shapes, buying a new television demands lots of homework before you actually splash the cash.

Internet forums can be a great place to get advice of televisions, but – as with in-store sales people – be careful that the advice isn't coming from someone with a vested interest in you buying a particular model (or spending more money).

Of course, the best way to select the right television for your needs is to test them out in real life. Spending time in a shop comparing colours and contrast (especially skin tones and night scenes) and playing with the controls and settings will give you a good understanding of the relative strengths and weaknesses of different models. Look at the screen from various angles, and try to replicate your home environment as best as possible.

Once you've narrowed it down to 2 or 3 models, jump online and search for the best deals. Remember that warranties and after-sales service might be required, so pay attention to the different offers out there.

What to look for in a new television

New model televisions come with a huge range of features. Deciding on the features you want, and the relative importance of each one, is a great way to narrow down your search for a new TV.

Sound:

  • Do you want your television programs in stereo, or are you happy just with stereo from components like DVD players and video games?
  • Are you happy with pre-set sound settings, or do you want graphic-equaliser-style control?
  • Do you want a mute button?

Picture:

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LCD TV - Affordable LCD TVs

The television revolution is truly upon us. Large flat screen TVs - reserved for the super-rich less than a decade ago - are now selling at prices most of us can afford. LCD televisions dominate this flat-and-widescreen TV market.

But buying a TV is a big step. We want something that'll last us a decade, and - given the amount of time we'll spend looking at it - we want something that looks good too.

And if you're into gaming or you want to network your TV or even connect it to the Internet, you'll need to know exactly what you're doing before you whip out the credit card and wait for the big box to arrive.

Which TV should I buy?

The first choice, of course, is what type of TV to get. But how do you choose a TV ? In the old days, this wasn't an issue. Cathode ray tubes (CRT) were the one and only option for TVs. Your choice was really just about size and style.

Now, you need a degree in audio-visual technology and a diploma in LAN architecture to work out all the options and assess all the specifications. Luckily, though, you can still make an informed decision with just a little bit of homework.

The most popular televisions on the market are LCD televisions (or Liquid Crystal Display televisions), although Plasma - and now LED - are still popular options.

LCD TVs and Plasma TVs

Much has been said and written about the differences between Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) televisions and Plasma televisions . While it's impossible to state which is best overall, a few features might assist in making a decision about which type is right for you. Keep in mind that the severity of these differences vary widely from model to model:

  • LCD televisions are generally cheaper than their plasma cousins.
  • LCD TVs tend to be lighter, which makes them easier to move and to mount on a wall.
  • Plasmas tend to lead the way with the largest screens.

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