Electronics Blog

Plasma televisions are an innovative new technology that provides flat screen displays. Using a variety of noble gases encased in small compartments (pixels), plasmas work by converting the gases into plasma. This plasma radiates light and forms an extremely clear picture. Liquid crystal displays (or LCDs) are also flat screened TVs. However, these use liquid crystals with backlighting to form pictures.

Plasma televisions (and flat screen TVs in general) are extremely easy to handle. Due to their very nature, plasmas are flatter than traditional televisions (also called CRTs) and thus, are lighter as well. Currently averaging 5 inches in width and 100 pounds, their size will soon be reduced to an inch in width and 45 pounds. This lack of bulk has heralded in a new era of television placement; consumers can now mount their plasmas on the wall without worrying about ruining the wall.

Flat screen televisions cover a range of much higher resolutions than do traditional televisions. High definition plasmas and LCDs have resolutions from 1024×768 pixels per square inch to 1920×1080 pixels. The ceiling of resolution for CRTs stands at a mere 480 lines, providing a much more muddled picture than plasmas or LCDs do.

Plasmas even last longer than other types of televisions. Manufacturers and companies stress that an average plasma television has a life span of 60,000 hours. That is equivalent to a life span of almost 7 years, if the plasma is left on 24/7. Compared to a tube television’s estimated lifetime of much less than 5 years if left on 24/7, the plasma television is the best choice.

Plasma televisions have both a better color ratio and more contrast than LCDs. For plasma TVs, each pixel can virtually be turned off to produce truer blacks. However, LCDs use a backlight, which will shine through the “black” pixel and damage the contrast quality. CRT televisions have the best contrast, but both plasmas and LCDs surpass them when it comes to color reproduction.

Plasmas also have a wider viewing angle than LCDs. When viewing the television from the side, higher above, or lying on the floor, plasmas retain their crystal clear picture much better than LCDs do. Due to the shutter effect caused by the backlighting on LCDs, the larger the viewing angle is, the more brightness variation an LCD television viewer will experience.

In older models of plasma TVs, the burn-in effect posed a significant problem. When an image (for example, a paused movie) is kept on the screen for too long, the image could be burned into the screen and still faintly visible afterwards. Plasma TV companies have worked to eradicate this problem with much success; while it is still possible for images to burn in, on newer plasmas the possibility is almost negligible.

Unlike tube or LCD TVs, plasma TVs are not limited in size. Consumers (with large enough budgets) can order plasmas up to any size. However, CRTs and LCDs are usually restricted to about 52 inches in diagonal.

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