Which Plasma TV's is right for you?

By: Sandy Baker

Plasma technology is the latest technology available in home entertainment. It offers an enormous, flat, bright, sharp, flicker-free display that projects rich, life-like color. Plasma TV's have higher resolution, no scan Lines, exceptional color accuracy, wide screen aspect ratio, Uniform Screen Brightness, and Wide Viewing Angle. Today, we're in the midst of a digital video revolution because of HDTV, DTV, DVD-Video, and digital satellite broadcasts. Plasma display technology allows you to fully enjoy the dramatically improved image quality of all these digital video sources listed above. However, as each competing TV screen technology matures and improves, the differences between them become more difficult to detect. The decision to buy which one will depend on your needs. Remember, if you want to go for luxury, go above four thousand; but if you want the most affordable Plasma TV, plan on spending at least thirteen hundred to three thousand dollars.

The average Plasma TV screen has a life expectancy of approximately ten years. Most plasma screens are only a few inches deep, so they require far less space than a CRT television of the same screen size. Plasma tv's, it is made up of thousands and thousands of small pixels with the color scheme RGB (Red, Green and Blue). Plasma Televisions have lower power consumption compared to a conventional CRT television. The big advantages of both kinds of TV monitors is that they are very thin, only a few inches thick.

There are two easy criteria to determine which plasma TV screen quality is the best. First, simply compare the peak panel brightness with other plasma screens. They will help you find a correctly sized set in your price range so you don't have any space or budgetary issues when you take it home with you. Second, look at the resolution. Make sure it's at least 720 pixels, since it's considered a "high definition" or HDTV. Be sure to actually view a plasma TV before buying that particular model and see if the fan noise is a problem.

If you are unsure about spending extra money for the HDTV plasma, make sure you check with your local cable or satellite provider to see what HDTV channels are available in your local area. Also consider whether or not you'll be using your plasma as a PC monitor and if so, what display resolutions you intend to use. This is very important.

You can buy a plasma TV is between a traditional "brick and mortar" retail store, or a an online dealer. If you buy from a brick and mortar location, make sure they are factory authorized, this way your warranty stays in tact. Another good thing about brick and mortar is you can actually view the Plasma TV, so that will give you a better idea for aesthetic reasons. You can also get a Plasma TV from an online retailer. The bid advantage here is the prices are much lower, and you usually don't have to pay any sales tax. The good thing about buying online is you don't have to worry about a pushy salesman. All the information is there in front of you without any sales pressure.

Below are the most popular Plasma Televisons:

• Maxent - 42" HD-Ready Plasma Monitor
• Panasonic - 42" Plasma HDTV
• Samsung - 42" Flat-Panel Plasma HDTV
• Pioneer PDP-5070HD
• Hitachi 55HDM71