Don't give up on tubes...With flat panel TVs emerging nowadays such as plasmas and LCDs, most consumers are highly misinformed and believe that the quality of a flat panel is better than that of a tube (CRT) TV. This is not true at all. The image quality of a plasma or LCD TVs far inferior to a CRT, such as the Sony KD-34XBR970. Even worse, more and more people are buying these flat panel TVs as a 'status symbol' and do not understand true picture quality. Why do you think studios use CRT monitors during production and editing instead of a plasma TV? Most studios want the best, most accurate picture possible, so they use CRT monitors. The quality of the Sony KD-34XBR970 is much like a studio monitor, and surpasses all other displays regardless of cost. The dot pitch is so fine and the picture has so much realism to the point where all other displays look dull and muddy in comparison. Convergence and geometry is perfect out of the box, and the set looked fantastic. Its picture had depth and dimension, unlike the flat look of most plasma and LCD TVs. HD channels look amazing they are very real and are not overly enhanced. The Sony's on-board processing and DRC is perfect and does not make sources look pixelated at all. The picture is fine, clear, and has exceptional detail.
One caveat to remember: The set is shipped in 'Vivid' mode, which is meant to grab your attention in the stores with a bright picture but lacking in clarity. It is way too bright and much too sharp. You can see outlines and picture artifacts in this mode. If you keep the TV in Vivid mode, you are guaranteed to burn the tubes in no time and shorten the life of the TV. Also, the vivid mode is very inaccurate in color reproduction. I have my set calibrated in the 'Movie' mode, with a picture (white level) setting of 20/63 and a brightness (black level) setting of 30/63. Remember, it is very important to lower the 'picture' setting because it controls the amount of white light on the screen. If you do this, the tube will last a very long time and you will see an exceptional image. On the other hand, the 'brightness' setting controls the amount of dark areas you see in the picture. Turning this setting up will allow you to see more dark areas in a movie, but will not burn the tubes or impair image quality. An accurate image is better than a bright one.
Finally, the color decoder needs adjustment as it emphasizes red severely and makes people look reddish or tanned. If you change the 'color axis' setting from 'Default' to 'Monitor,' the colors will be much more accurate and vibrant. If you adjust this set properly and take good care of it, it will produce the best picture of any TV and will last a very long time. (My old XBR TV is 16 years old and still going.) I have a neighbor who spent $10,000 on a plasma TV and the picture quality is far worse than this set. What kind of TV would you buy? Is status symbol more important than image quality? Remember, that after reading this review, you are a much more educated consumer.
There is no doubt that bigger is better when it comes to computer monitors. The more you see, and the larger you see the images, the better your computer experience, whether you're gaming or working. If you've decided to increase your monitor capacity, congratulations; however, you still have one more question to answer: should you buy one large monitor, or two separate monitors? Let's look at the question from a couple of different angles.
Viewing Space:
When it comes to pure visual area, nothing beats a nice big monitor. You can find a number of different brands offering widescreen monitors in sizes up to 30 inches or so (larger with some setups). The primary benefit to using a single large monitor is that you have no interruption of the visual field. In other words, you can see the entire image with no breaks, whether you're looking at your desktop or playing your favorite online game. Dual monitors work just as well, though they have an interruption between the monitors. There is no distortion or image loss, but the lack of continuity can be disconcerting for some users.
Many Samsung LCD Monitors have an incredible viewing angle, tons of connection options and great performance, especially the SyncMaster line, making this a great selection for a large LCD Monitor, specifically 23" and above. Better known for their LCD Displays and LCD TV's, Sony LCD Monitors overall have stellar picture quality with high resolution and a plethora of features, but these beautiful monitors carry a hefty price tag.
Price:
Hands down, dual monitors win out over their larger brethren. You can purchase two midrange monitors for much less than you'll get a single large screen version. If you're economically minded (or just strapped for cash), this is the option for you. If you're concerned about the lack of continuity mentioned above, don't be. You'll find that your vision adapts quite well to the separate monitors. After using your dual setup for a little while, you'll wonder how you ever managed to do anything before.
HP LCD Monitors are great monitors in all size categories. They have an attractive design, outstanding performance and an approachable price tag. Depending upon the series, HP has some very affordable monitors in the 17"-20" range, perfect for setting up and saving money on a dual monitor setup.
Additional Hardware:
If you're going to run dual monitors, you're going to have to upgrade the graphics card that came with your system. For some reason, computer manufacturers haven't made the logical leap that aftermarket graphic card makers have. Namely, that two monitors are better than one. In other words, almost all computers come with only single monitor capabilities. The good news is that almost all modern graphics cards worth their salt come with dual monitor hooks ups. This includes both ATI and NVIDIA.
An additional option is to use a converter solution, such as Matrox. These are adapters that plug into your existing graphics card and can then split that signal to two monitor plug ins, much like the old splitters used to get cable to more than one television from a single line. Both options have their advantages, though a new video card comes with additional onboard memory for better graphics capabilities. Additionally, any Windows version above Windows 95 can handle multiple monitors.
Plasma televisions have come a long way since they first appeared about a decade ago and has become the latest must-have home appliance is on the market. They are flat, hip and offers fantastic images unlike anything we've seen on older TV models before. Plasma televisions do seem to have it all, but is the answer to all our home entertainment beans or just a trend? Unfortunately, plasma television has a few drawbacks.
This is the number one consideration for many videophiles and plasma TV is not cheap at all. When they first came out in the 90s, the price tag for the plasma television showed a whopping $ 10000. , There is a part of a regular home mortgages and enough to get consumers running in the opposite direction.
These days, but the price is calmed down, thanks to better production methods and the magic demand. In fact, a good amount of brand-name plasma TV costs at least $ 2500. It is still the price of about three regular television with a few video CDs thrown in. Compared to its closest rival, LCD TV, plasma TV, one of its drawbacks, still cost more.
But with the price comes quality. Nowhere else can we find the kind of high-definition viewing pleasure that plasma TV can offer. If the price is a disadvantage, they more than compensate for it with their quality. Besides, for a true videophile, plasma television has a short return on investment and they will more than compensate for their price in a few years. If you think about that it is not really a disadvantage to have a plasma TV now, is it?
Plasma TV had a notorious reputation for conking out after a specific set of viewing hours.
In 2004, plasma television offered a disadvantageous 20000 hours of viewing pleasure. Compare that an LCD-TV's 50,000 hours.
These days, however, plasma televisions have been improved and longer life. Depending on the brand, plasma TV has a half-life of 60000 hours. If you are a normal person with a normal family, which has normal TV viewing hours, that should not be considered a disadvantage. Imagine this: if you spend at least 5 hours in front of your plasma TV, which will translate to about 33 years of use.
The viewing hours not set any date for your plasma TV. The number of hours applies to plasma TV's half-life, or the time when the TV screen burns on half of its original brightness.
This is another disadvantage of plasma televisions. Plasma TVs will be called the way thanks to the thousands of minute fluorescent light in the screen. These lights are filled with gas-burning each time television is used. This is a good thing, because compared to LCD and the older CRT television, a plasma TV only need to light up when they are necessary. LCD panels are like a big pear, which is always turned on.
With regular TV use, it is really not a problem. The drawback appears when you display a static image on the screen. What is a static image? If you are an HBO fan and you have your plasma TV on at HBO for hours on end, very soon you will notice a slight HBO logo on the screen, even if you are switched on to ESPN or another channel.
It is also a problem if you are a heavy video game use. If you connect your video game console to your plasma TV and play all day for day after day, hour to play, will burn in the picture, says life meter on your plasma screen. It will be a little embarrassing especially if you have friends over and they will see a dim picture of your otherworldly persecutions right before their eyes.
But then again, the risk of burn-in will only be a real threat and disadvantage if you use plasma TV full blast. You can always cheat by reducing the TV's contrast to only 50%.
With each new technology, there are always good things and bad and plasma TV is not free of these issues. In the game "who's-better TV 'that is really not a clear winner. If you choose a plasma TV, then it is only because you like what you see, you can afford it, and you can handle the drawbacks of a plasma TV at the same time enjoy the benefits. About the Author:
Is Sharp a better picture then Samsung?
Do I get more viewing area with Flat-Screen?
I'm mostly going to be watching DVDs in a dark room
Also other questions:
How long do normal Tube televisions last (like the two up there)
How long do HDTV Tube televisions last (someone told me not much compared to old ones)
As personal preference, I prefer Samsung. Now, about the life expectancy of an HDTV? There really is no record of info. for this, at this time. I subscribe to Consumer Reports. org and this is where I research all information about products that I plan to purchase. This is a really useful subscription when you're looking for a reliable source of information. Samsung out-performed in every category, so I decided to purchase one. It's hard for me to ever imagine viewing TV or DVD on another when the quality of picture is absolutely phenomenal in every aspect. Samsung has the best repair record, that is, they have to repair the least out of all other HDTV's. Consumer Reports also states that HDTV's haven't been around long enough in order to generate an accurate life expectancy, but so far have done exceptionally well.
Is a plasma tv not as good compared to a lcd tv for gaming?
I'm planning on purchasing a 50" plasma (Samsung 5064), but I've heard that plasma's are not as good for gaming systems (xbox 360). Will the 5064 plasma with 720p and 15000:1 not do the job as well as a lcd?
Thanks for the help so far, but does anyone know anything about "lag" (not internet lag) that happens on bigger screens? Is a plasma more susceptible to that?
Here's an article you will find very useful. http://www.plasmatelevisions.org/article/plasma-television-tips/gaming-on-a-plasma-tv-issues-and-problems.html
Are flat panel LCD tvs suppose to be slighty titled forward?
I have a new HD LCD tv.
I've noticed that it slightly tilts forward?
It it normal?
Btw, the tv is on a stand, NOT mounted on the wall.
Depending on your angle of view, it will make the screen clearer if you tilt it.
It is normal. It is meant for you to tilt it. It is like an LCD monitor for your computer. Depending on your height/view/distance/etc, you can tilt it and turn it for the best view. Trust me. I work at Radioshack. When I set up our TVs on display, I usually tilt it down for when I show customers the TV because the TV is on a high shelf.
For the person who wants to own a really great plasma TV you can look in the various stores for cheap plasma televisions. As there are many different types of plasma TVs you will be able to find the different features that can be found on a high end plasma TV and in some cases in a cheap plasma TV.
While the word cheap plasma TV may indicate a poor quality plasma TV or even a plasma TV with a low amount of features, this is generally not the case. The different brands of plasma TVs will have features that many consumers want.
Sometimes these features will be high definition picture quality, at others you will be able to watch two TV programs simultaneously. There are still times when you can find rich color saturation in the different programs that you watch. These are all possible with many of the well known brands of plasma TVs
Pioneer which is one company that makes both high end plasma TVs and cheap plasma TVs has incorporated most of the features that you will find in a high end plasma television into the cheap plasma TV.
The screen size for this cheap plasma TV is 42 inches and there is a connection for HDTV available as well. The screen freeview panel format size that is about 16.9. Besides these features you will find that this cheap plasma TV also has a digital connection too.
Since most of the plasma TVs are very expensive you can sometimes look into various finance options that are available. This option is available for cheap plasma TVs as well. The Pioneer cheap plasma TV is currently about $3000 to $4000.
As the plasma television industry is still becoming settled you can sometimes find an even lower priced cheap plasma TV. Panasonic which is another popular plasma television brand has a good selection of excellent quality cheap plasma televisions that range in price. You should be able to locate a cheap plasma TV from Panasonic for under $900.
This cheap Panasonic plasma TV has lots of great features that you can expect to see from the other types of plasma TVs. This HD ready plasma television has a 16.9 freeware panel that is incorporated into the TV. This cheap plasma TV screen size is also 42 inches.
Besides all of these features to the Panasonic plasma TV you will find that there is also V-real technology from Panasonic itself built into the plasma TV. For the person who is passionate about watching quality television there are cheap plasma TV brands that offer low prices yet great high end plasma features.
About the Author:
Muna wa Wanjiru is a web administrator and has been researching and reporting on internet marketing for years. For more information on cheap plasma TV, visit his site at CHEAP PLASMA TV
Looks can be highly deceptive; you must have heard this adage often. And it holds so true in this case as well. Both, LCD and Plasma are flatter and thinner versions of your age old television. The outward appearance might be similar but the technology used in both is quite different.
First things first, plasma television does away with the bulky picture tube and electron beam scanning of traditional televisions. The technology it uses instead is based loosely on the fluorescent light bulb. Cells form the entire display and within each cell two glass panels are separated by a narrow gap in which is filled with neon-xenon gas and sealed in plasma form during the manufacturing process itself. The gas gets charged automatically at specific intervals, whenever the plasma is switched on. The charged gas then strikes red, green, and blue phosphors, which we call s pixels, and thus a television image is created. Screen-burn of static images and generation of heat after excessive use are certain drawbacks that plasma has not been able to improve upon.
Two layers of transparent material that are glued together form the LCD panels. Technologically, it differs from the plasma in many ways. Out of the two, one layer is coated with a special polymer that holds the individual liquid crystals. Current is then passed through these crystals allowing them to pass or block light. An image is thus created through a different technology in LCD screens. An external light source is needed in case such as this as the LCD crystals do not produce their own light. A fluorescent bulb is hence needed to view the image created by the LCD.
Since no phosphors get burned up in case of LCD screens, the heat generated is much less. Also, there is no direct emission of light from the screen itself. Keeping the budget and requirements in mind, one can now easily decide which one to go for-LCD or Plasma…what do ya say?!
