| The plasma television is a relatively new type of | | | | of at least 5 years. Assuming that a consumer |
| television, with a flat screen display. It works by having | | | | watches 3 hours of television a day, a plasma TV can |
| a mixture of different noble gases in small | | | | last up to 55 years! |
| compartments behind a panel of glass. The plasma | | | | Plasma televisions have both a better color ratio and |
| TV derives its name from the reaction in which these | | | | more contrast than LCDs. For plasma TVs, each pixel |
| noble gases are turned into plasma, which emits light | | | | can virtually be turned off to produce truer blacks. |
| and forms the display you see. Plasma TV's are often | | | | However, LCDs use a backlight, which will shine |
| compared to LCD's (liquid crystal displays), another | | | | through the "black" pixel and damage the contrast |
| type of flat screen television that uses liquid crystals in | | | | quality. CRT televisions have the best contrast, but |
| front of backlighting or fluorescent tubes to produce | | | | both plasmas and LCDs surpass them when it comes |
| images. | | | | to color reproduction. |
| Plasma televisions (and flat screen TVs in general) are | | | | Plasmas also have a wider viewing angle than LCDs. |
| extremely easy to handle. Due to their very nature, | | | | When viewing the television from the side, higher |
| plasmas are flatter than traditional televisions (also | | | | above, or lying on the floor, plasmas retain their crystal |
| called CRTs) and thus, are lighter as well. Currently | | | | clear picture much better than LCDs do. Due to the |
| averaging 5 inches in width and 100 pounds, their size | | | | shutter effect caused by the backlighting on LCDs, the |
| will soon be reduced to an inch in width and 45 pounds. | | | | larger the viewing angle is, the more brightness |
| This lack of bulk has heralded in a new era of | | | | variation an LCD television viewer will experience. |
| television placement; consumers can now mount their | | | | Plasma TVs have been criticized because of the |
| plasmas on the wall without worrying about ruining the | | | | possibility of burn-in images. The burn-in effect happens |
| wall. | | | | when a still image is shown on the plasma's screen for |
| Flat panel TV's, like plasmas, also have a higher | | | | long periods of time (for example, when a DVD is |
| resolution than traditional tube televisions. Resolution is | | | | paused and the plasma is left on, burn-in might occur). |
| related to how many pixels there are in a square inch; | | | | A ghost of the image may remain on the screen after |
| the more pixels, the higher the resolution. At present, | | | | the image has been changed. However, this effect |
| high-definition plasmas have resolutions that vary from | | | | has almost been negated in the newer models of |
| 1024x768 (720p) to 1920x1080 (1080i), which is much | | | | plasma televisions. |
| higher than the maximum resolution for tube TVs-480 | | | | Plasmas also have virtually no size limitations; |
| lines. | | | | depending on a consumer's budget, plasma screens |
| Flat screen televisions also have a longer life span than | | | | can go up to any size. LCD and CRT televisions, on |
| CRT televisions. Most plasma manufacturers now | | | | the other hand, are confined to approximately 40 |
| assert that their televisions have a life span of up to | | | | inches diagonal. |
| 60,000 hours, where CRT televisions have a life span | | | | |