| Customers in rent to own stores who are considering | | | | consist of thousands of pixels which permit electrical |
| purchasing or renting a flat panel TV frequently ask | | | | impulses to excite neon and xenon gas. The pixels are |
| which is better - LCD or plasma TV? The answer to | | | | basically tiny florescent light bulbs on a black |
| this question is that it all depends. In order for the | | | | background which receive impulses from the TV |
| customer to make the correct decision about which is | | | | signal. The pixels glow when excited, which produces |
| best, several important considerations must be taken | | | | light. Red, blue, and green phosphors in the pixels mix to |
| into account. To begin with the customer should | | | | make up the entire spectrum of colors visible on the |
| consider which of the two types looks best. This | | | | screen. |
| means which screen image looks best, and also which | | | | Although plasma TV screens have a higher contrast |
| type of frame fits the existing furniture scheme. | | | | and deeper levels of black, LCD screens are getting |
| Another consideration is what light conditions in the | | | | better all the time, and many tier one brands of LCD |
| viewing environment might cause glare or make the | | | | screens currently perform almost as well as plasma |
| image difficult to see. Similarly, the viewing angle must | | | | screens. Also, a plasma screen has the ability to |
| be taken into account - whether the customer will be | | | | produce over 16,000,000 colors, so plasma screens |
| seeing the screen straight-on, or from the side. | | | | have traditionally demonstrated higher color accuracy |
| Another consideration is whether computer programs | | | | than LCD's. But the newest LCD screens are almost |
| or games such as Sony Playstation or Nintendo Wii will | | | | up to plasma screens in reproducing color fidelity and |
| appear on the screen. Another question to ask is | | | | hence quality-wise are an equivalent rent to own |
| whether the customer will be watching primarily sports, | | | | business opportunity. Because LCD screens are so |
| movies, or video games. The customer has to | | | | bright and don't glare as much as plasma screens, |
| consider what size screen he or she prefers; and how | | | | LCD performance beats plasma in bright rooms. On |
| much money he or she is prepared to spend. | | | | the other hand plasma screens perform better than |
| The LCD and plasma screens offered by the rent to | | | | LCD screens when viewed at an angle, although the |
| own industry both measure about four inches deep | | | | newest LCD screens are almost as good as plasma |
| and so both can be considered to be flat panel TV's. | | | | screens in this department and LCD technology is |
| However the two types use very different technology | | | | closing the gap. |
| in order to create an image. In an LCD there is a | | | | If the screen is going to be used in conjunction with a |
| matrix consisting of thin transistors which supply the | | | | computer, then LCD is clearly the better choice. On the |
| voltage to film cells of liquid crystals between two | | | | other hand, if the customer will be using it primarily for |
| glass sheets. These liquid crystals open and close in | | | | sports, video games, or any programs involving fast |
| response to an electrical charge, and this action filters | | | | motion, then plasma looks better than LCD. When it |
| the white light from a lamp located behind the screen | | | | gets down to the question of price for screens 42 |
| by blocking out certain wavelengths of light to produce | | | | inches or larger (plasma is not used in smaller screens), |
| specific colors. The vibrant color of LCD screens is | | | | then plasma clearly is less expensive per inch than |
| due to the intense light which shines through the banks | | | | LCD. |
| of liquid crystals. Plasma screens, on the other hand, | | | | |