For many years your biggest consideration when buying a television was what size screen to select. This was usually dictated by your budget and the space you had. Once those variables were determined the project was simple. Buying a TV in the current market is a much more complicated task: there are LCDs, Plasmas, and projectors to choose from. Before a purchase can be made, first one must understand what these options are and how they compare against each other.

LCD TVs and Plasmas function differently to achieve the same desired effect: providing a sharp, clear, highly responsive image. LCD televisions have crystal cells that tighten and unwind accordingly as they are sparked by an electronic impulse. A bright backlight suffuses the cells and as they rotate they filter out every color in the spectrum except for the required one. Plasma TVs have thousands upon thousands of pixels that, when activated, release gases that work to produce a specific color in the red, blue and green bands contained within the pixels.

Until recently Plasma televisions were significantly superior from a number of perspectives. Because of the winding and unwinding motion of the cells in LCD televisions, fast moving video, especially sports and action movies, often displayed a trailing effect as the images changed and shifted. Plasmas do not exhibit this because each of their pixels is activated individually. Plasmas produce undistorted images at sharply-angled viewpoints, unlike LCDs, whose images could appear somewhat corrupted when viewed at similar angles. Plasmas also revealed much deeper colors than LCDs, with especially strong blacks.

Upgrades and improvements in the LCD format have enabled it to match Plasmas in areas that it had shown deficiencies. LCD TVs also have many clear advantages over Plasmas. Plasmas may have at first been able to boast the largest screens, but they by no means have the smallest. LCDs now have screen sizes that can nearly match the largest plasmas, and they can be made so small that they equip many phones. They are also much more portable. Plasmas are very heavy and often thicker televisions, which makes it difficult to transport them. They also cannot be mounted to weaker ceilings or walls because of their weight.

Plasmas do have their own pitfalls. Because they contain gases, they are affected by air pressure. This means that they do not perform as well at high altitudes. LCDs, however, are not affected by this. Consequently, they are used in most airlines and are preferred in many high cities. Plasmas also experience a burn-in effect, which occurs when a still image is left on the screen for a long period of time. This can occur when a movie or videogame is left on pause for an extended duration, or if the screen is being used to transmit computer images. Depending on the length of time the image is left on the screen, the burn-in can be severe and permanent.
LCD televisions are gradually becoming the clear choice. The primary factor to most consumers, the cost, has evened out so that Plasmas are no longer the guaranteed best-buy. The improvements to the technology and the price have allowed LCDs to become the dominant format in the television industry.

LCDs are improving and becoming dominant in every dimension – literally: they are now starting to offer 3D models. Moreover, they can last much longer than Plasmas. Although they tend to be rated for equal lifespans, the end of the Plasma television’s lifespan marks the point at which it is half as bright as it originally was, whereas the projected end of an LCD television’s life is marked by the point where the backlight burns out. At these points a Plasma TV will keep fading until the picture is no longer discernible, whereas the LCD’s backlight can be replaced. And unless you are giving Powerpoint presentations in multiple locations, projectors do not hold a candle to LCDs.

www.digitaldirect.co.uk have over 10 years experience selling leading brand electrical products at low prices via their web site. Have a look at their web site, http://www.digitaldirect.co.uk/televisions/lcd-tv today or phone 01204 797695

Neil Ball
http://www.digitaldirect.co.uk
0870 428 0485
Future House
Express Trading Estate
Stonehill Road
Farnworth
Bolton

Source: www.digitaldirect.co.uk