28 Mar 09 Finding The Right HDTV For You

So you’re considering buying an HDTV (very good decision by the way) and don’t know much about the differences between LCD and Plasma? Well, the truth is, most likely you won’t notice much of a difference at all between LCD televisions and Plasma screens, either in operation or in performance. But there are a few key differences you should be aware of when considering which would be best for your needs and home environment.

First off when shopping for an HDTV you should know both Plasma and LCD cost about the same, so a 50inch Plasma TV will cost almost exactly the same as a 50inch LCD. But the features of both can differ greatly. At the moment Plasma televisions offer the highest level of picture quality, because of the method in which the picture is displayed. LCD’s tend to suffer from motion blur effects, in which quick movements or quickly panning cameras can cause a blurry effect for a moment on screen. This occurs because of the LCD’s use of pixels, which can also limit an LCD’s ability to render High Def picture in true HD, and can also affect an LCD’s ability to render darker colors clearly.

However, where Plasma is the clearest picture you can find, LCD has one distinct advantage, and that is screen burn-in. Screen burn-in occurs when a still image is displayed for a prolonged period of time on an HDTV, causing the image to be permanently on your TV screen. For example, if you played a videogame on a Plasma screen for too long, one of the stationary items on the screen’s display, like a health bar, could be burned into the screen. Which would then cause that health bar to be permanently visible on the same part of the screen, whether you were watching regular television, or a movie.

Although recent advancements in technology have made screen burn-in a much rarer occurrence, Plasma televisions are the most likely to suffer from the condition. Although screen burn-in only occurs if a bright still image is displayed on the screen for several hours.

So, considering the similar prices, I would say go with the television for your needs. If you’re building a home theater, with an emphasis on watching movies and HD television, then Plasma is your best value for money. But if you’re more of a gamer, and are concerned about the likelihood of a little screen burn-in, then LCD is your better choice. As burn-in can still occur on an LCD, but only in extreme situations, ie you’d have to leave a still image on the screen for a very, very long time.

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Tags: Advancements In Technology, Blur Effects, Distinct Advantage, hdtv, Health Bar, High Def, Home Environment, lcd, Lcd Screens, Lcd Televisions, Motion Blur, Occurrence, Period Of Time, plasma, Plasma Screen, Plasma Screens, Plasma Televisions, Plasma Tv, Prolonged Period, Still Image, Tv Screen, Videogame

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28 Mar 09 Finding The Right HDTV For You

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