Plasma Television

Plasma television technology is often confused with LCD or liquid crystal display television but plasma TV is a very different technology. Flat screen plasma television works with xenon and neon gas positioned between the panes of glass and stored in thousands of cells. Electrodes run along the rear glass and these electrodes cause the gas contained in the storage cells to ionize and create the plasma.  

The pixels in plasma TV each contain a different color of phosphor. These colors create the realistic images displayed by plasma television. Fans of LCD technology claim that LCD displays a truer black color than the plasma television. 

In the early days of plasma television, the technology was plagued with a problem called ‘burn in’, wherein the image on the TV would remain static for some period of time. The new plasma televisions are much better. Manufacturers have addressed the issue by motion adaptive technology, moving the image imperceptibly to keep it from freezing on the screen.

Most manufacturers are still constrained by installation at high altitude. There are few plasma televisions that will work well at altitudes over 7000 feet. This restriction doesn’t affect much of the population but it is a consideration if you live in a mountainous area.  

Many electronics experts recommend buying a plasma television with a built in tuner. If the tuner is built in to the plasma television it will obviously save space but it will also eliminate the need for an additional remote control device. Keep in mind that if you own a plasma television with a built in receiver you may not be able to adapt to future signal standards. Though it is unclear how and when these standards may change, it seems likely that the FCC will continue to upgrade and change its standards to accommodate new technology.  

As you can see, there are numerous considerations involved in buying a plasma screen television. Before you make a purchase, we would recommend reading online reviews on the various flat screen plasma televisions and discussing your particular requirements with a professional sales person. It is wise to go to more than one store since nearly every salesman has their favorite model and brand. By talking to several experts you can get a better perspective and make a more educated decision.