ResearchChoosing Your Flat Panel Television
Flat panel televisions have become very popular because they look great, an ability to produce a beautiful picture, and they also can save space in rooms where space is at a premium. These flat panel televisions are also popular in rooms or facilities there it is nice to be able to sort of put the television away or out of view such as in schools, boardrooms, and the like. While there is no doubt that flat panels are very popular, it can be difficult to decide which is right for you.
The Choices
There are two basic technologies that one can choose from when they are in the market for a flat panel television. The first if LCD, also known as liquid crystal display, and then there is plasma. These are the two most expensive types of televisions on the markets today, but their price tag is often thought to be a direct result of how thick they are.
The Premium Explained
These two types of televisions are usually three to five inches thick, making them both great choices for people that would like to do something a bit different with their television than they have done in the past. Because they are so thin and versatile, they come at a premium. At just four inches thick both an LCD or plasma television can be mounted from the ceiling, on the wall, or over a fireplace. These televisions not only look great, they can look great anywhere because they do not have to take up a lot of space, even if you opt for the biggest screen size you can find commercially. Because these televisions are so versatile many consider them worth the premium at which they are offered, and with prices falling over the last couple of years, more and more people are affording these televisions.
Choosing The Size
The size of your flat panel television is up to you, but it’s important to remember not to go too big or too small. While you can get an LCD monitor as small as fifteen inches, is that really the television that you want in your space? The smallest plasma you can get is 42 inches, which can work in most spaces, especially because they can be mounted on the wall or the ceiling. Most experts will advise consumers to sit eight to ten feet away from the television and decide which screen size fits their room and their viewing preferences most comfortably.
The Positive Aspects of Plasma and LCD
There are good and bad things about both plasma and LCD televisions, but when you break it all down you may be able to decide which one is right for you. We’ll start with the pros of both LCD and plasma televisions first.
PlasmaPlasma provides an excellent picture, it is thin and can mount on the wall, and they provide a wide viewing area. The plasma also produces a bright image and has very good color reproduction, lasts a long time, and has a lot better contrast ratio than the big tube televisions that they are often compared to. Plasma has become the industry standard is and well known to even the most common person.
LCDAn LCD television is capable of producing a great picture, and is thin and wall mountable just like a plasma television. LCD televisions also offer wide viewing angles, a bright image, great color, it’s lightweight, offers great sharpness, lasts a long time, and is immune to screen burn in.
The Negative Aspects of Plasma and LCD
As with any product, there are cons to both of the plasma and LCD televisions that must be considered before purchase. One must weigh the pros against the cons and decide which television they are most comfortable buying.
PlasmaOne of the biggest problems with the plasma televisions is that they run hot and they are very heavy. Because the televisions run hot they have fans inside of them that can be quite noisy and distracting. Because plasma televisions contain gas and they are so heavy, professional installation is usually necessary. Plasma screens may also suffer from burn in as well as having a difficulty producing deep black colors. Plasma televisions are very fragile, use a lot of power, and usually don’t include a ATSC tuner, making their care and set up quite intensive.
LCDLCD flat panel televisions are the most expensive, and this is probably the biggest drawback. Also a complaint of LCD owners is the motion blurring, screen door effect, poor contrast ratios, stuck pixels, and the lack of an included ATSC tuner. While the list doesn’t seem as long for the LCD flat panel, some of the cons are significant enough to really pour over.