During the holiday season of this year,
millions of consumers will be considering the purchase of a new
television. Those beautiful plasma screen displays will scream at
shoppers from the display floor with their vibrant, life like colors and
detail. But undoubtedly, wary shoppers will have heard the rumors or
perhaps have known someone who bought a plasma television in 1999 which
has already moved on to television heaven just seven short years later.
It seems to a prudent shopper that perhaps a new plasma TV isn't the
choice for them if a long term relationship is desired.
But are the rumors false? Has plasma
undergone a bit of reinvention? Was this lack of longevity a symptom of
a fledgling technology that has now perhaps matured? Is a plasma
television now more reliable, a screen to be around for the long haul?
In a word...yes.
With lower power usage and changes with
the mix of gases in the panels, the longevity of plasma televisions has
been significantly enhanced. The lifespan of a television display is
measured in "half life"; the hours of use before the screen has dimmed
to only 50% of its original brightness. In recent years, plasma
television manufacturers have been touting a half-life which is
equivalent to that of other screens such as the higher priced LCDs;
around 60,000 hours. From this, consumers can see that the lifespan of a
plasma screen is dependent upon how much it is viewed. For instance, if
a plasma television is on for 6 hours a day, 365 days a year (2190 hours
per year), it should last just over 27 years.
Knowing this, it becomes clear that the
life of the screen on a plasma television can be significantly
influenced by how it is used. Turning off the television when no one is
viewing it could certainly extend its life. Adjusting the brightness is
important as well; maximum levels are seldom required or recommended and
can unnecessarily cause pre-mature aging of the phosphors.
Additional changes over the years for
plasma televisions include technologies aimed at reducing the risk of
"burn in"; another significant concern about the "character" of plasma
displays that developed during its youth. Features such as pixel
shifting, pixel orbiter, and motion adaptation all describe methods of
moving the image on a plasma screen which is imperceptible to the human
eye but effective in reducing the risk of burn-in. With these added
features, many plasma manufacturers now claim their screens have no
greater risk of burn in than the traditional CRT, "tube" televisions.
As with anything, consumers need to
compare brands as they aren't all created equally. Reviewing the facts
from the manufacturer is important. In general, it is best to stick with
the more reputable and well known brands as a bargain "off-brand" in the
long term may not save money if the quality and dependability are
lacking.
There are many excellent technologies
to choose from when buying a new television. Which type of display is
best is dependent upon each individuals wishes, but plasma televisions
certainly deserve the full attention of buyers as they do not warrant
the negative reputation developed during their formative years in
regards to longevity.
About the Author
Christine Peppler believes that
consumers shouldn't have to possess a technology degree to be able to
choose home electronics and entertainment devices. Take advantage of the
wealth of simple to understand, useful information and shopping
available on her website at
http://www.homemedias.info.
