Broadcasting the benefits of plasma TV screens

L. Gatot, Contributor, Jakarta

If you wish to buy a slim but sophisticated TV for your future TV, consider a plasma TV.

This kind of TV provides excellent picture quality with low picture distortion. It can also be used for a number of different applications including presentations, home video and computer use.

Plasma screens are replacing the older style CRT monitors which are cumbersome and heavy. Plasma TVs are not affected by magnetic fields because they do not use electron beams as do conventional CRT displays.

Components such as loudspeakers that contain strong magnets can distort the picture if placed too close to a standard TV, which has a CRT.

Plasma TVs have uniform screen brightness, unlike some rear and front projection televisions that suffer from uneven screen brightness, seen as "hot spots" in the middle of the screen or a darkening near the edges, especially the corners. Unlike conventional CRT monitors, most flat plasma displays feature a built-in antiglare filter that reduces light reflection and glare.

Plasma TVs are also slimmer (only a few inches thick) which makes them much more flexible. The TV can be hung on a wall or from a ceiling, allowing you to enjoy big-screen home theater impact from a TV that doesn't dominate floor space.

It can be used to enjoy digital video (HDTV, DTV, digital satellite broadcast and computer video) with more natural, detailed and sharper images than TV sets. A plasma TVs resolution is 1024 x 1024 pixel that can display images at true 1080i and 720p HDTV resolution in a wide screen aspect ratio of 16:9.

Aspect ratio is the relationship between the screen's width and height. Some plasma TVs are capable of displaying full HDTV and DTV signals as well as XGA, SVGA and VGA signals from a computer. Typically, they will include composite video (NTSC, PAL SECAM), S-video and component video inputs, plus one or more RGB inputs to accept the video output from a computer.

The majority of plasma TVs on the market have 42" and 50" screens made by NEC, Pioneer, Sony, Panasonic, Fujitsu and Hitachi, Philips.

Before you decide on the screen size, you should make sure that some viewing distance is maintained between you and the plasma display. And anywhere you sit in your room -- you will have the same viewing effect.

Of course, you don't want to end up seeing the pixels that make up the picture on a large screen monitor in a small room. Typically a 42" plasma would be recommended if you are 8 feet to 10 feet from your screen, any further distance would be best suited to the 50" plasma TV models.

Please note that some plasma TVs include built in speakers, as additional options which can be attached to the side of the TV. You also have the option to connect the audio to a home theater system, thus avoiding the need for speakers to be attached to the plasma TV. They can be connected to a TV tuner. If we connect it to a video player we can enjoy TV broadcasts and play videotapes too.

Very attractive isn't it?