Her kommer en lang smøre som jeg har gemt fra et techsite i us på et tidspunkt. Det er det bedste jeg har fundet og det var det sammen med nogle besøg i butikker som fik mig til at hoppe på CRT tv for en tid.
Tech Stuff - Simplified
Plasma TVs
At the heart of the plasma TV are chemical compounds called phosphors. In a plasma TV, each pixel is made up of three phosphors – one red, one blue, and one green. These phosphors emit light when struck by beams of electrons. The intensity of the electron beam determines the amount of light emitted. It is the phosphors themselves that create the light your see on a plasma screen.
LCD TVs
LCD TVs use millions of crystals, which are suspended in a liquid that is sandwiched between transparent panels. Behind this liquid crystal sandwich is bright florescent light. The crystals are instructed to either let the light pass or not. Color filters are used to determine color.
Does Size Matter?
Size
Does size matter? In a TV, of course it does. In the Plasma vs. LCD TV debate, both were always thin, and so that question is something of a stalemate. You can talk about the difference between 3" and 5" if you like on certain models, but when it comes to a large screen TV, that almost seems a little silly.
When you talk about the viewing area, however, plasma TVs have always been known for their larger sizes. And in general, that’s still true. Or, at least, you will have a greater variety of plasma TVs to choose from when you’re looking at the big models. It may take a little time before the number of large-sized LCD models catch up to the number of options you have with plasma TVs. LCD TVs, however, are indeed gaining ground.
As for the size of your bank account, I’m assuming that matters too. As of this writing, for a large-screen plasma TV and a large-screen LCD TV of the same size, the plasma TV would normally be less expensive. LCD TVs are improving in price as well, however, and many predict the two will be on equal footing in the price department before long. All else being equal, in the Plasma vs. LCD TV debate, plasma tends to win on this one for the time being. But of course, all else isn't equal. The battle continues.
Viewing Angle
The viewing angle is how far off to the side you can sit and still see the picture clearly. Viewing angle is also talked about with computers, but in a computer monitor, this type of consideration isn’t usually so important. Computer users normally sit directly in front of their monitors, and typically there's only one user at a time. For TVs, however, viewing angle can be hugely important. You might have people sitting at various places all around the room.
Historically, the Plasma vs. LCD battle has been won by plasma TVs in this category. LCD TVs have made tremendous strides in this area of late. Many people will tell you, however, that the 170° field of vision claimed by some LCD manufacturers simply isn’t realistic. You may be able to see what’s happening at that angle, but it isn’t the same as sitting more directly head on. Reports from some owners of newer, top-of-the-line LCD TVs, however, say that the 170° is accurate.
Issues with Each
Burn-In Effect
For plasma TVs, one of the biggest potential negatives is the “burn in” effect. Burn in is when an image stays on the screen for an extended period of time and then gets somewhat burned in to the screen. This might happen, for example, when you watch a movie that places black bars on the edges in order to keep the original theater ratio. To avoid this with movies, you can zoom in one click to fill the screen. But burn-in might also occur if you leave your TV on a news channel that runs a news ticker across the bottom. The better plasma TVs have a feature called “white flash” that allows for correction if burn-in occurs; however using this function is said to shorten the TV's lifespan. For most TV viewers, however, burn-in will not be an issue. Unless you keep your TV constantly tuned to a news channel, or run movies 24 hours a day, you won’t have to worry much about this. For LCD TVs, burn-in isn’t a problem.
Watching Motion
It’s generally thought that plasma TVs handle fast-moving action better than LCD TVs. On an LCD TV, when watching a football player moving down the field, for example, it might seem as if the edges of his body are somewhat fuzzy – a jagged and blocky line rather than a crisp, clean one. This is a delay caused by the TV not being able to keep up with the action. LCD TVs are improving in this area, however, and the problem lessens considerably when watching high-definition TV. This is something for sports fans, especially, to consider. But many sports fans with a large plasma or LCD TV will already have HDTV. As mentioned, an HDTV signal increases picture quality dramatically.
Pixel Problems
Both LCD TVs and plasma TVs may suffer from pixel problems – when a pixel is either always “on” (lit up when the screen is black, for example), or the pixel is always “off” (black when it should have color or be white). A few dead pixels here and there are not going to be noticeable, and companies usually state that a few dead pixels are “allowed.” One of the best ways to avoid problems with dead pixels is to go with reputable manufacturers. If you go with a reputable manufacturer, you’re less like to have the problem in the first place, and if for some reason you do have the problem, a reputable manufacturer will take care of it.
Life Span
Both LCD TVs and Plasma TVs have a good expected life span, and it’s getting better all the time. That said, LCD TVs ultimately win in this category because their light source can be replaced. Once a plasma TV has faded, that’s pretty much it.
Plasma TVs are said to last up to at least 30,000 hours before noticeable depreciation takes place. Some manufacturers are now saying their plasma TVs are testing up to 60,000 hours before any quality is lost. The questions to ask, then, are obvious: How much TV do I watch? And when will I be buying another TV? Even at the low-end mark of 30,000 hours, if you watched TV 10 hours a day, 365 days a year, you would go a little over 8 years before seeing major picture depreciation. If you dropped that number down to 4 hours a day, 365 days a year, you’d get over twenty years before seeing depreciation.
As was said before, an LCD TV can theoretically last longer than a plasma TV because the light source can be replaced. Replacing the bulbs on an LCD, however, can be quite expensive in itself (a few hundred dollars). By the time you’re ready to do that, you might be ready for a new TV anyway. But, if not, an investment of a few hundred dollars will get your old TV back, good as new.
Color, Brightness, Black Levels, & Contrast
This area is obviously the most subjective of all the areas, but perhaps the most important too. What someone’s personal taste is will determine what he or she considers to be pleasing. It’s this area that will probably determine more than any other which type of TV you get in the end. It’s not about saying one is “better” than the other, but instead, it’s about saying one has “this type of quality about it” and the other has “that type of quality about it.”
This is what all the peanut butter vs. jelly nonsense was about in the beginning. They each have their own qualities, and if you can’t have both, you have to decide which one you would rather live with.
Color
In general, most agree that LCD TVs produce “sharper” pictures with colors that seem more alive. Sounds like a winner automatically, but not necessarily. With plasma TVs, you generally get more realistic colors and a wider range of colors. An LCD TV might be more likely to wow you when you walk in the room, but once you stay in the room for a while, you might prefer the warmth and depth of the plasma. LCD TVs, you might say, give you a vibrant, primary colors type of feel. Plasma TVs give you subtler, warmer pastels, but perhaps more realistically accurate. Again, it’s all personal taste. Blondes vs. Brunettes. Tank tops vs. Cardigans. Impressionism vs. Realism.
Brightness
As for brightness, most would agree that the numbers the manufacturer gives you are nearly worthless. The numbers, even if you were to understand them, aren’t achieved in real-life conditions with various types of ambient light. Your own particular viewing area will play into this considerably, but most people report LCD TVs doing slightly better in bright-light conditions. Again, going with the general theme here – LCD TVs tend to be brighter and more colorful; plasma TVs tend to be warmer with more accurate color reproduction.
Black Levels
The one area of this section that would seem to go against the generalizations made above is the area of “black levels.” You might think that LCD TVs, having the reputation for being “sharper,” would produce deeper, darker blacks. But most agree this isn’t so. Producing a deep, dark black on an LCD TV is a somewhat complicated process. Instead of producing a full, deep blackness when required to do so, a very dark gray is produced instead. For many, however, this goes unnoticed, especially after growing used to the set’s colors. But it is another check mark in plasma column, and another reason why lovers of plasma TVs are in their corner.
Contrast Levels
As for contrast levels, you will see all sorts of ratios such as 3000:1. This is a measure of the darkest black compared to the lightest white. Because of plasma TVs’ ability to produce blacker blacks, they usually win out in this category. Most people see LCD TVs as being more “vibrant,” however, which would appear to be at least partly related to contrast. So the decision is a personal one, based on personal taste.
LCD vs. Plasma TV Prices
Finally, price. At the moment, in general, the price of a large LCD TV is going to be a little more expensive than the same large-sized plasma TV. The caveat with all of LCD TVs negatives, as you may have noticed, is that “they’re improving.” The same is true here. While plasma TVs have been out on the market for a while and have established something of a reputation, the truth is, LCD TVs are hot in the public’s mind at the moment. Maybe that’s because they’re new. Maybe it’s because they’ve gotten some good press and good advertising. Whatever the reason, that fact alone will help push manufacturers to lower prices to make them more competitive with plasma TVs. The LCD vs. Plasma battle is already on, but when prices come down even more for each, it’s going to get fierce. But maybe everyone will win in the end. Unlike computers, where compatibility with other computers is an issue, in the TV market, two competing technologies don’t necessarily have to be at odds with each other. Some people will simply have an LCD TV in their homes, and others will have a plasma. No beefs, no problems, no hard feelings. The LCD vs. Plasma war is only important for those in the buying stage.
One last word on prices: Obviously, they can fluctuate quickly, from day to day even. And so listing prices here is almost pointless. You’ll need to check a dealer for the latest.
A Summary of LCD vs. Plasma TVs
Size
Both LCD TVs and plasma TVs are as thin as you could hope for. In viewable screen size, though LCD TVs are getting bigger everyday, plasmas generally run larger. Once you get into the larger sizes, you will also find a bigger selection among the plasma TVs. Plasma TVs, however, don’t generally come in smaller sizes, and sometimes you need a smaller size.
Viewing Angle
Plasma TVs generally have a larger viewing angle than LCD TVs, however high-end LCD TVs do live up to their claimed 170° viewing angle.
Life Span
Both LCD TVs and plasma TVs have good lifespan, but LCD TVs can technically last longer because their light source can be replaced. The low end for both LCD TVs and plasma TVs these days is 30,000 hours, with many going up to 60,000 hours before noticeable picture depreciation takes place.
Issues with Each Type of TV
Burn-in: Plasma TVs have a reputation of occasionally suffering from “burn in” effect. This is not such a problem for your average user, unless you leave your TV tuned to a channel with a continuous news ticker. A function called “white flash” can erase the burn in effect, but it takes some life off the TV's lifespan.
Watching Motion: LCD TVs can be susceptible to a delay that causes the outline of figures or objects to appear jagged or blocky when in motion. High definition TV greatly reduces this effect.
Pixel Problems: Both LCD TVs and plasma TVs can be affected by pixel problems. This is not generally a problem with name brand versions, and if it occurs severely, your warranty will cover it.
Color, Brightness, Black Levels, & Contrast
Color: LCD TVs are known for their sharp pictures and lively color. An LCD TV’s colors are vibrant and can wow you when you walk into a room. Plasma TVs are known for their wide range of colors and their accurate color reproduction. A plasma TV’s colors are warm and deep.
Brightness: Brightness numbers from manufacturers will mean little because they aren’t measured under real-life conditions. Your own viewing area will play into this considerably. LCD TVs have the reputation of doing slightly better in bright-light conditions.
Black Levels: Plasma TVs generally produce very black blacks whereas an LCD TV will produce a very dark charcoal gray. The very dark gray that LCD TVs produce is sufficiently dark for most people. Many would take it for black if not told otherwise.
Contrast Levels: Plasma TVs, technically, are known to have greater contrast levels than LCD TVs, however many see LCD TVs as being more vibrant, which seems connected to contrast, at least in the mind of most viewers.
Cost
LCD TVs are generally a little more expensive than plasma TVs when talking about the larger sizes. Prices for both, however, are coming down rapidly.
The 12 Most Important Differences:
1. Plasmas TVs are made of chemical compounds called phosphors. LCD TVs use millions of crystals suspended in a liquid crystal sandwich.
2. You have a wider selection of larger-size TVs with plasmas (though LCDs are catching up).
3. Plasma don't come in smaller sizes, which you will need for places like the kitchen.
4. Plasmas tend to have a wider viewing angle (though, again, LCDs are catching up).
5. Plasmas can suffer from burn-in effect; LCD don't.
6. LCDs can produce a jagged figure when in motion. Plasmas tends to do better. HDTV improves this problem dramatically for both.
7. You can replace the light source with an LCD, thereby bringing your original picture back. With plasmas you can't.
8. LCDs produce sharp, lively colors. Plasmas produce warmer and more accurate colors.
9. LCDs tend to do better in bright-light conditions.
10. Plasmas tend to produce blacker blacks.
11. Plasmas, "technically," produce a higher contrast range.
12. At the moment, plasmas tend to run a little cheaper, but this is changing rapidly as LCDs flood into the market.
Peanut Butter & Jelly
And so, back to our peanut butter and jelly analogy. If I can, without seeming too ridiculous, I’d like to propose that plasma TVs are like peanut butter and LCD TVs are like jelly. Plasma TVs are like peanut butter because, at least for now, they’re generally bigger (more filling in that way). Their picture, compared to an LCD TV's picture, is also somewhat smoother and creamier, like peanut butter. Plasma TVs aren’t so much flashy and sweet as they are filling and hearty. Their colors are earthy and authentic. LCD TVs are like jelly in that they are flashy and sweet. LCD TVs are known for their color and vibrancy, their crisp picture. It’s this crispness, this type of tanginess that brings to mind the tangy sweetness of jelly, the colorful, clean transparency of it. If you have a sweet tooth, if you favor this particular taste, nothing else is going to satisfy you. Not peanut butter, not hamburger, not even a 20-ounce steak. You need an LCD TV. But if you want a good, down-to-earth, filling meal, a plasma TV is probably your choice.
(Warning: Actually ingesting either of the of TVs has been known to cause indigestion.)