Myths About Plasma TV

Rumors and myths about Plasma TV Ricochet off the truth like machine gun bullets, sometimes it's hard to tell fact from fiction. 

Lots of self proclaimed "experts" will tell you how Plasma TV screens deliver lethal radiation, or will burn out in a year if they are not filled with fresh plasma. 

It is dangerous to take half-baked information as fact: you end up making decisions based on lies. Lets punch holes in the most common misunderstandings: 

(1) A Plasma TV will burn out in a year or two, and must be replaced!

A top of the line Plasma TV like a Panasonic or Pioneer has a life expectancy of 60,000 hours. So does a Sony LCD. If you watch a Plasma TV eight hours a day, it would take about twenty years for the unit to burn out. 

(2) "Plasmas blast radiation at you, it is dangerous to sit closer than ten feet from the screen!" 

This is one of the wilder myths about Plasma TV! A small amount of UV radiation comes out of a Plasma display (you can measure up to one inch from the screen). 

Tube television you put your nose on while you are so cartoons in the seventies form an image by shooting radiation at the screen! Radiation from a tube TV floods more than one foot into the room! You probably have several of these TVs in the house right now! 

(3) "I can not afford to own a Plasma TV, they're too expensive!" 

The price for both Plasma and LCD TVs has dropped dramatically in the last few years, and continues to decline. You can find 42 "Plasma TV for under $ 1000, and 50" screens for under $ 2000. 

(4) "My Plasma display will look great right out of the box!" 

A plasma TV is often shipped with the image contrast and brightness set too "hot", showed up, so they will look good in a brightly lit TV showroom. Your room is probably far from this light, we should adjust these controls to a level more comfortable for you. This also extends the life of your Plasma screen. 

(5) Plasma TVs have better pictures than LCD TVs (and vice versa)!

The truth: Either type of TV will give you a sparkling, razor sharp image on a giant flat-screen TV. Plasmas have better color, contrast and black levels, LCD screens can get a sharper picture quality will not suffer from screen burn-in. 

(6) "I heard the plasma in a Plasma TV screen to be filled each year!" 

It is impossible to refill the plasma inside a TV screen. I suppose that con men have told unsuspecting customers such stories so they can sell extended warranties, but it is not true. 

(7) Plasma TVs are hard to install! 

Well. . . yes and no! With a few powerful friends, you can easily table mount your plasma on the included base stand. A flat or tilted wall mount is much more complicated and may require professional help. 

(8) HD (High Definition) Plasma displays create a better image than ED (Enhanced Definition) displays! 

Often true, but there are exceptions. A top of the line ED converter may surpass a bargain brand HD converter. But ED has become obsolete and are being phased out: you should not buy one. All Plasma TVs will soon feature the much sharper HDTV. 

(9) Plasma screens suffer from image burn-in!

Again. . . yes and no! Technological developments have greatly reduced the problem of screen burn-in on Plasma TVs. It is harder to do, but you can still experience burn-in with a Plasma TV. Culprit is static images as station logos, video scoreboards, computer programs, and stock tickers. Consider buying an LCD or DLP TV; these have no screen burn-in. 

(10) Handling a Plasma TV is like handling any other TV! "

A Plasma screen has hundreds of thousands of image cells sandwiched between two thin sheets of glass. You can not lay a Plasma TV flat on the face or even rub hard on a plasma screen, for fear of causing the screen to crack. When your Plasma screen cracks, it can not be repaired. 

Take time to learn the facts about Plasma TV before you consider making a purchase. Armed with those facts, you have no problem choosing a big screen TV that will thrill your family for years to come! Enjoy!