Should I buy a Plasma panel or wait until prices drop?
A:
Prices have already come down a lot on these TVs, but there should be further decreases in price. Prices are always going to go lower, you have to buy sometime and just live with the fact that 60 days later you will see it advertised for less.
Q:
Do Plasma screens have shorter lifespans or not ?
A:
There used to be a lot of evidence that this was true. But newer models may be getting a bad rap. The lifespan for plasma displays may be just as long as LCDs. The problem is they just aren't old enough yet to know for sure.
One issue plasma screens do have is that they fade in brightness over time, whether you use it or not. So five years from now, your plasma screen won't be as bright as it is now. Of course they start out pretty bright, so that leaves some room for dimming and still having adequate brightness.
Q:
What is "burn-in" and do plasma screens have a problem with it?
A:
Burn-in occurs when a static image remains on the screen for an extended period of time. It results in a faint ghosting that is visible over any image in that part of the screen. They can result from computer games, station ID logos and stock tickers amongst other static images. Pixel orbitors found in newer models help to reduce the problem with burn-in.
Yes, plasmas do suffer from burn in. We can't find any published numbers on how long it takes for burn-in to occur. However, if you watch news or stock channels for hours or play video games, we recommend you don't use a plasma screen.
Q:
What are EDTV plasma displays and should I get one?
A:
EDTV plasma screens display 480 lines progressively (480p). This is the same resolution used by progressive scan DVDs. EDTVs can save you a significant money over a full HDTV.
They display an excellent image, some believe it is extraordinarily close to an HD image. If you choose one, it will display images nearly as good as HDTV, but how close it comes depends on the manufacturer, the material you are viewing and your own personal taste.
Opinions are very split on whether EDTV makes sense. Because DVDs in HD format are on their way, we'd hate for you to miss out on that quality. However, if you have your heart set on a plasma and budget says no to HDTV, we think EDTV plasmas are a reasonable choice.
