When you decide what is the best HDTV plasma out there the first thing you are going to look at is the picture quality. After all that’s why you’re looking at high definition televisions in the first place. You want to get a crisp, clear image, with bright colors.  Read More  Best HDTV Plasma

On to my review:
I spent over a year and a half researching flat panels. I came close to purchasing a Samsung 71F series, but when the salesman told me that new 2008 models were coming out in March, I decided to hold and do more research on those models. I almost purchased the 5 series, but when I found out that it does not have 120hz refresher rate, I decided to research the 6 series and ended buying the 46A650.

I briefly looked at the 7 series, but when I found out the only difference between the two was that the 7 series has a USB port for your MP3 player and 1 GB of cache, I figured it was not for me. I use a dock connected to my receiver when I play my MP3, so to me that was a useless function to fork over extra $$$ for. In addition, I have a PS3 so I don't really need the 1GB of cache to use the TV as a multimedia center. If you don't have a PS3 and plan to use your TV to view pictures and play music then the 7 series might be for you.

La inauguración de los Juegos Olímpicos 2008 en Beijing está próxima. Bien vale la pena echar un vistazo a la infraestructura que se prepara para proyectar la competencia internacional más grande y tecnológicamente avanzada de toda la historia olímpica, que iniciará el 8 del 8-8.

Para comenzar, las autoridades de Beijing planean dar cobertura de telefonía móvil y conexión inalámbrica a Internet en toda la red del metro de la capital china; los trenes incluyen televisión LCD TV a bordo, que emitirán noticias de los diferentes eventos.

Existe un grupo de empresas que patrocinan la XXXIa edición de este evento deportivo mundial, y que a su vez proveerán tanto equipo como servicios de TI. Estas empresas pertenecen a la fraternidad conocida como “TOP” (The Olympic Partner Programme), a la que pertenecen General Electric, Kodak, Lenovo, Panasonic y Samsung.

Para estas marcas, los Juegos Olímpicos representan un excelente escaparate para mostrar su tecnología, pero también para poner al servicio de organizadores, atletas y espectadores de todo el Orbe, su extensa gama de productos, servicios y soluciones.

General Electric

Participa en más de 350 proyectos de infraestructura en los Juegos de Beijing, que involucran generación de energía, iluminación, salud, seguridad y tratamiento de aguas, tanto en las 37 sedes como en 168 edificios comerciales. Algunos ejemplos son:

Energía: colocación de sistemas de distribución de gran escala para el Estadio Nacional, el Salón de Tiro de Beijing, el Velódromo de Laoshan, el Centro Nacional de Convenciones, el Buró de Suministro Eléctrico de Beijing y para el aeropuerto T3 de Beijing, además de provisión de turbinas de ciclo combinado de gas natural para generar energía y acondicionamiento al Área Olímpica Central.

También colocó sistemas de alta eficiencia para la planta de energía de Beijing Tai Yanggong, que provee electricidad al área olímpica central, así como para la granja de viento de Shangyi, que dotará de energía a las instalaciones olímpicas, y para el Hotel Jardín de Jing Hui, que albergará a los medios de comunicación durante el evento.

Iluminación: sistemas LED para alumbrar el edificio central del Comité Organizador y el Logo Olímpico, y permitirán un uso más eficiente y duradero de la luz, al igual que aplicaciones en otros predios, estadios y carreteras. Incluso proporciona sistemas de iluminación para distintas instalaciones olímpicas, como el edificio BOCOG (edificio central de los Juegos) y el campo de béisbol.

Plásticos: instalación de una barrera sonora plástica en el subterráneo de Beijing, que reducirá notablemente la contaminación sonora para que no afecte a los habitantes de la zona.

Salud: equipo médico para ultrasonido y MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), para el tratamiento de atletas lesionados.

Seguridad: sistemas de protección contra incendios, monitoreo, alarmas, detección de intrusos y control de acceso en el Estadio Nacional, el Centro Nacional Acuático, el Estadio Nacional Techado, el campo de softball de Fengtai, el Velódromo de Laoshan y otras 13 instalaciones clave. También se instalaron en el aeropuerto los primeros sistemas de escaneo de equipajes para la detección de explosivos en China.

Tratamiento de aguas: Proyecto conjunto con el Comité Organizador de Beijing para desarrollar soluciones de energía y tratamiento de aguas, al nivel de los estándares medioambientales más exigentes. Mejoramiento de los volúmenes de agua de desecho a través de un sistema de membranas, que filtra diariamente más de 80 mil cm3 de agua para ser reciclada y reutilizada.

Asimismo, la NBC Universal, la unidad de medios y entretenimiento de GE, será la televisora oficial en Beijing 2008.

Metro de Beijing

Kodak

La firma patrocinadora olímpica TOP durante 22 años, anunció que Beijing 2008 será su última participación. En esta ocasión, aportará equipo fotográfico digital y analógico, así como servicios y tecnología para impresión digital.

Su labor se centrará en el manejo de un centro de imágenes para fotoperiodistas y un centro de diagnóstico para tratar a los atletas lesionados.

Asimismo, proveerá miles de gafetes de identificación para el personal que laborará en los diferentes eventos.

Lenovo

El fabricante de computadoras con mayor participación en el mercado chino y la región Asia-Pacífico (sin contar Japón) se afilió al programa TOP en 2005.

Desde hace un año prepara la infraestructura tecnológica que se empleará en diferentes competencias deportivas internacionales e incluso está realizando un ensayo general de pruebas finales, pronosticando distintos escenarios, como apagones, pérdida de equipos, ruptura de cables, brechas de seguridad, etc.

Además del apoyo de más de 580 ingenieros, que trabajarán alrededor de 3,000 horas-hombre en servicios de tecnología, Lenovo aportará unos 30 mil equipos (noteboooks, desktops, monitores y servidores, algunos de ellos incluso soportan condiciones extremas de hasta 90% de humedad), que ejecutarán aplicaciones críticas, como el Sistema de Gestión de los Juegos, que incluye acreditaciones, transporte, entradas, calificaciones, ingreso de datos de cada disciplina, calificaciones y la distribución del personal y de voluntarios.

El toque final de la empresa en esta justa olímpica fue el lanzamiento de su llavero USB con el símbolo de las Olimpiadas de Beijing 2008, haciendo juego con las portátiles que lanzó a propósito de este evento, aunque se desconocen las capacidades y cuando estarán al alcance del público.

Equipamiento de Lenovo para Beijing 2008

Para los Juegos:

· 24,000 computadoras de escritorio

12,000 computadoras

10,000 monitores de 17” LCD

2,000 monitores touchscreen de 15”

· 2,000 impresoras de escritorio

·800 computadoras portátiles

·700 servidores

·5,000 modelos de demostración para los Internet Lounges y programas de patrocinadores asociados

230 computadoras personales para los seis Internet Lounges en las villas olímpicas, funcionando diariamente de las 8 a las 24 horas

24 estaciones de trabajo para el Internet Lounge en el Centro Principal de Prensa

Panasonic

En 1987 se unió como Official Worldwide Olympic Partner en la categoría de equipamiento audiovisual y ha contribuido en proveer un alto nivel en sistemas de seguridad en los Juegos Olímpicos con sistemas de seguridad incluyendo cámaras de monitorización y videovigilancia.

La compañía, que a partir del 1 de octubre de 2008 cambiará su nombre Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. por el de Panasonic Corporation, anunció que extenderá su participación hasta los Juegos de 2016.

En esta ocasión será la empresa con mayor impacto, pues proveerá los sistemas de audio, televisión, equipo de video, productos multimedia y navegación vehicular.

Todo el equipamiento para la grabación (cámaras y tarjetas de almacenamiento para video de alta definición) y las pantallas usadas en el International Broadcast Center de Beijing será de Panasonic.

Cabe resaltar que ésta será el primer evento olímpico grabado y transmitido 100% en alta definición y el primero “tapeless” en su clase, lo que significa que no se utilizará ni una sola cinta, sino que todo el video se grabará directamente en tarjetas magnéticas PS de estado sólido de esta marca.

Las cámaras para dar seguimiento a los encuentros tienen seis ranuras para tarjetas P2, cada una con capacidad de 32GB; es decir, aproximadamente 32 minutos de video de alta definición, con un total de 3.2 horas de grabación a una resolución de 1,080i a 60 cuadros por segundo. Esto representa la mejor calidad disponible actualmente para transmisión de HDTV.

Panasonic también instaló 2,000 cámaras de seguridad en diferentes locaciones olímpicas, así como dos pantallas gigantes con tecnología LED en la plaza Tiananmen.

Samsung

El segundo fabricante de celulares a nivel mundial ―el cual se integró en 1997 al programa TOP y refrendó su patrocinio hasta 2016―, apoyará las comunicaciones inalámbricas tanto para el personal del evento como para los atletas.

Su sistema WOW (Wireless Olympic Works) envía información en tiempo real acerca de las competencias, cambios de último minuto o cualquier otro dato que necesiten jueces, organizadores y/o competidores. Estos datos serán concentrados por Samsung y se distribuirán por red celular.

A propósito, todos los teléfonos celulares del staff de los Juegos serán de esta marca y soportarán la comunicación con la tecnología WOW.

Beijing en números…

La ciudad espera recibir a unos 8 millones de atletas, periodistas y espectadores de 205 naciones. Los 10,708 competidores registrados en las siete sedes chinas (Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Qingdao, Shenyang, Qinhuangdao y Tianjin) participarán en 28 deportes y 38 disciplinas.

Además, se reportan 17,600 medios de comunicación acreditados, 4 mil millones de televidentes estimados a nivel mundial y la venta de unos siete millones de boletos para las competencias.

Las TI para la prensa

El Press Center y el International Broadcasting Center and Media Village ─en las inmediaciones de los 14 centros de competición del Parque Olímpico de Beijing─ serán el punto de partida para la cobertura y transmisión de los Juegos Olímpicos.

El primero ofrecerá señales HDTV, líneas ISDN y terminales de banda ancha inalámbrica para los 17,000 reporteros acreditados de la prensa internacional; mientras que el segundo proveerá instalaciones de respaldo y sistema seamless de transmisión para la cobertura del evento.

También habrá una villa especial para los medios, la cual tendrá 10,000 habitaciones con aire acondicionado, líneas IDD (acrónimo por sus siglas en inglés de Marcado Directo Internacional o International Direct Dialing), conexión a Internet y pantallas de televisión.

Los Venue Media Centres (VMC), o Salones para Conferencias de Prensa, estarán disponibles en todas las instalaciones y contarán con un Salón de Trabajo para medios de comunicación (provisto de estaciones de trabajo, servicios de telecomunicaciones, terminales INFO2008 y monitores CATV). Las mismas facilidades tendrán los Salones para Medios y las tribunas de prensa, que incluso contarán con asientos modulares con electricidad.

Por otra parte, el grupo de medios chino CCTV (China Central Television) está negociando con MySpace y Tudou.com, un popular sitio de videos del país asiático, para ofrecer una cobertura online sin precedentes, incluso mayor que el de la televisión.

Como se sabe, el principal obstáculo es el Comité Olímpico Internacional, que vería devaluados sus ingresos por la venta de los derechos de televisión.

Atletas high tech

La tecnología también alcanzó a los deportistas y los resultados se aprecian en sus niveles de competencia. Ejemplo de ello son los clavadistas de Australia, China e Inglaterra, al capturar sus movimientos en video; luego, la imagen grabada se decodifica y un programa de computación la traduce en coordenadas por segundo y fórmulas que permiten analizar y perfeccionar las ejecuciones, conocer los errores o fallas, mejorar el entrenamiento, etc.

Como este caso, el uso de nuevas tecnologías para la preparación de los atletas se está replicando en otras disciplinas cuya meta es alcanzar la gloria olímpica, establecer un nuevo récord mundial y llevarse la mayor cantidad de medallas.

Video de promoción Beijing 2008

LCD TVs Advantages - More Benefits For People
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_C._Mulder]Jonathan C. Mulder

No one wants to stick to the old products because of this contemporary era. Customers always look for the highest technology of a product that a manufacturer can offer them. This made the manufacturers of TV to produce LCD televisions in replacement of the traditional ones.

There is no doubt that one wants to relax for sometime, be out of the busy world, and also be stress-free. One of the good things that can relieve us from stress is television. Owing to the radical changes in the field of electronics, Liquid Crystal Display or simply LCD TV is also modernized by our world's creative people. Majority of the LCD TV's sizes of screens ranges from 26" to 42". Of course the larger the TV, the more costly it is. In terms of performance, dependability and elasticity, the ideal television solutions are always the best.

These days, there are so many customers who are updated on the latest editions of TVs and they do all just to have and use these TVs. Fortunately, recent men has a lot of choices than will satisfy what he is looking for in a TV. In effect, manufacturers do not stop on improving their products. They see to it that the upcoming product will be unique and will have higher quality than the predecessors. It is also known that customers want to buy quality products in reasonable prices.

Is LCD TV really a must-have thing? Why should we buy one? Is it better than our huge customary televisions which require a big space? The simple answer to the first question is, yes. LCD TV permits its spectators to watch programs in a clear way with a high quality, naturally. It is eye-catching to people because of its quality, and it does not require too much space.

The chic, innovative LCD TVs offer tons of benefits. It is more effortless to watch with this TV because of its not paralleled highly developed technology. Images on the screen are brighter due to the presence of high contrast. Whichever type of lighting your room has, LCD TVs can still work efficiently. LCD TVs can be compared to cellular phones, small pen drives and even to your iPod because of its solid and smooth look. Various features can be found at LCD TVs. Some examples are the high aspect and contrast ratio. Viewers can also witness finest viewing angle which makes it possible for anyone to watch a high-class TV program or even movies.

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LCD TVs Depreciate Just Like Other Devices
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_C._Mulder]Jonathan C. Mulder

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) is so popularly recently because of the clearness it offers to its users. Even the picture that can be seen on it seems to be so perfect. We often hear from other people that LCD televisions' lifespan is better than plasma TVs'. Yet, it does not necessarily mean that LCD TVs do not depreciate as it is still a thing. Everything in this world has its own life span. Similarly to diverse kinds of technologies, LCD TVs also undergo some technical problems and errors. In general, it works depending on the distortion and undoing the crystal.

Around 60,000 hours is the ordinary life span of an LCD TV but other manufacturers stated that their product can last up to 80,000 hours, depending on how the user controls or takes care of his LCD TV. The temperature of a room will greatly affect its life span. Some climatic circumstances and the repair conditions of the TV also have its own effect. Its display effects will decrease because of the day to day use. The reason of this is the continually lighting of LCD TVs by great lights that tend to make it less bright, akin to other technological things, as time goes by. In effect, pictures get dim.

From this, we can conclude that the most significant part of LCD TVs that should be taken care of is its light foundation. Manufacturers of LCD TVs should assure a warrantee to its consumers because this is the essential thing that wheels the effects of the images and its clearness.

Light Source's quality is so vital in maintaining the faultless white equilibrium of LCD TV. To achieve long life of TVs, black lighting bulb is supposed to be upper quality. Therefore, it would be a smarter choice if you go for expensive LCD TVs that have warrantees more willingly than the cheap ones that will not give you an assurance of its quality because of the lack of warranty. You should also pay attention to the contrast levels of your TV. If you use the contrast levels in a long time, the TV will depreciate faster. But if the encompassing light intensity is lower, the life of the TV's source of light will be longer.

Unlike the usual LCD TVs that has its light source with the other parts of it, Sharp LCD TVs' light source is separated from the other parts. The whole typical LCD TV is easily destroyed when its light source malfunctions. Subsequently, Warranty of back lights should be considered. Unluckily, contrasting to traditional TVs, LCD TVs are not TVs for a life time use because the light rays are the foremost source applied in making an LCD TV. In comparison to plasma and traditional TVs, LCD TVs have shorter lives but the upholding of its parts is simpler than the usual TVs.

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LCD TV Stand As a Fashion For Your Home
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_C._Mulder]Jonathan C. Mulder

Oil price increases continually and it gives so much burden to people. It is now very costly to live. Because of this, altering your house should not be so expensive particularly with the stand of your LCD TV. LCD TV stands are great help on turning your home into a tidier one and more pleasant to live at.

Safety of your contemporary TV can be assured more if an LCD TV stand is present at your home. In the market today, there are so many stands that are truly dependable and long-lasting. High quality raw materials are used to make these stands better. Some of these are the solid woods, steels that are stainless and moderated glass. This will assure that your LCD TV stand will not be easily destroyed.

These kinds of LCD stands permit its users to have more space because their contemporary TVs just need a little space. There are even stands that can be put at the corner of your room if you do not have much space for your TV. A number of stands for LCD TVs can be bought in the market these days. Surely you will find something that fits your needed kind of stand.

If you want your LCD TV stands-hunting be easier, you may go online and browse the sites that sell diverse kinds of stands. This deed will also help you save more time as it will just need a little time for you to check out the designs and compare it with one another.

There is also a guarantee that the stands on the internet are suitable for you. You can really feel the ease because you do not even have to go outside of your home just to compare stands. Just keep on browsing and you will soon find the one that is best for you. After you have chosen pay through credit card and then wait for the delivery of the stand right in the front of your home's door.

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Plasma TVs are widely popular, due to the advantages they offer. In this article, we'll go over a few of the pros and cons of Plasma screens, as well as tips for buying a plasma TV.

The Pros of Plasma Screen TVs

Plasma screens are very shallow (slim line profile) – usually the screen will take up about 2 inches, and the entire TV or finished screen will be just a few inches deep. This means that your TV takes up very little room, and is easily mounted on a wall.

Plasma screens also have an excellent contrast, and can display nearly perfectly dark black. Plasma screens can also display very bright colors. This makes them ideal for watching movies.

Plasma screens can also come in extra large sizes. The largest plasma screen in the world is 103 inches across. You can easily buy plasma screens up to about 65 inches.

The Cons of Plasma Screen TVs

Plasma screens begin losing their brightness after about 2,000 hours of use. The latest model plasma screens will be half as bright as they originally were after about 60,000 hours of use.

Plasma screens are very fragile, so they are hard to install and ship. Of course, they are also at an increased risk of breaking.

Above about 6,000 elevation, Plasma screens will emit a humming noise. Very few people will have an issue with this, though, as very few people live above 6,000 feet elevation.

Tips for buying a Plasma Screen TV

As with any other electronic, it's important to shop around and get the best product at the best price. Check online review and shopping comparison sites.

Also, be wary of advertised contrast ratios. Since there is no standardized measurement method, it is very difficult to compare contrast ratios between manufacturers.

Many thousands of people purchase their first plasma screen TV each year. They invest a significant amount of money to obtain a plasma screen which offers top of the line color accuracy, vibrancy, and clarity to enhance their family's viewing experience. Once the television is delivered however, it's important for plasma buyers to take the time to become familiar with the proper care of the screen to assure many years of trouble free viewing enjoyment. Plasma screens aren’t really “high maintenance” but observing a few tips offered here can extend the life of the screen.

• Provide a solid foundation: Be sure the plasma screen is placed (or mounted) in an area where it will not be “knocked around” or will accidentally fall.

• Let it breathe: Plasma screens generate a lot of heat which can speed the demise of the electrical components of the unit. Be sure the TV has enough open space around it. The manufacturer will provide venting guidelines.

• Stay dry: Exposure to excessive humidity, spills, or condensation due to rapid changes in temperature can destroy electrical components and cause corrosion.

• Tone it down: Rooms with lower ambient light require less brightness. Brightness levels that are set too high will prematurely age the phosphor lining of the plasma screen.

• Keep it cool: As alluded to above, plasma screens require a cool environment, due primarily to the heat they generate. Outdoor placement of a plasma screen is a no-no due to the exposure to heat, humidity, other moisture, and dirt.

• Use a little "elbow grease"- but not too much: Keep the screen clean with the proper tools. Manufacturers seldom recommend strong cleaners. Most often a micro fiber cloth is recommended which is effective in ridding the screen of dust and finger prints. When more aggressive cleaning is necessary cleaners specifically made for plasma or PC screens (anti-static cleaners) are used but should never be sprayed directly on the screen. The cleaner should be applied to the cloth. Use of paper towels, Kleenex, or any other abrasive type cloths should be avoided as they can damage the anti-glare coating.

• Don't get burnt: Although anti-burn in technology has advanced greatly over the years, it is best to avoid leaving static images on the screen. This means that images should not be paused on the screen for extended periods of time and stations which present a static block/image on the screen should be viewed on a limited basis as well. Hooking your PC up to a plasma screen is also inadvisable as they are often used to display static images.

• Help your plasma TV weather the storm: This is just common sense; use a surge protector.

• Prevent pre-mature aging: The final word of caution; turn plasma screens off when not in use. This can help avoid accidental burn in, reduce heat, and help to avoid decreased brightness/pre-mature aging.

Panasonic has released yet another top product to help compete with the other top Plasma Screen Televisions Manufacturers which keeps them up with the current competition. The Viera TH-42PZ85U 42-Inch 1080p Plasma is very functional and has everything you want in a High Definition Television. From the Connectivity to the top of the line screen coloring and amazingly fast moving lines keeping up with every type of television show, movie and even fast paced sporting events for one of the best Television viewing experiences available on the market.

The Panasonic Viera offers 1920 x 1080 Resolution, 1000000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio for the Brightest whites and darkest blacks, 4096 Shades of Gradation for spectacular Color Reproduction which is unheard of when looking into plasma televisions. All of these extras factored in together make the Panasonic Th-42PZ85U one of the top Plasma screen Televisions on the market and also make your Television viewing experience a great one. The colors are brighter and more crisp than most Plasma screens and at a much more affordable price than some of the top High Definition Televisions on the market.

A Panasonic Plasma screen Television combines anti-glare and anti-reflection technology with the natural light-emitting properties of plasma, to give you a super-wide viewing range with a crisp, beautiful image from almost any angle that you may be watching from. Another unique fact about this Televisions is that it is rated so high that it will last 100,000 hours, which is about 30 years of regular or 11 years of non-stop usage before the brightness of the display will start to go out, While other top Plasma Televisions will begin going out within 5 years of purchasing.

Find great deals on the Panasonic Viera TH-42PZ85U 42-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV at our price comparison sites below:

Product Reviews and High Def Price Comparisons at http://digitalelectronics.dothanclassifiedads.com

Once upon a time, televisions only changed a little bit, and the only big questions you had to answer were how big the screen should be and whether you wanted a floor or portable model. Then three forms of high-def televisions burst onto the scene all at one time, along with a wide variety of new peripherals and trends you could use in your own home, and suddenly the questions became complicated: 720p or 1080p? Projection or flat-screen? and Will the Superbowl look as good on this screen as How Stella Got Her Groove Back?

After looking at screen quality and the amount of room available for the set, most people opted for plasma or LCD TVs. The problem: as the technology advances, it is increasingly hard to see a difference between them. So which one do you choose?

LCD TVs: Sturdy, Functional, and Cheaper

Most of the smaller flat-screen sets you will see are LCD TVs - smaller being below 40 inches. LCD technology has been around for decades, used in a variety of flat electronic displays like wristwatches, but only recently has the size and cost of the electronics involved come down far enough to make LCD technology practical for large scale home applications, first computer monitors and then television sets.

An LCD TV has a very thin screen, no more than two inches deep in most cases, and is easily mountable on the wall. While LCD TVs originally were thought to be limited in size, today's LCD TVs go up to an insane 108 inches, and the limit probably has not yet been reached. This makes them competitive with plasmas even in the high-end large-screen market. They have resolutions available just as good as plasma TVs.

Drawbacks to LCDs include burn-in problems, "dead pixel" issues, and not-quite-black blacks. Most newer LCD TVs are not heavily prone to burn-in, but if you leave a single image on for an extended period, you can get light ghosting that may be permanent. Pressure or damage to an area of the screen can give you a "dead pixel", a spot where a pixel will no longer respond. The most serious problem, though, is the black issue; because LCD TVs are backlit, black is never quite black, though it can approach it if you keep the TV dim and watch in a darkened room.

Plasma TVs

Plasma TVs are displayed in the same place as LCD TVs, they look similar, they're slim flatscreens, and they're hi-def TVs. However, the technology they use is very, very different: neon and other inert gases trapped between two panes of glass create the images you see on screen. Plasmas are most distinct from LCD TVs by their incredible dense blacks, so dark they almost glow, and experts agree that plasmas have easily the most realistic images of all modern TVs. Plasmas, however, tend to be expensive, and are generally found only in sizes of 40" and up. They are mountable, but more delicate than LCD TVs; laying them flat can destroy them.

Be sure you make the decision between plasma and LCD with an informed mind. Both technologies are excellent; however, understanding their respective strong and weak pointss can prevent you from making the wrong choice.

Recently announced, and just time to hit shelves and shoppers home for the winter indoors season, the New Samsung 8 series LCDs are coming out with a few noticeable changes and improvements over the still tremendously popular A650 / A760 series HDTVs which have been flying off the shelves and being praised as the best high definition televisions with the best overall value a shopper could find for most of 2008. The new Samsung LN46A850, LN52A850, LN46A860 and LN52A860 will feature new ultra slim panels, an incredible new depth reduction technology which makes them the thinnest and most attractive LCDs available today by far, without sacrificing and quality or performance that has made the Samsung 6 and 7 Series units so very popular. The LN46A860 and LN52A860 will also be the first sammies to feature a new infused blue touch of color design, with the previous television only being available in rose accents:

Key Features of the A850 & A860 LCDs:

So what all comes new in the Samsung 8 Series 850 & 860 model lcds? Well the most noteworthy feature and changes over the 750 units are:

• 1080p Ultra Clear panel
• 120 HZ AutomMotionPlus technology
• 50,000: Contast Ratio
• Touch of Color – infused color in bezel (rose on 850, deep blue on 860)
• 50,000: Contrast Ratio
• New, Thinnest and sleekest casing ever!
• twin down-firing speakers with an integrated subwoofer
• Much Much More...

Sizes Available & MSRP:

Like above states, the A860 units only really differ in the fact that they have the sexy deep blue accents infused into the design of the televisions casing… Worth $100? Probably not but it does look awesome (featured in picture above)

• Samsung LN46A850 - $2699 MSRP – 46” Rose TOC
• Samsung LN46A860 - $2799 MSRP – 46” Deep Blue TOC
• Samsung LN52A850 - $3399 MSRP – 52” Rose TOC
• Samsung LN52A860 - $3499 MSRP – 52” Deep Blue TOC

The Samsung A540 series takes the already stellar and highly praised A550 series lcd televisions and fixes a couple of reported problems with the units, most notably the matte screen which users were reporting much glare and reflection off of, and switching it up to the newer ‘Ultra Clear Panel’ released on some of Samsung’s newer and high end units. Most people would think that the number drop from 550 to 540 series would mean a downgrade to the latter, but actually the Samsung 540 series units are the same thing with a few upgrades, why they didn’t name it the A560 series is a mystery. The Samsung 540 series also boasts a 35,000:1 contrast ratio over the 30,000:1 contrast of the slightly older A550 units. But is the difference really worth the $200 premium is the question? Many users and people that have seen them side beside state that the 540 vs. the 550 really gives the A540 the upper hand, with the new panel and semi-matte really making a big difference combined with the 550. The contrast ratio, although when broken down into the math (15%+ better) shouldn’t really be such a big factor for the average person, although difference in favor of the 540 is noted although not very profound. So it basically comes down to a person-person basis; are you a power user that will be watching your television a lot? Gaming and the latest in High Definition? Go for the A540 and spend the extra bucks most would agree... but if its just a home television and your going to be watching SD cable programming with the occasional DVD movie – go with the cheaper and proven LNA550 option while pocketing a couple extra hundred dollars.

Differences between LNA540 and LNA550 LCDs:

• A540 – 35,000 to 1 Contrast ratio… A550 – 30,000 to 1 contrast ratio
• A540 – Ultra Clear panel = reduced glare and reflection, A550 – Glossy screen looks nicer but causes problems with lighting and viewing angles/reflections
• A540 - $200 price premium for the somewhat impressive upgrades – down to taste if use television a lot go for 540

Samsung 540 Series available in sizes:

• Samsung LN32A540 – 32 inches 540 series
• Samsung LN40A540 – 40 inches 540 series
• Samsung LN52A540 – 52 inches 540 series

Samsung 550 Series available in sizes:

• Samsung LN32A550 – 32 inches 550 series
• Samsung LN37A550 – 37 inches 550 series
• Samsung LN40A550 – 40 inches 550 series
• Samsung LN46A550 – 46inches 550 series
• Samsung LN52A550 – 52 inches 550 series

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 give off deadly radiation, or will burn out in a year if they’re not refilled with fresh plasma.

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

(1) A Plasma TV will burn out in a year or two and needs to 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’s dangerous to sit closer than ten feet from the screen!”

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

The tube television you put your nose on while you watched 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 your house right now!

(3) “I can’t afford to own a Plasma TV, they’re too expensive!”

The price of both Plasma and LCD TVs has dropped dramatically in the last few years, and continues to drop. You can find 42” Plasma TVs 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 picture, contrast or brightness controls set too “hot”; turned up so they’ll look great in a brightly lit TV showroom. Your living room is probably nowhere near this bright; you should adjust these controls to a level more pleasing to you. This also extends the life of your Plasma display.

(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 television. Plasmas have better color, contrast and black level; LCDs can have a sharper image quality and won’t suffer from screen burn-in.

(6) “I heard the plasma in a Plasma TV screen needs to be refilled every few years!”

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

(7) Plasma TVs are difficult to install!

Well . . . yes and no! With a few strong friends you can easily table mount your Plasma onto 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!

Usually true, but there are exceptions. A top of the line ED converter may outperform a bargain brand HD converter. But ED is outdated and is being phased out: you shouldn’t buy one. All Plasma TVs should soon feature the much sharper HDTV.

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

Again . . . yes and no! Advances in technology have greatly reduced the problem of screen burn-in on Plasma TVs. It’s harder to do, but you can still experience burn-in with a Plasma TV. The culprit is static images like station logos, video game score boards, computer programs, and stock tickers. Consider buying a LCD or DLP TV; these have no screen burn-in.

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

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

Take the time to learn the facts about Plasma TV before you consider making a purchase. Armed with the facts, you’ll have no problem picking a Big Screen TV that will thrill your family for years to come! Enjoy!

It’s as easy as 123!

About The Author

Ike Ridley is the avid videophile and self-confessed “Movie Nut” who created the 123 Guide To Plasma TV.com. To visit us, just paste this URL into your web browser:

http://www.123-guide-to-plasma-tv.com

Ike has moved to the Caribbean where he clicks away on his laptop under a palm tree.

For more information, click here for my tips on buying Plasma, LCD and DLP TVs in the 123 Guide To Plasma TV!

This is a 100% free article. You may distribute it freely, give away a copy from your own web site or bundle it as a free bonus with other products. You may distribute this article if it’s intact, with the copyright notice and author information intact.

The article contains no affiliate links. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

Copyright © 2007 Isaac Ridley Jr. Some rights reserved.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Isaac_Ridley

With the advent of flat screen television, the whole concept of how an entertainment center looks has changed. Earlier, TV Stands were bulky with a big space left in the centre for placing the television set. Such entertainment centers were also required to have ample width in order to accommodate the television. However, now-a-days it is possible to build slim TV stands due to availability of flat screen TVs. Flat screen TV stands are all the rage now as more and more consumers are choosing them over traditional models. The reason for their popularity is that they are both space saving and also available in various elegant designs.

Another reason for choosing them is that an average flat screen TV is 32 inches. This is why, traditional TV stands cannot accommodate them. Therefore, when you choose a one, you by default need to select a flat screen TV stand. You can also choose to wall mount but you will still need apparatus to accommodate your other entertainment media equipment related to it. Therefore, it is advisable that you select a stand that has ample storage options.

When buying flat screen TV stands you must plan to get one that is at least two to three times larger than your current need of storage. The reason for buying a bigger stand is not extravagance, rather foresight. The way entertainment media and technology is advancing, it is fair to assume that within the next two years you will accumulate a large amount of media. If you buy a flat screen TV stand only according to your current requirement, you may feel the need of upgrading it soon. This will prove to be an unnecessary cost and also it may be difficult to match a new one with your furniture and décor later. However, if you feel buying a bigger than necessary TV Stand is not possible due to either lack of space or lack of funds, you can decide on a flat TV screen stand appropriate for your need, and then develop a habit of going through your accumulated media every few months and discarding obsolete stuff.

Have you ever heard of the Touch of Color LCD TV? Is it just a promotion, a new invention, a trend-setting technique or just a smart advertisement? It could probably a combination of all of these.

Manufacturers are now challenged on how they can increase their sales on LCD TVs. LCD TVs has become very popular in the market, many brands are popping up and the competition is on the rise. Samsung has come up with a solution to win the battle for LCD TV market share - the Touch of Color LCD flat screen TVs.

Samsung has indeed made a big success with their Touch of Color LCD flat screen TV. The design and features is a big hit to consumers. Touch of Color LCD Television has an artistic design blending a bit of amber color to their piano black bezels which made it appear flat, slim and stylish. Because of the popularity of this television, it implies that consumers are also concern that their television should look attractive even when it is not turned on. They would love their television to be a piece of art that is in harmony with any décor. It is expected then, that other manufacturers would follow the trend set by Samsung and they would come up with their own classy and distinctive designs in the future.

So what exactly is Touch of Color? It is basically a design feature for to the external part of the television. It is just like any other TV which you would not appreciate it will not operate well when turned on. But of course, Samsung would not fail on this area either. The only difference is the unique and stylish appearance.

To provide an ultimate high quality picture, Samsung's Touch of Color LCD TV provides full 1080p resolution. It creates the most perfect picture that you can imagine which is the real essence of high definition TVs. This is far better compared to conventional television.

Samsung offers this technology called Auto Motion Plus. With this technology, Samsung can offer a response time of 4ms and a frame rate of 120hz because it doubles the frame rate from 60 hz to 120 hz. The television can have a precise transition between the frames. Compare to the early versions of LCD TVs, Samsung's Touch of Color TVs is capable of handling motions very well. This makes it great for shows with actions in fast moving state like Sports and Action movies.

Another feature of the Touch of Color TV is the contrast ratio of 50,000:1 which is considered to be a great improvement compared to the last year's model with 25:000:1 contrast ratio. Contrast ratio is a very important feature of television, it measures the capability of the TV to generate dark blacks and bright whites. That means, if the contrast ration is higher, it will aid in avoiding dull or pale images which is reflected on televisions with lower contrast ratio.

Another great feature of their latest model this year is the InfoLink. It allows access to various free feeds like RSS news, sports, stocks and weather via its integrated Ethernet port.

Although, Samsung's Touch of Color is not really a new invention, we could say that it has attracted most consumers and it could start a trend of having a television set which at the same time can be considered an artistic décor in one's room even when it is not turned on. Samsung's Touch of Color LCD flat screen TV gives a real value to your money with all its amazing features -- high definition images, attractive and stylish design.

LCD TVs have a florescent backlight that sends light through a polarizing substrate and liquid crystal molecules. LCD TVs work with green, red and blue pixels. When electric current is applied to the pixels, they darken and stop the backlight from coming through. LCD displays can serve as computer displays with a conventional analog VGA input; it is a good way to save budget and space. LCD displays are thin and lightweight and have excellent longevity.

Plasma screens are a network of green, red and blue phosphors placed between two slender layers of glass. Natural gases neon, xenon and argon are used to produce the information, light and color. These gases fade over time. Unlike LCDs, Plasma screens have no backlight or projection; the phosphors give a bright, rich-in-color display along with a broad viewing angle. When plasma screens first entered the market, they gained instant attention for their large screen sizes and flat presentation. Presently, there are some screens over 80", and big plasma televisions generally gives a sharp picture. The drawback is that plasma displays are power hungry, and, its fragile makes means that it needs to be professionally installed, especially when it has to be mounted on a wall. Though thin, Plasma displays are quite heavy.

LCD screens are starting to catch up with plasma technology in the market, with companies coming up with bigger (55" and more) and cheaper models. LCDs are usually inferior to plasma technology when it comes to viewing angles (particularly older versions which have narrow angles) and contrast ratios, though they have worked on the "blur" effect, or the slow refreshing of pictures in the latest models. However, LCDs are developing at a distinctly quicker pace compared to their competition.

Plasma technology could be completely overtaken by LCDs in the near future. It would take a massive effort for plasma displays to keep up with the ever-improving LCDs in terms of longevity, contrast ratio, brightness, etc.

Buying a plasma TV is always a costly proposition. Plasma televisions are becoming more and more common, and as demand starts to level out, the prices are starting to fall according to the law of supply and demand. Naturally, while customers will be keen on minimizing the cost as much as possible, the sellers will try to attract as many buyers as possible by offering suitable incentives.

Different plasma TV dealers offer different types of discounts to customers. Some of them offer cash discounts for any purchases made by check, money order, cashier's check or wire transfer. With this, a customer can save on his/her plasma TV purchase. The cash discount usually applies to a customer’s entire order, including accessory items and shipping.

The dealers usually prefer to offer cash discounts because payments made by cash are free of any bank-related fees and credit-card merchant fees. They claim they pass this savings to the customer. Therefore, everybody benefits.

Before purchasing a plasma TV, it is always wise for a customer to compare prices offered by different dealers through the Internet. Browsing the Net will greatly help a customer to compare the prices offered and make the right choice from a wide array of leading brands like Sony, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung and Dell.

Top coupons are offered by Amazon.com, BestBuy.com, Buy.com, Circuit City, Crutchfield, Overstock.com, Sharper Image and Target. There are other ways to attain a discount plasma television, such as consulting with friends on where they bought their units, so seek out many options and choose the best one.

You will find a good number of online sources for the best-quality wholesale plasma televisions. These sources provide you with the latest information and links, enabling you to choose the wholesale plasma televisions you want to purchase, be they for your company or your own requirements.

Wholesale plasma televisions can often be found at very low cost online. You need to find these sales to get the wholesale plasma televisions you deserve. They will offer you a whole array of top-quality wholesale plasma televisions like Samsung, Sony, Panasonic or Zenith, indicating their characteristic display features.

While purchasing plasma televisions, take a hard look at the shipping charges and the service facilities they offer.

And if you are a smart consumer, you will certainly shop around before making purchases, especially with big-ticket items. The Net has greatly eased the tiresome task of comparing prices. Plasma television manufacturers do not exactly welcome online consultations, because they obviously don't want you to know you could be getting better bargains elsewhere.

Be aware that wholesalers generally only sell to retailers, since retailers are able to buy many units at one time. But you can pool resources by getting a number of buyers together and approaching the wholesaler directly. Live entertainment companies and theaters also buy wholesale plasma televisions quite often. It will be always better if you check beforehand if the big discount wholesale outfits are selling a model that is either the previous year’s model, or a rebranded model that has specification deficiencies.

Many people shopping for television sets in the contemporary shop for names of manufacturers because they associate names with quality. They need to know that there are new technologies available.

On one hand there are those old cathode ray tube conventional televisions and on the other hand there are the innovative display systems like liquid crystal display televisions and what is known as plasma televisions.

Plasma television are the thin and wall-mountable televisions and can generally achieve deeper black levels, making for more cinematic movie-watching and they do a better job of handling fast motion. They come in 42-inch sizes (measured diagonally) Conventional televisions are unmanageable, restricted in image size and confined to the limitations of the box they are built in. This makes them big, and in some cases impossible to fit into your living room.

Our capability to contrive and control the performance of atomic particles has also enables us to improve our viewing familiarity. Plasma is a gas that contains freely flowing ions and electrons. When an electric charge is passed through this plasma, photons are released, which then provide illumination. The rest of the technology is concentrated on using this enlightenment to create the three primary colors and to display them as images.

The plasma television removes or negates most of the drawbacks of the unadventurous television. For one thing, size is no longer a limitation, as the bulky cathode ray tube has been done away with. For another, bulky boxes are not required this television can be as slender as you could have anticipated it. Most of these televisions nowadays arrive on the scenes more or less like works of art hanging in your living room. So adopt the plasma television today and see how innovations in display have enhanced the quality of our entertainment!

For a layman, there seems to be no difference between a plasma and LCD TV. Both provide high-resolution, high-contrast images and both are flat, sleek and can be mounted on a wall. The difference lies in the technology that drives them.

Plasma TVs work with inert gases like xenon or neon, which are excited by electric pulses from specialized cells called pixels. This makes the gases glow. These glowing gases, in turn, produce the correct blend of red, blue and green light on the pixels. The pixels are illuminated by a fluorescent light bulb, which is driven by semiconductor software on the motherboard.

LCDs are actually thin film transistors (TFT), which contain liquid filled crystals between two plates of glass. LCDs work by blocking out unwanted light. When the signal hits the TFTs, they contort to a required angle, thus allowing only the requisite amount of light to pass through. A lamp behind the screen or a thin LCD bulb provides illumination to the TFT.

LCD TVs and plasma TVs have their individual strengths and weaknesses. Plasma TVs show better contrasts. Contrast means the ratio between the blackest black and the whitest white. A plasma TV can produce contrasts of even 3000 to 1, which is very high by LCD standards. LCD TVs can provide contrasts up to 900 to 1. However, in LCD technology, even a low contrast ratio can produce much better images.

Plasma TVs produce colors by addition of red, blue and green while LCD TVs produce colors by blocking unwanted light from the spectrum. Hence, plasma TVs produce colors by additive principle, while LCD TVs do the same by subtractive principle. That's why plasma TVs are much better at producing colors than LCD TVs.

Plasma TVs also have wide viewing angles, as much as 160 degrees. Since LCD TVs produce images by an LCD lamp behind the screen, viewing angles aren't wide. LCD TVs produce differently colored images when viewed at higher horizontal angles.

Though plasma technology wins over LCD technology in color, contrast and brightness, LCD wins hands down when it comes to the functionality. LCD TVs have greater longevity. Most LCD TVs can last up to twice the lifetime of a plasma TV. LCD TVs are also better suited to usage at higher altitudes or while traveling, because LCD technology does not use any gases, and is not subjected to air pressure.

LCD TVs are also energy efficient, as they require less voltage. This helps in reducing electricity bills.

Earlier LCD TVs were priced much higher than plasma TVs. But due to stiff competition, their prices have come down drastically. According to their current standing, LCD TVs cost only marginally more than plasma TVs.

There are actually several thousand places you find plasma cutters online. But the question you really should be asking is where can you find (insert brand and model here) plasma cutters. Obviously with any other equipment there are always different brands, styles, shapes, sizes and models. Different models will cut different types of metals, and different brands will be rated higher than others. It's a really good idea to go on Google and look for reviews on certain plasma cutters.

One of my favorite places to go for ANY review is Amazon, because there is always at least one person that has bought the product, used the product and is willing to sacrifice a few minutes of his or her time to let everyone else know what they thought of the product. You can also check out YouTube. YT has some really great videos of people using different cutters, so you the consumer can see how they work, how well they work and what kind of materials you can cut through.

I also found a few videos on there of people "testing" how strong certain cutters were compared to other cutters. People are usually more than willing to give advice on products they own or have owned in the past, so just do a little searching around and see what you can come up with!

To find different places to buy plasma cutters you can try the following places. Of course as said above there are several thousand places you can look at but just for the sake of the article I'm willing to supply a few websites that have been highly rated among users of plasma cutters. So, check these sites out:

HyperTherm
CyberWeld
MillerWelds
PlasmaCutter

Obviously another aspect you're going to want to take a look at is prices. Now with the old plasma cutters they used to cost around $1000 USD or more which was primarily the reason that you only found cutters inside auto shops or other professional shops. But nowadays you can find a really nice plasma cutter for well around $300 depending on the brand, style, model, etc. So, make sure you look around at a few different places.

Another really great thing you can do to save yourself some time is go to comparison shopping sites find the correct category usually something like nextag/homeandgarden/homeimprovement/plasmacutters. In that case you will see brands like Miller, Hobart, Soar, Firepower, etc. And then you can see different prices right next to each other (without looking at 50 different stores online). These comparison shopping sites also might offer other things such as reviews and comments from other users, so look out for that as well!

People love the latest electronic devices meant for entertainment purposes. LCD and Plasma Televisions are on top of the chart of favorite entertainment devices. Therefore, if you have planned to replace your prototyped television with a new LCD or Plasma one, then it is a wise decision. To make it a wiser decision, you need to fix it to a proper place in your home.

Mounting Your LCD/Plasma Television

You have invested heavy amount in buying an LCD or Plasma TV, for their perfect placement you need to buy a mount bracket of good quality, compromising with the price is not a wise decision. A mount bracket will decide the usability and durability of your hi-tech television set. Another thing, which you need to focus, is installation of mount brackets at your home. This is a very sensitive task, because any failures in proper installation may damage your LCD or Plasma television set. Therefore, consulting a professional and skilled installer, who is expert in providing such services, will be the best option.

Some important guidelines during installation of mount brackets:

1. Be sure to subcontract the installation to licensed contractors and keep small children away during the installation process to avoid any kind of accidents during installation.
2. Even moving or dismounting of LCD or Plasma televisions should be assigned to licensed contractors.
3. Do not spill any kind of liquids on LCD or Plasma TV. Any kind of wetness may result electric shocks.
4. Do not play with your mount bracket settings. That means do not remove any screws etc., after mounting your LCD or Plasma TV.
5. Do not try to disassemble or alter the parts of wall mount brackets. It may damage mount brackets and may fall resulting damage to your costly LCD/Plasma TV.
6. Do not mount any other equipment other than the specified product. These mount brackets are specially designed for use with specified product only. Any other equipment may not be compatible to your mount bracket, and it may fall or cause damage.
7. Do not cover ventilation hole of the television.
8. Do not apply any other load on mount brackets.

All the above guidelines are helpful from the installation to handling and maintenance of your mount brackets. It will help you in getting a pleasant experience with your LCD/Plasma TV and mount brackets.