How to Find the Best Plasma TV

Plasma TV Comparisons

If you love television, and you love modern technology, there's no way around it - you've got to have a plasma TV! Here's an overview of plasma TVs, plasma TV features, and where to go online for plasma TV comparisons to find the best TV at the best price.

What is a plasma TV?

A plasma TV is a video monitor that uses millions of tiny colored fluorescent lights to create an image. The tiny light cells are sandwiched between two plates of glass along with electrodes that trigger the cells to produce colors and patterns. This innovative way of creating images allows plasma TVs to be both flat and very large.

What are the features of a plasma TV?

* Plasma TVs are completely flat. Not only are they attractive and modern, but there is no distortion from curvature, which can be a problem with tube TV screens.
* Plasma TVs are slim and lightweight. The construction of plasma TVs lets them be hung on a wall and hug the wall. You can put a plasma TV almost anywhere, in comparison with the limits posed by the shape and size of traditional tube TVs and projection TVs.
* Plasma TVs accommodate a widescreen format. You get the full theater experience from plasma TVs because they use a widescreen aspect ratio. In addition to their high resolution, this allows plasma TVs to make the most of HDTV and DVD formats.
* Plasma TVs provide high-resolution images. The image quality of plasma TVs is much sharper and clearer than tube TVs. Because of this, plasma TVs can accommodate high-definition HDTV signals, as well as DTV, and other formats.
* Plasma TVs are easy to view from any place in the room. And unlike projection TVs and LCD TVs, the picture on a plasma TV is clear from almost any angle.
* Plasma TVs are lifelike. The picture you get from a plasma TV is the clearest picture around, and there is such a sense of depth, the image almost seems three-dimensional.

Where can I compare plasma TV prices?

All this modern technology comes at a price - plasma TVs aren't cheap. Most start at $2,000 and can cost up to $10,000, depending upon the size and model.
In order to get the best price on a plasma TV, I recommend going to your local electronics stores to compare the prices and features, then compare prices online before you buy one.
I found an excellent online service that compares prices and provides customer reviews on all models and brands of plasma TVs. Not only does this service provide well-researched price comparisons for the various makes and models of plasma TVs, but it also gives ratings plus detailed product information.
Reviews of plasma TVs are provided by customers who actually own one. It's like having a network of friends to give you first-hand, unbiased advice on your plasma TV purchase.

Compare LCD TV and Plasma TV
Which is Better?

Compare LCD TV & Plasma TV
You know you want to buy a flat-screen TV but you don't know if a plasma TV or an LCD TV would be your best choice.
This article explains the differences between plasma versus LCD TVs, then shows you how to get the best price for a plasma or LCD TV.

Plasma TV
A plasma TV screen consists of millions of multi-colored gas-filled cells. When electricity passes through the cells they light up and produce a picture.
Plasma TV screens have a much higher resolution than tube TV screens. In fact, the picture is so clear it's almost like watching a scene through a window.
Screen sizes range from 42" to 65" wide and are 3" to 4" thick.

LCD TV
LCD (light crystal display) TV screens are made up of a thin layer of liquid crystals sandwiched between two glass plates. When an electricity is sent through the crystals an array of tiny multi-colored pixels light up to create a picture.
LCD TV screens are thinner and lighter than plasma screens. They are the most screens for computers, and are quickly gaining popularity as TV screens.
LCD TV screens are anywhere from 1/4" to 4" thick and 2" to 65" wide.

Plasma vs. LCD Features

Picture Quality

When it comes to which type of TV screen is sharper and shows more detail, plasma TVs have a slight edge over LCD TVs, though LCD TVs are catching up.
Plasma TVs are also slightly better when it comes to viewing angle - how far you can sit to one side of a TV screen before picture quality is affected.

Screen Life

Screen life is the number of hours a TV provides before the picture begins to fade. Plasma TVs have a screen life of about 30,000 to 60,00 hours, depending on the make and model, while LCD TV's have a screen life of 60,000 hours or more.
Plasma TVs are also subject to "burn in." This occurs when a TV displays a still image long enough for a ghost of that image to be burned into the screen. LCD TVs do not have this problem.

HD TV

Both plasma and LCD TVs display HD (high definition) signals for a sharper, more three dimensional picture. LCD TVs, however, have a slightly higher resolution (more screen pixels) then plasma TVs.

Video Games

Plasma and LCD TVs are both great for video gaming, however because of plasma TV's tendency toward screen burn in, an LCD TV is the better choice if you play a lot of video games.

Portability

LCD TVs are thinner and lighter than plasma TVs, making them easier to move and easier to mount on a wall.

Plasma vs LCD TV prices

When it comes to which type of TV gives you the most bang for the buck, it depends on what you're looking for.
If you're looking for a large-screen TV - 42" or larger - plasma TVs are currently cheaper than than similar-sized LCD TVs. When I recently compared prices on 42" TVs, the cheapest plasma TV was $999, while the cheapest LCD TV was $1,367.
When it comes to mid-size TVs, I couldn't find plasma TVs smaller than 42." The cheapest 32" LCD TV I found was $619, while the cheapest 27" LCD TV was $550.

Installing a Home Theatre

How to install a home theater system?

Home theater is one of the fastest growing areas areas in home entertainment and the advent of DVD recorders means your set-up can now be entirely digital, without an inch of video tape in site.
Installing a home theater is a big decision and requires careful planning. Luckily there are a number of resources around to help you and you needn’t be a technical expert or a hi-fi buff to get the job done.
You’ll also want to think about the interior design of a dedicated home theater room and of course the seating is all important. You’re going to spend hours and hours watching movies and the last thing you need is uncomfortable seats.

Obviously budget is another consideration and this will dictate which equipment you buy initially and what you save for another day. As a bare minimum you’ll want a DVD player, widescreen television, and a surround sound audio amplifier and speakers. We’d recommend opting for a DVD recorder like this one from Phillips, or this from Panasonic. They’re obviously more expensive than a DVD player, but will give you much greater flexibility. And don’t forget to budget for cabling, its a very important part of installing a home theatre and one that’s often overlooked.

One of the first decisions you’ll need to make before you set about installing a home theater is whether your going to dedicate a whole room to the theater or whether it will share a space with a lounge, dining room, or office. Having a dedicated room allows you to position seating and speakers in the optimum position and you can seriously consider a projector and screen without it looking as out of place as it might in your living room.

Download Music Online

You can legally purchase and download music from these major online music retailers.

1.MusicMatch - Download music, burn cds and even print custom labels and covers. There is a free version of the jukebox with ony the ability to play music, burn songs that you get online, or rip songs and store them on your playlist. The free radio service alone is worth the sign up. Create your own radio station playing only music from the artists and albums that you like. Excellent example of the personalized functionality that you can deliver in an online music store

2.iTunes.com - you can download music from this site which has one of the largest online catalogs. iTunes customers have bought over 200 million MP3 Downloads so far and it shows now sign of slowing down. Create online mixes, link to over 1,000 radio stations across the country, download music directly to your iPod or even purchase an iPod if you don’t have one. This music catalog gives you access to almost every music genre that exists. There are also free samples available on a regular basis. No mystery here. Apple lists the date directly on the front page so you know when to come back and download music for free. Free music on a schedule. Excellent!

3. LaunchCast is an mp3 download resource, online music station, music video channel and music store. Channels are extremely organized so you can do the top 40 thing or click around for
independent artists and cutting edge stuff.

4. Download.com has it all, Rock, Pop, Classical, Reggae, Punk and more. Millions of online surfers turn to this site for their MP3 downloads. While you’re there, you can also check out their software and games section. Certainly one the largest and most comprehensive download sources online. As with Amazon, independent artists can register and upload their music.

5. BuyMusic - Download music from over 500,000 songs and as an incentive, they songs are cheaper than anyone else around at only 79cents per song on the lower end.

6. Rhapsody - You can download music directly to your CD for only 79cents per song. There is always some kind of promotion on the site . Right now, you can burn 5 CDs for free just for trying the service.

7. WalMart.com is the largest retailer in the world and fortunately they have created their own system to offer mp3 downloads online. Download individual songs or buy an entire album. They have a huge music catalog and single songs are slightly cheaper than iTunes. You can download music on this site for only 88cents per song. The current catalog has over 400,000 songs in many categories.

8. eMusic - Download music from one of the largest independent catalogs on the web. You won't find a lot of to 40 hits, but there is a free trial period so go ahead and check it out.

9. Amazon.com has entire section of its site devoted to free music. Whether you’re looking for Pop, Rock, Ska, Reggae or Brazilian Samba music, you can download music samples from their the free catalog on the Amazon site. It’s not the largest selection but you can reasonably assured that the files are good quality, virus free and legal. If you find a few songs that you like, click over to the album and purchase it. Let's hope that they expand into the digital market so you can download music files directly to an mp3 player.
Independent musicians can put their own composition on the site with a virtual tip jar.

You Should Know Before You Order Direct TV Satelite

Thinking about getting Direct TV? Check out these need-to-know facts about Direct TV systems and service before you order. Direct TV Satellite TV System To receive Direct TV programming you need a Direct TV satellite TV system to capture the satellite signal and transmit it to your TV. Thanks to the competition between Direct TV dealers, you can now get a free Direct TV satellite TV system when you subscribe to their service.

Here's what you get when you order Direct TV satellite TV service

A free direct TV satellite TV dish.
Up to four free receivers and universal remotes.
Free professional installation in up to four rooms of your home.
Direct TV HD (high definition) satellite TV receivers (optional).
Free bonus gifts such as a free DVD player and home theater system.

Direct TV Satellite TV Service

Here's what you get with Direct TV service:
More than 225 program channels to choose from.
All-digital picture and sound.
Up to 500 commercial-free movies per month.
DVR (digital video recording) so you can record your favorite programs. and bypass commercials while watching live TV.
Up to 60 pay-per-view programs per day.
Your local channels with digital picture and sound.
Thirty-one commercial-free music channels with digital sound.
Toll-free, 24/7 customer service.

Direct TV satellite TV programming

Direct TV programming packages, which include your local channels, start at $41.99 per month.
Here are the Direct TV programming packages currently available:
Total Choice—135 program channels (includes 31 music channels) for $41.99 per month.
Total Choice Plus—155 program channels (includes 31 music channels) for $45.99 per month.
Total Choice Premier—215 program channels (includes 31 music channels), $93.99 per month. In addition to the above programming packages you can also get sports packages, international packages, and HD (high definition) packages.
Note: To see all the Direct TV programming packages, current special offers, and free bonuses, click on the links at the bottom of this article.

Ordering Direct TV Satellite TV Service

After you decide on which system and which program package you want, you can place your order online, or you can call a toll-free number to order through a Direct TV representative.
The representative will take your order, schedule your installation, and answer any questions you may have. Installation time is usually one to five days after you order.
At the scheduled installation time a certified Direct TV installer will install your system, test it to make sure it works, then show you how to use all the functions and controls.
Operating the Direct TV satellite system may seem a little tricky at first, so I suggest you ask all the questions you need to while your installer is there, so you'll feel comfortable with your new system.
Before you order Direct TV satellite TV service I suggest you visit The Satellite TV Guide website (see below) to check out the satellite TV systems and the program packages currently being offered.