Types of Plasma HDTVs

As an introduction, we will begin with what HDTV actually is. High-Definition Television (HDTV) provides a digital picture of greater clarity and richer sound than the analog signals that have been broadcast for decades. HDTV is also broadcast with a 5.1 channel surround sound signal. HDTV is available in all forms of broadcast. The signal can be received over the air with an antenna, as well as from cable television and of course satellite TV. HDTV's can be purchased as display devices without tuners (monitors), as TVs with an analog tuner for conventional non-high definition broadcasts or as complete HD televisions with a high-definition tuner included. Sets without HD tuners are often called HD-ready and require a high-definition signal from a high-definition satellite receiver or high-definition cable box.

Fully integrated HDTVs with built-in HDTV tuners can receive over-the-air DTV broadcasts. The formats used by HDTV are: - 720p - 1280 x 720 pixels progressive (all 720 lines of resolution are visible each frame) - 1080i - 1920 x 1080 pixels interlaced (the screen displays 540 odd numbered lines in 1/60th of a second and the next 540 even numbered lines in the next 1/60th of a second.) - 1080p-1920 x 1080 pixels progressive (as in 720p all 1080 lines are displayed each frame. The newest development in HDTV is the addition of 1080p as a format choice in High Definition. The detail on these sets is truly breathtaking. They give the clarity of the traditional 1080i picture, but in progressive scan are now less prone to tiling or artifacting during fast action scenes. Currently there are no plans to broadcast in 1080p but it is being used in HD-DVD and Blu-ray high definition DVD players which have recently become available. It is also planned the Sony Playstation 3 will use 1080p, as well as upgrades to Microsoft X-Box 360. The normal analog television screen in the U.S. has 525 scan lines, with only 480 actually visible. The usual TV has an effective picture resolution of about 210,000 pixels. In the highest resolution digital TV formats, each picture contains about 2 million pixels. This means about 10 times more picture detail on a television using HDTV.

What's it to be? LCD or Plasma? Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Here's the easy info. Be fully informed and better able to make your own decision.