Another home entertainment technology death duel is under way as two different TV technologies — liquid crystal display (LCD) and plasma — vie for dominance of the big-screen, flat-panel television market.
Until recently the technologies weren’t really in direct competition, as plasma was more suited to bigger screens while LCD had the edge on smaller ones. Giant LCD sets were available, but they relied on bulky image-projecting equipment behind their screens, and thereby lacked the fashionable thinness of plasma flat-screen units.
But LCD technology is evolving as manufacturers turn out increasingly larger flat-panel units.
“The [plasma] (sets) offer a very good picture, a very bright picture,” he says. “But they have serious problems as relates to burn-in.”
[…]
“LCD couldn’t handle fast movement — in a hockey game you’d lose the puck. That’s no longer the case.”
No, Plasma’s aren’t the BetaMax in any sense. This is someone trying to make news out of nothing.
BetaMax was a closed set. If you didn’t make tapes that fit and used Sony’s coding, you couldn’t use the device. A TV’s image can be seen by everyone regardless of format. A Black & White cathode-ray-tube set can still be viewed (for a few more years, at least) even though it not only isn’t made anymore, it isn’t even modern technology.
Because of the proprietary aspect of BetaMax, once support dropped the devices quickly fell into garages and landfills because there was no way to effectively use the unsupported devices. This would not be the case for plasma monitors, as they would continue to be used long after the technology is obsolete.
Even with fading and burn-in, there will be plasma screens on bar walls and basements for years to come, as a monitor that still presents a visible image is still worth something to someone.
Also, there are a shitload of plasma fabs out there in the world. It is a relatively mature technlogy and screens will continue to be made for years until the fabs themselves become too costly to operate.
You could compare plasma to the 8-Track, maybe. It lasted for over 10 years before fading into obscurity.
However, since there are no proprietary format issues involved, the question of Plasma as a BetaMax allegory is a non sequitur.
From what I’ve heard, modern plasmas don’t have the problem with burn in as they did in the past. And if you listen to Robert Herion, who reviews displays for PC Mag, he say Plasma still has the best picture.
Though I’m sticking with DLP for another year or two — until significant growth in the range and breadth of HDTV programming happens and true 1080p is widespread — I agree with gc on this one.
Robert came up with only one LCD HDTV that he thinks worth watching. Otherwise, he prefers plasma. In the mid-size ranges, 36″-50″, plasma is generally more affordable than LCD, as well.
I’d say his opinion is pretty much matched by the various groupings within the avsforum.
I’ve had my plasma set for three years. The kids have played video games on it. I’ve used tivo to pause images for long periods of time and had the Tivo screen on for extended periods, with no burn-in at all.
Well adjusted high quality plasma sets don’t have a burn-in problem.
Moss,
Stick with DLP if you’re happy with it, the best of the breed today are 1080p and use red, green, and blue LEDs to provide a color gamut greater than that of NTSC. In addition, the newest light engine designs allow for a very shallow cabinet.
Why are they asking this guy about plasma?
“Electronics giant Sony stopped manufacturing plasma TVs 18 months ago. John Challinor, Sony Canada’s general manager of corporate communications, calls plasma a “high maintenance” product.”
Sony’s GM of corporate communication? Sony, which the article says stopped making plasmas? He’s not an engineer. He’s a guy meant to spit out the corporate line. And, for a company that doesn’t make plasma TVs, the line is to tell people how terrible plasmas are. No, LCDs are much, much better, so sayeth the GM of corporate communications.
People who follow this stuff know that the burn-in problem is pretty much no longer a factor. The problem is when media outlets like The Toronto Star allow, what is effectively, a press release to be treated like the gospel, and thereby confusing many consumers.
The bigger factor is if your plasma has an HDCP backed digital connection. Thankfully my 37″ Sony (with its wacky 1024×1024 pixel count) does.
I do agree that, at this point, people should only buy 1080p. I’m really enjoying my 1080p 42″ Westinghouse.
The Betamax vs. VHS argument is silly, but the Toronto Star often publishes silly articles like this. They’ve picked up a few journalists recently who don’t seem to know how to investigate a story properly; their environmental and electronics stories in particular are weak.
DVD+R(W) vs. DVD-R(W) vs. DVD-RAM could have been a Betamax vs. VHS story if drives hadn’t come out that played and recorded both, and if people in general were more interested in DVD set-top recording (they don’t seem to be).
Blu-Ray vs. HD-DVD could be a Betamax vs. VHS story, but it’s too early to tell. One might die. Both might die due to lack of interest. Players may incorporate both. Both may co-exist (all of the other options are more likely than this one).
But framing plasma vs. LCD as a similar occurrence is silly: if companies stop producing plasma TVs, it doesn’t affect your ability to receive TV programming with your plasma TV. If the story was that companies would stop producing plasma TVs and you wouldn’t be able to receive TV programming after a certain date using such a TV, THAT would be a Betamax vs. VHS story.
This is BS. Plasmas still have a very nice pic. And are in the down curve, pricewise. So, as bang for buck goes, Plasmas are more attractive. The shitty thing is that plasmas, because of fabrication issues have large (comparatively) pixels. Ergo, only the bigger ones look good. For medium sized living rooms, LCDs look nicer.
Onthe other hand, LCD have really really come up in quality.
Have you ever seen Sony’s Bravia line? or even the newer Bravia XD?
I’ve chosen my TV for the next 10 years. and it will be one of those…(a 40″ V2000 likely)
Wow, that’s funny. Here my 37″ Sony plasma that’s a couple years old blows away any 720p based LCD.
Ergo, only newer LCDs are worth a damn in smaller rooms, especially when it comes to motion blur.