Plasma Screen
-
SplishSplash
- Posts: 4467
- Joined: Sun Dec 03, 2000 8:00 am
-
Turbanator
- Posts: 883
- Joined: Wed Jun 08, 1983 7:00 am
-
SplishSplash
- Posts: 4467
- Joined: Sun Dec 03, 2000 8:00 am
-
Giraffe }{unter
- Posts: 2941
- Joined: Fri Mar 17, 2000 8:00 am
Found some interresting reading...
PLASMA
Plasma displays function differently than any other TV technology in that they actually produce light independently at each pixel on the screen, as opposed to projecting a separate light source through or off of other elements to conjure a picture. A plasma "screen" is actually a dense network of individual cells, three for each pixel of the display (coated with red, green and blue phosphors, respectively). Each cell is impregnated with a rare-gas mixture and connected to an individual electrode. When the electrode for a given cell is charged with an electrical voltage, the gas is converted to a plasma state and emits a burst of ultraviolet light; this in turn causes the phosphors to react and produce bright visible light at the pixel level. By varying the voltage and intensity of the electrical charge, the proper combination of red, green and blue light is produced in each pixel to combine into a bright, colorful composite image. Plasma TVs are available in sizes from about 40" up to 70"+, but be prepared for sticker shock as your size desires increase.
Strengths
Obviously, plasma TVs are desirable for their sleek form factor — about 4" deep and wall-mountable, they're undeniably sexy. Furthermore, plasma produces a very bright image that can be viewed in a well-lit room, with superb color accuracy and saturation. It's a matter of opinion, but many videophiles regard plasma's color vibrancy as beyond compare among current technologies. Because the light is produced at the screen rather than projected onto it, focus is consistent and reliable across the entire screen surface, and plasma screens can be viewed from angles as severe as 160 degrees off-axis without detrimental effect. And plasma's accurate pixel structure produces a picture that is geometrically perfect from edge to edge and corner to corner, with uniform light output and a crisp, lifelike image.
Considerations
Due to the direct way it produces light, plasma can be especially susceptible to burn-in from static images such as stock-tickers and video-game gauges; however, newer displays have begun to incorporate "pixel-orbiting" technologies that shift images, almost imperceptibly, to limit the occurrence of burn-in. Additionally, although known for their high contrast (relative to LCD) and spectacular color saturation, plasma displays have historically had difficulty reproducing pure blacks. Recent enhancements have largely eliminated this problem, but sometimes at the expense of fine detail in dimly-lit areas of the picture.
The bottom line
Overall, plasma has maintained a reputation as the no-compromise high-tech TV display technology. While that's not entirely accurate, there's no question that a plasma TV on your living room wall will deliver amazing video performance — and, quite likely, a parade of drooling friends through your door as well.
LCD
Along with plasma, LCD (liquid crystal display) technology represents a revolution in television design: the truly flat TV. LCD flat-panel displays typically measure around 3" in depth, and are lightweight enough to be mounted on a wall (although they also look mighty sleek on the artsy stands designed to display them on tabletops). LCD is a transmissive technology (as opposed to reflective technologies like DLP and LCOS). Its light engine streams high-intensity white light (provided by a series of fluorescent tubes woven behind the screen surface) through tiny cells filled with a liquid crystal material. Each pixel has three such cells — one each for red, green and blue components of the signal. When an electrical charge is applied to these liquid crystals, their molecular structure shifts, modulating the intensity of the light that passes through to the screen. LCD TVs are available many sizes, from 10" standard-definition models to widescreen HDTV showpieces of 45" or more.
Strengths
LCD technology produces an exceptionally bright picture that can easily be viewed even in very bright conditions. The images are characterized by outstanding sharpness and detail and rich, saturated colors. LCD TVs use relatively little electricity, run cooler and more quietly than most plasma displays, and are essentially immune to the "burn-in" problems that plague CRT-projection and plasma TVs. Slim, sleek and lightweight, they can be placed or mounted almost anywhere in the home, including places where you might not have considered placing a TV — and, in fact, can easily be transported from room to room (with the exception of the largest screen sizes) for additional flexibility. And no matter where you put them, the latest models allow uninhibited viewing from angles as severe as 170 degrees off-axis.
Considerations
Due to its transmissive technology and the unintended leakage of some light to the display, LCD's high brightness comes at the expense of deep blacks; hence, its typical contrast ratio cannot match those produced by direct-view or even DLP sets. Early iterations of the technology had relatively slow "refresh rates," causing slight but noticeable blurring or smearing of fast-moving images; however, the advent of advanced LCD variants like active-matrix TFT panels has greatly improved performance. Likewise, technological improvements continue to reduce the occurrence of the "screen-door effect" caused by the distance between the pixels in an LCD display, but it's still more apparent with LCD than with LCOS, DLP or plasma displays.
The bottom line
When it comes to flat-panel TVs, the choice between LCD and plasma is a matter of personal taste. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, and each is relatively expensive but coming down in price. Consider the information, but most importantly, visit a Best Buy store to compare displays and decide which you prefer.
PLASMA
Plasma displays function differently than any other TV technology in that they actually produce light independently at each pixel on the screen, as opposed to projecting a separate light source through or off of other elements to conjure a picture. A plasma "screen" is actually a dense network of individual cells, three for each pixel of the display (coated with red, green and blue phosphors, respectively). Each cell is impregnated with a rare-gas mixture and connected to an individual electrode. When the electrode for a given cell is charged with an electrical voltage, the gas is converted to a plasma state and emits a burst of ultraviolet light; this in turn causes the phosphors to react and produce bright visible light at the pixel level. By varying the voltage and intensity of the electrical charge, the proper combination of red, green and blue light is produced in each pixel to combine into a bright, colorful composite image. Plasma TVs are available in sizes from about 40" up to 70"+, but be prepared for sticker shock as your size desires increase.
Strengths
Obviously, plasma TVs are desirable for their sleek form factor — about 4" deep and wall-mountable, they're undeniably sexy. Furthermore, plasma produces a very bright image that can be viewed in a well-lit room, with superb color accuracy and saturation. It's a matter of opinion, but many videophiles regard plasma's color vibrancy as beyond compare among current technologies. Because the light is produced at the screen rather than projected onto it, focus is consistent and reliable across the entire screen surface, and plasma screens can be viewed from angles as severe as 160 degrees off-axis without detrimental effect. And plasma's accurate pixel structure produces a picture that is geometrically perfect from edge to edge and corner to corner, with uniform light output and a crisp, lifelike image.
Considerations
Due to the direct way it produces light, plasma can be especially susceptible to burn-in from static images such as stock-tickers and video-game gauges; however, newer displays have begun to incorporate "pixel-orbiting" technologies that shift images, almost imperceptibly, to limit the occurrence of burn-in. Additionally, although known for their high contrast (relative to LCD) and spectacular color saturation, plasma displays have historically had difficulty reproducing pure blacks. Recent enhancements have largely eliminated this problem, but sometimes at the expense of fine detail in dimly-lit areas of the picture.
The bottom line
Overall, plasma has maintained a reputation as the no-compromise high-tech TV display technology. While that's not entirely accurate, there's no question that a plasma TV on your living room wall will deliver amazing video performance — and, quite likely, a parade of drooling friends through your door as well.
LCD
Along with plasma, LCD (liquid crystal display) technology represents a revolution in television design: the truly flat TV. LCD flat-panel displays typically measure around 3" in depth, and are lightweight enough to be mounted on a wall (although they also look mighty sleek on the artsy stands designed to display them on tabletops). LCD is a transmissive technology (as opposed to reflective technologies like DLP and LCOS). Its light engine streams high-intensity white light (provided by a series of fluorescent tubes woven behind the screen surface) through tiny cells filled with a liquid crystal material. Each pixel has three such cells — one each for red, green and blue components of the signal. When an electrical charge is applied to these liquid crystals, their molecular structure shifts, modulating the intensity of the light that passes through to the screen. LCD TVs are available many sizes, from 10" standard-definition models to widescreen HDTV showpieces of 45" or more.
Strengths
LCD technology produces an exceptionally bright picture that can easily be viewed even in very bright conditions. The images are characterized by outstanding sharpness and detail and rich, saturated colors. LCD TVs use relatively little electricity, run cooler and more quietly than most plasma displays, and are essentially immune to the "burn-in" problems that plague CRT-projection and plasma TVs. Slim, sleek and lightweight, they can be placed or mounted almost anywhere in the home, including places where you might not have considered placing a TV — and, in fact, can easily be transported from room to room (with the exception of the largest screen sizes) for additional flexibility. And no matter where you put them, the latest models allow uninhibited viewing from angles as severe as 170 degrees off-axis.
Considerations
Due to its transmissive technology and the unintended leakage of some light to the display, LCD's high brightness comes at the expense of deep blacks; hence, its typical contrast ratio cannot match those produced by direct-view or even DLP sets. Early iterations of the technology had relatively slow "refresh rates," causing slight but noticeable blurring or smearing of fast-moving images; however, the advent of advanced LCD variants like active-matrix TFT panels has greatly improved performance. Likewise, technological improvements continue to reduce the occurrence of the "screen-door effect" caused by the distance between the pixels in an LCD display, but it's still more apparent with LCD than with LCOS, DLP or plasma displays.
The bottom line
When it comes to flat-panel TVs, the choice between LCD and plasma is a matter of personal taste. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, and each is relatively expensive but coming down in price. Consider the information, but most importantly, visit a Best Buy store to compare displays and decide which you prefer.
-
SplishSplash
- Posts: 4467
- Joined: Sun Dec 03, 2000 8:00 am
Dude, this isn't a question of belief. 1080i delivers more picture information than 720p, it's a simple fact. It's also a fact that 1080i is exactly equal to 1080p. So I guess you're in for a big disappointment.rep wrote:shitsplash in denial here. He's a kid with a 9 inch B/W tv acting like a know it all. GJ.
720p is better. When 1080p comes out, then it'll be 1080p being the best around.
Since you think 1080i is so shitty, my guess is that you've got a shitty deinterlacer somewhere in your system that fucks everything up.
Let me guess: You got it for cheap?
1080i does deliver a bit more information than 720p.
62208 K pixels per second vs 55296 Kpps.
1080p will be very sweet @ 124416 Kpps.
The real debate on 1080i vs 720p is pretty subjective. If properly filmed, mastered, edited, encoded and decoded, 1080i should be superior to 720p. Have a shitty decoder/deinterlacer? 720p will probably be better.
62208 K pixels per second vs 55296 Kpps.
1080p will be very sweet @ 124416 Kpps.
The real debate on 1080i vs 720p is pretty subjective. If properly filmed, mastered, edited, encoded and decoded, 1080i should be superior to 720p. Have a shitty decoder/deinterlacer? 720p will probably be better.
-
SplishSplash
- Posts: 4467
- Joined: Sun Dec 03, 2000 8:00 am
1080i has twice the framerate. Therefore it delivers the same amount of information as 1080p.
If it doesn't have twice the framerate, it's not 1080i, but... - broken.
But since you're all so convinced, I might have to check if the broadcast idiots have fucked up the standard. But I'll do that tomorrow.
Edit:
I checked and now I think I know where we disagree:
When you guys talk about progressive, you think of 50/60 fps.
When I talk about progressive, I think of 25/30 fps.
Apparantly, for some reason american broadcasters started to broadcast their 720p material with a 60 fps framerate. Which is idiotic really.
With digital framebuffers, you don't need such a high framerate, the frames can be doubled in the TV.
If it doesn't have twice the framerate, it's not 1080i, but... - broken.
But since you're all so convinced, I might have to check if the broadcast idiots have fucked up the standard. But I'll do that tomorrow.
Edit:
I checked and now I think I know where we disagree:
When you guys talk about progressive, you think of 50/60 fps.
When I talk about progressive, I think of 25/30 fps.
Apparantly, for some reason american broadcasters started to broadcast their 720p material with a 60 fps framerate. Which is idiotic really.
With digital framebuffers, you don't need such a high framerate, the frames can be doubled in the TV.
-
Giraffe }{unter
- Posts: 2941
- Joined: Fri Mar 17, 2000 8:00 am
I'm going to bring in my media center on friday and hook it up to the plasma's and LCDs we have in stock. I'll see what suits me best. I guess there is only one way to decide...Foo wrote:The crispness on LCD panels wins me over, TBH.
Personal preferance and price. I can't beat the price anywhere so more than likely I am gonna nail the Plasma. unless I find something I do not like on Friday.
Sorry Splish. Progressive is 60fps and interlaced is half verticle resolution 60 fps. My numbers are correct.
http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages ... 94128.html
http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages ... 94128.html
-
SplishSplash
- Posts: 4467
- Joined: Sun Dec 03, 2000 8:00 am
Progessive or interlaced has nothing to do with the framerate per se.Fender wrote:Sorry Splish. Progressive is 60fps and interlaced is half verticle resolution 60 fps. My numbers are correct.
http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages ... 94128.html
It just means (I'm explaining this for the third time now), when the picture is interlaced, each frame is transmitted as two half-frames, one carrying the odd, the other the even lines of the original frame.
Television has traditionally always been interlaced, to get a higher framerate (because they didn't have digital framebuffers).
The HDTV standard offers many different framerates at two different resolutions.
The resolutions are 1280x720 and 1920x1080.
The available framerates are: 24 fps (just like film), 25 fps (PAL progressive), 50 fps interlaced (PAL interlaced), 30 fps (NTSC progressive), 60 fps interlaced (NTSC interlaced), and, obviously, 50 and 60 fps progressive.
Broadcasters get to choose from HDTV resolutions and framerates freely.
Traditional TV (NTSC) used to be 60 fps interlaced with 480 vertical lines.
Traditional TV (PAL) used to be 50 fps interlaced with 576 vertical lines.
For some reason, American broadcasters have decided to broadcast HDTV with 60 fps progressive. Maybe because they thought the audience wouldn't understand the difference between progressive and interlaced and see a decline in framerate as a decline in quality (which it isn't, as long as you have at least 24 fps, there shouldn't be a big difference). Another reason would be that displays capable of displaying 720 are a lot easier to produce than displays capable of displaying 1080. So with 720, they could bring you HDTV faster, even though it's not "real" HDTV, but more like some halfassed attempt at it.
The best choice would have been 1080p with 24 progressive fps. Even less data to transport than with the 720p of today, but full resolution and progressive pictures. Plus you could watch movies in their original framerate, thus eliminating the need for 3:2 pulldown.
But the TVs capable of displaying the full resolution of 1920x1080 are really expensive, and there would have been a decrease in framerate which some American idiots would have judged as a decrease in quality. (The truth is, any HDTV stream transforms into (at least) a 60 fps stream in the display.)
Even though you can maybe see an increase in quality if you go from 60 fps interlaced to 60 fps progressive, you would gain a lot more by raising the resolution. Which is why 1080i looks better than 720p.
However, today's displays aren't made for interlaced pictures, thus the need for a deinterlacer in your display. If the deinterlacer sucks, the 1080i picture will suck. Rep's deinterlacer is obviously a piece of crap, that's why he thinks 720p is better.
Or maybe he just really digs a high framerate because he has super-sensitive spider-eyes, fuck if I know.
P.S.:
If you compare PAL and HDTV resolutions, you'll see that there isn't such a big difference.
720 is only a little bit better than 576, while it is quite a bit better than 480 (NTSC).
This is why the 720 res isn't that popular in PAL countries, and the HDTV train won't take off over here until 1080 becomes affordable.
Last edited by SplishSplash on Tue Mar 22, 2005 1:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
if only 
nay, its in the trend of the enviroment n stuff.
seems like plasma's use more electricity than needed or summat to that extent.
this while every powercompany is trying to get everyone into "green" power (electricity generated by wind, water n sun)
nay, its in the trend of the enviroment n stuff.
seems like plasma's use more electricity than needed or summat to that extent.
this while every powercompany is trying to get everyone into "green" power (electricity generated by wind, water n sun)
[url=http://profile.mygamercard.net/Emka+Jee][img]http://card.mygamercard.net/sig/Emka+Jee.jpg[/img][/url]
aye. if it were up to the powercompanies, we'd all use plasma screens as our calculator display nowU4EA wrote:
Le Oof! Well not so admirable then.
its the government that tells the powercompanies to fucking "shut it" for a change
[url=http://profile.mygamercard.net/Emka+Jee][img]http://card.mygamercard.net/sig/Emka+Jee.jpg[/img][/url]