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CRT Television
DLP Television
DVI and HDMI
HDTV
Laser Based Television
LCD Television
LCoS Television
OLED Television
Plasma Television
SED Television
What is a CRT television?
CRT stands for Cathode Ray Tube. A CRT television makes use of a cathode ray tube. It has an electronic beam which is used to illuminate phosphors to create an image on the screen. CRT is a much older technology than DLP, LCD, or Plasma. More CRT televisions are sold in the US annually than any other type of television.
What are the advantages of a CRT television?
CRT televisions are simple to set up; they are generally ready to plug in and use right out of the box. They also offer great viewing. Newer CRT television screens are often flatter and have no noticeable glare and a wide viewing angle. CRT televisions actually produce the deepest blacks of all television screens and offer the best picture quality with standard-definition viewing as many of the other technologies tend to accentuate any imperfections. Because CRT is an older technology it also tends to be very dependable and less costly to purchase and to repair. A CRT television can cost 30% to 50% less than a similar size LCD television for instance.
What are the primary disadvantages of a CRT television?
Although many CRT televisions now offer flatter screens and an overall depth that is several inches shallower, they are still bulkier and heavier than other flat screen technologies.
HDTV is available on CRT televisions but the quality of high definition viewing is considered better on plasma and LCD. (The quality of standard definition viewing on a CRT television however is often considered superior.)
For those searching for a large screen television, CRT may not be the best choice as they generally aren't available at the upper end of the size spectrum (over 38 inches) and would be so bulky that most consumers would not find room for them in their home.
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What is Digital Light Processing?
Digital Light Processing is a technology developed by Texas Instruments and is now the standard projection technology in theaters. In DLP, light is digitally manipulated by an optical semiconductor. Images are generated by reflecting light off of the surface of a digital micromirror device, or DMD, which contains hundreds of thousands of tiny mirrors. The image then reflects off of a color wheel and lens onto the screen. This results in a very bright, sharp image which can be seen well even in a room with normal lighting. DLP is useful in large screen digital televisions and projectors and often makes rear projection televisions a good choice for buyers.
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What are DVI and HDMI inputs on a television?
DVI is a digital visual interface and HDMI is a high-definition multimedia interface. DVI has been around longer; it carries uncompressed digital video data. It allows a single cable to transfer signals from a television to a PC for instance. If you wish to view high definition television in the future you should get a set with DVI inputs or, if you want a newer technology which should be around for even longer, go for HDMI inputs. DVI supports digital video and HDMI supports both digital video and audio.
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What is HDTV?
HDTV is one form of digital television. It provides incredible detail, vivid colors, and life like depth due to it’s high resolution. The primary difference between a standard television and HDTV is the resolution or the number and spacing of the pixels. The greater the pixel count the higher the resolution.
What are important things to know before selecting an HD television?
The televisions are sold either as Integrated HD or HD-Ready. An Integrated HD set has a built in HD tuner so that you have all that you need right out of the box. An HD-Ready set is capable of displaying HD content but it requires a separate HD tuner to convert the signal received to a higher resolution. True high definition television is capable of displaying a resolution of 480i, 480p, 720i, 720p, 1080i, or1080p. The “i” means that the signal is displayed on the screen “interlaced” and the “p” means that it is displayed by progressive scan. Progressive scan generally produces a higher quality picture. Therefore, 720p would provide a better picture than a set with 480i. The highest quality signal a conventional TV offers is 480i, but this is the lowest quality signal for an HDTV.
There are also a couple of other terms you want to be aware of before shopping. Some sets are described as SDTV. SDTV is a form of digital TV but it is not High Definition. Other sets are described as EDTV (Enhanced Digital TV). EDTV tends to produce a better picture than the average SDTV but again they don’t have the same quality as HDTV.
Why are people switching to HD television?
As we have described, the video quality is much better than standard television. Currently, satellite and cable broadcast the most HD programming but by Feburary 2009 all major networks will discontinue broadcasting analog signals and convert completely to digital. Obviously owning an HDTV would be of benefit although owners of analog sets will probably be able to purchase inexpensive converter boxes to be able to view the digital signals.
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Mitsubishi is said to be aniticipating the release of a television which is a slimmed down, rear projection model that will rival the space saving design of plasma and LCD screens. Said to be only 10” deep they should not be too imposing in any room. It is also anticipated that they will be lighter in weight, due in part to their lightweight plastic screen versus traditional glass. Anticipated arrival on the market will be perhaps 2008.
Other attractive features include improvements in picture quality. These sets are said to offer better color content and blacker blacks than current technologies. In addition, this new laser based television will reportedly consume significantly less power and is expected to be priced well below that of similarly sized plasma or LCD screens.
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What are the advantages and disadvantages of an LCD television screen?
LCD (Liquid Crystal Diode) displays feature very high contrast; clear, sharp, bright pictures much like plasma displays although the technology is different. LCD flat screens offer the advantage of a screen that is larger than traditional tube television while maintaining a very thin presence. Like Plasma displays they can be hung on the wall. In general, LCD displays are available in the largest sizes, but there are some models that exceed 57". LCD television screens offer a 160 degree viewing angle, allowing viewers around the room to enjoy a quality picture. A lifespan of 60,000 to 80,000 hours s reported by manufacturers. The lifespan of an LCD display is often dictated by the florescent light source. The backlighting maintains the white balance on the television and as the bulb ages, colors can become unbalanced. Some bulbs can be replaced but some cannot. Buyers should check this prior to purchasing. LCD displays track motion less well than Plasma as fast moving objects sometimes appear to lag or blur. However, LCDs tend to do better than plasma with more static images and they do not experience “burn-in” (Early plasma screens could suffer burn-in although this has been largely elminated with technological changes). LCD’s also tend to outperform plasma screens in high altitudes. They produce no radiation, utilize less power, and emit less heat than other screens. LCD television screens do well in a variety of lighting conditions; they outperform plasmas in higher lighting conditions but are bested by plasma in lower lighting. When purchasing an LCD screen it is important to realize that a sharper image can be obtained by selecting a display with a .28 mm or finer “dot pitch”. (In simplified terms, dot pitch is the distance between subpixels).
What is a TFT display LCD?
TFT is a term you will see to describe a type of LCD screen, in fact, it is the type of technology behind most LCD flat screens today. It stands for "Thin Film Transistor" and is sometimes also referred to as an "active matrix" LCD. For the average consumer TFT simply means brighter images and a screen that can handle faster moving images with less blurring. TFT currently offers the highest quality picture on an LCD television screen.
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What is Liquid Crystal on Silicon ?
Liquid Crystal on Silicon or LCoS is a technology similar to DLP (described above) but it uses liquid crystals instead of mirrors. The process involves a digital signal causing voltage on a silicon chip coated with crystals to arrange in a given configuration to form the image. The light from the lamp goes through a polarizer and bounces off the LCoS chip. This reflected light goes through a 2nd polarizer and is collected by the lens which magnifies and focuses the image onto the screen. It is most useful in rear projection televisions and for micro-displays seen, for example, on heads up displays and wearable computers.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of LCoS?
LCoS is said to have excellent contrast ratios and higher resolutions than other LCD screens. It has no burn-in issues and can be smaller than conventional LCD displays. Because the pixel structure is less visible in these screens the picture is often described as “smoother”, less sharp, or more natural. From a pricing standpoint LCoS tend to run higher than other LCD television screens. The choice of a television with LCoS versus other types of LCD screens however is based primarily on personal choice. DLP offers a sharper image, and LCoS a “smoother” look.
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What is OLED?
Organic light-emitting diode. The technology was originally developed years ago by Eastman Kodak and is used for both light sources and television. Images are produced via the electro-phosphorescent properties of certain organic materials. No back light is required in an OLED television. In addition to television, OLED may be used on small screens such as on cell phones, MP3 players, and digital cameras.
What are the advantages/disadvantages of an OLED television?
An OLED television (active matrix) will use less power than the average LCD television. They offer a superior range of color and brightness as well as a wider viewing angle. These televisions are lighter weight, thinner, and yet more durable. The most significant drawback to an OLED television in this early phase is their lifetime. The longevity of some of the LEDs (the blue component) is only 3,000 to 5,000 hours at this time. Once manufacturing technology advances are made, it is anticipated that OLED televisions will have a much more competitive lifespan.
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What is a plasma television?
Plasma television is a flat screen which produces vibrant pictures with excellent color accuracy and contrast via thousands of individual pixel cells which act as tiny florescent lights when natural gases such as neon and xenon are excited by electric pulses.
What are some of the features of plasma television screens?
Exceptional color accuracy and higher resolution are two commonly sited features. Color contrast is reported to be as high as 3000:1; much greater than any other type of screen although LCD screens continue to evolve. A wide viewing angle, approximately 160 degrees, is also an advantage. This allows more people in the room, sitting in different locations, to enjoy a high quality picture. Plasma also offers the largest sized screens; screens over 100" are available. Manufacturers also claim Plasma television displays have the best ability to capture rapidly moving images without lag time or distortion and are able to accept any video format including output from computers. In addition, pricing for Plasma tends to be significantly lower than similar sized LCD screens. Plasma screens produce the deepest blacks offering an exceptional picture; and, indeed outperform plasma particularly in low light situations.
Are there other considerations?
Plasma television screens do have greater power consumption than other screens. It is estimated that similar sized plasma screens use 1/3 more power than an LCD screen. The life of Plasma screens was a concern a few years ago but this has improved significantly in recent years. It is now estimated that Plasma screens have a half life of 60,000 hours. (similar to LCD screens). This equates to well over 25 years with “normal” viewing. Another significant concern in the past was “burn-in” where static images/color would become permanently etched on the glass. There have been significant improvements in anti burn-in technology and this is now of minimal concern as it is estimated that images would need to be static for 8-10 hours for permanent burn-in to occur. Finally, it is important to know that Plasma screens do not work in altitudes above 7,000 feet as their internal gases can not tolerate the height.
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What is SED television?
SED is a surface conduction electron-emitter display. SED is an emerging competitor to LCD and plasma televisions. SED uses an electron emitter for each subpixel to light up the phosphors in the display and operates similarly to a CRT display. Unlike a CRT television however, SED provides a much thinner and flatter screen.
What are the advantages/disadvantages of a SED television?
They are said to have a long working life, with only a 10% reduction in emitters after 60,000 hours. They use significantly less power than traditional LCD and plasma screens and possess excellent contrast ratio and brightness. Unlike LCD, an SED television does not experience lag (blurring during fast action scenes) and provides a 180 degree viewing angle. Like early plasma sets however, an SED television may be at risk for burn in.
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