Larry's Tech Talk
“The Times They Are a Changin”
30/05/11 22:50
In case you missed it, Bob Dylan had his 70th birthday last week. He is arguably, one of the best songwriters (or even poets) of our lifetime. I was never a big fan of his singing, but his lyrics are amazing. “Like a Rolling Stone”, “Tangled Up in Blue”, “Subterranean Homesick Blues”, “Visions of Johanna”, Knockin’ on Heavens Door”, just to name a few of his writings. And Jimi Hendrix might have made “All Along the Watchtower” famous, but Dylan wrote that one too. So, what’s with the Dylan love today dude?
Well, it’s like the title of this article, the times, they are a changin’. And portable electronics are a huge part of the world’s changing times. Like it or not, almost all of us own cell phones. These little devices have actually become what I refer to as “personal communication devices”. They’re great for convenience, entertainment, business, multi-tasking, and wonderful in an emergency. But the cell phone function is only a spit in the ocean when considering everything these portable devices are capable of.
My wife and I prefer to use IPhones. But there are several other companies competing for the personal electronic device dollar. They are referred to as “smartphones” or PDAs. Most of us know that an IPhone (or similar Droid device) can also be used as a portable music player capable of storing thousands of songs. And teenagers take the camera (or full motion video cam) for granted. It’s a good time to live if you’re a gadget loving teenager. And how about that texting feature? All the kids have that! Need some information fast, a smartphone can also surf the internet.
Yeah, yeah, yeah (hey, that was a Beatles lyric, not Bob Dylan!) that’s all cool Einstein, but its also old news! OK, I just thought I would start off with a short review. Now on to just a few amazing features of these palm sized gadgets. Since these devices connect to the internet, all kinds of entertainment possibilities become reality. If you travel, with a device called Slingbox, you can watch whatever is on your home TV or DVR right on your PDA. Many radio stations now broadcast over the internet. So, if you want to listen to that station you heard in Key West, or San Francisco, or Tahiti, you can. With the help of a simple cable you can connect to your car’s audio or your home surround system or just listen via your personal headphones (standard equipment in health clubs!). I have a “level” app (as in carpenter’s level), a compass app, and of course a GPS package. Live 2 way Video chat is a reality all in a device that fits in the palm of your hand. Of course the stampeding “tablet” market (aka IPad and competitors) has the same capabilities with a larger screen minus the cell phone capability.
I am sensing a few skeptics out there! Ever hear, “but I just want to talk on the phone!?” “People get in accidents talking on their phones!” “This obnoxious man talked on his cell phone all through lunch!” And then there’s the teenagers! Thanksgiving dinner and their thumbs are going 100 mph. They’re texting, checking Facebook or Twitter or who knows what! Then they put their headphones on and are in another world! I’m thinking that generation might need “thumb specialists” in a few years! Anyway, they say that every action creates an opposite re-action. So with communication, connectivity and convenience comes uh, kids with priorities??. I will admit, if internet ready PDAs existed when I was in school, my buddy Steve and I would have saved a lot of quarters from the pay phone (OMG what’s a pay phone!?). And all those cassette tapes I used to carry around! OK kid, that’s history NOT ancient history!
I won’t suggest that everyone likes or has to have the latest technology. But I think it is good to know what it is all about. And ultimately, like it or not, “the times they are a changing!” And these changes fit in the palm of your hand!
Thank you, Bob Dylan.
Well, it’s like the title of this article, the times, they are a changin’. And portable electronics are a huge part of the world’s changing times. Like it or not, almost all of us own cell phones. These little devices have actually become what I refer to as “personal communication devices”. They’re great for convenience, entertainment, business, multi-tasking, and wonderful in an emergency. But the cell phone function is only a spit in the ocean when considering everything these portable devices are capable of.
My wife and I prefer to use IPhones. But there are several other companies competing for the personal electronic device dollar. They are referred to as “smartphones” or PDAs. Most of us know that an IPhone (or similar Droid device) can also be used as a portable music player capable of storing thousands of songs. And teenagers take the camera (or full motion video cam) for granted. It’s a good time to live if you’re a gadget loving teenager. And how about that texting feature? All the kids have that! Need some information fast, a smartphone can also surf the internet.
Yeah, yeah, yeah (hey, that was a Beatles lyric, not Bob Dylan!) that’s all cool Einstein, but its also old news! OK, I just thought I would start off with a short review. Now on to just a few amazing features of these palm sized gadgets. Since these devices connect to the internet, all kinds of entertainment possibilities become reality. If you travel, with a device called Slingbox, you can watch whatever is on your home TV or DVR right on your PDA. Many radio stations now broadcast over the internet. So, if you want to listen to that station you heard in Key West, or San Francisco, or Tahiti, you can. With the help of a simple cable you can connect to your car’s audio or your home surround system or just listen via your personal headphones (standard equipment in health clubs!). I have a “level” app (as in carpenter’s level), a compass app, and of course a GPS package. Live 2 way Video chat is a reality all in a device that fits in the palm of your hand. Of course the stampeding “tablet” market (aka IPad and competitors) has the same capabilities with a larger screen minus the cell phone capability.
I am sensing a few skeptics out there! Ever hear, “but I just want to talk on the phone!?” “People get in accidents talking on their phones!” “This obnoxious man talked on his cell phone all through lunch!” And then there’s the teenagers! Thanksgiving dinner and their thumbs are going 100 mph. They’re texting, checking Facebook or Twitter or who knows what! Then they put their headphones on and are in another world! I’m thinking that generation might need “thumb specialists” in a few years! Anyway, they say that every action creates an opposite re-action. So with communication, connectivity and convenience comes uh, kids with priorities??. I will admit, if internet ready PDAs existed when I was in school, my buddy Steve and I would have saved a lot of quarters from the pay phone (OMG what’s a pay phone!?). And all those cassette tapes I used to carry around! OK kid, that’s history NOT ancient history!
I won’t suggest that everyone likes or has to have the latest technology. But I think it is good to know what it is all about. And ultimately, like it or not, “the times they are a changing!” And these changes fit in the palm of your hand!
Thank you, Bob Dylan.
What’s the “Worst” that could happen? Or…“don’t mess with anything you can’t see!” You’ve got the power!
21/05/11 22:52
Complaining about the price of gasoline is a common topic of conversion these days. And America’s dependence on oil and foreign oil is just as scary. But if our country is dependent on anything, it is Electric Power!
Think about it, we depend on electricity for heating, communicating, cooking, lighting, entertainment, and many, many more everyday necessities that we take for granted. You would probably be OK if you had to go a few days without your car. But, the electric meter at your house never stops. If you’re old enough to remember the New York City blackout, you know what I am talking about. People were trapped in elevators. The city was dark and almost everything stopped in the city they say “never sleeps”. Other than the fact that there was a baby boom 9 months later (that minor detail is true!) the Big Apple came to a screeching halt when the electric power went out.
Yeah, but let me ask the question again. What’s the worst that could happen? Without electricity, you wouldn’t have a computer or TV! It’s funny, if someone’s telephone goes out they will appear a little concerned and want it fixed in a few days. But if a family’s TV goes out, it needs immediate attention! And what could be worse than no electricity? How about having electricity and a “fried” TV!?!
I might be wrong, but it sure seems like this time of the year, the Eastern Shore has more lightning strikes than other parts of the country. I have witnessed 3 strikes in my neighborhood in the past few years. And you guessed it, one of them fried my a/v receiver. Sure, I had it powered through an expensive surge protector, but the surge came in over the coax cable I had connected to an FM antenna. My DirecTV receiver was also fried. I have to guess that the power surge device did its job, but the spike came in via the cable connected to the dish. In our world of electronics, internet, telephones, computers, and even invisible dog fences, power surges might be the worst that could happen. And yes, I have a friend that in addition to losing every TV and appliance in his house, his invisible pet fence was rendered useless too.
I know what you’re thinking, just go to the hardware and get an inexpensive power strip with built-in surge. That might work to some extent, but how about that TV that is mounted on the wall? Is it protected? And remember, power surges can enter appliances via telephone lines, coax cables and any connected wire or cable. Some people might think their 5 year extended warranty will cover a surge. Check your coverage, most warranties specifically exclude power surges. Your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance will cover surges, but what is the deductible amount on your policy? It’s just a bad situation and at the least a major inconvenience when a family’s TV (or other component) doesn’t respond to the “on” button. And usually there are no visible signs of damage.
The leading manufacturers of both plasma and LCD TVs claim that the average life span of current generation flat panels is roughly 40 years! That’s 40,000 hours to an average household’s TV daily use. But that number is concluded from labs with perfect conditions. Let’s assume you’re protected from big surges like lightning storms. The second power protection has to be a steady 120 volts of power. Electronic devices do not like peaks and valleys in voltage. If you live an older home or your neighborhood has power fluctuations you should consider a power conditioner. These devices protect against both power spikes and maintains a steady 120 volts to your electronic components. If the power drops or spikes a power conditioner will actually turn your components off to protect them. Your cost will be a few hundred bucks, but it will prolong the life of your family’s audio and video investments and computers.
A not-so-wise man once told me something I considered very wise. “Don’t mess with anything you can’t see!” The first thing I can relate that to is Electricity!
You’ve got the power!
Think about it, we depend on electricity for heating, communicating, cooking, lighting, entertainment, and many, many more everyday necessities that we take for granted. You would probably be OK if you had to go a few days without your car. But, the electric meter at your house never stops. If you’re old enough to remember the New York City blackout, you know what I am talking about. People were trapped in elevators. The city was dark and almost everything stopped in the city they say “never sleeps”. Other than the fact that there was a baby boom 9 months later (that minor detail is true!) the Big Apple came to a screeching halt when the electric power went out.
Yeah, but let me ask the question again. What’s the worst that could happen? Without electricity, you wouldn’t have a computer or TV! It’s funny, if someone’s telephone goes out they will appear a little concerned and want it fixed in a few days. But if a family’s TV goes out, it needs immediate attention! And what could be worse than no electricity? How about having electricity and a “fried” TV!?!
I might be wrong, but it sure seems like this time of the year, the Eastern Shore has more lightning strikes than other parts of the country. I have witnessed 3 strikes in my neighborhood in the past few years. And you guessed it, one of them fried my a/v receiver. Sure, I had it powered through an expensive surge protector, but the surge came in over the coax cable I had connected to an FM antenna. My DirecTV receiver was also fried. I have to guess that the power surge device did its job, but the spike came in via the cable connected to the dish. In our world of electronics, internet, telephones, computers, and even invisible dog fences, power surges might be the worst that could happen. And yes, I have a friend that in addition to losing every TV and appliance in his house, his invisible pet fence was rendered useless too.
I know what you’re thinking, just go to the hardware and get an inexpensive power strip with built-in surge. That might work to some extent, but how about that TV that is mounted on the wall? Is it protected? And remember, power surges can enter appliances via telephone lines, coax cables and any connected wire or cable. Some people might think their 5 year extended warranty will cover a surge. Check your coverage, most warranties specifically exclude power surges. Your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance will cover surges, but what is the deductible amount on your policy? It’s just a bad situation and at the least a major inconvenience when a family’s TV (or other component) doesn’t respond to the “on” button. And usually there are no visible signs of damage.
The leading manufacturers of both plasma and LCD TVs claim that the average life span of current generation flat panels is roughly 40 years! That’s 40,000 hours to an average household’s TV daily use. But that number is concluded from labs with perfect conditions. Let’s assume you’re protected from big surges like lightning storms. The second power protection has to be a steady 120 volts of power. Electronic devices do not like peaks and valleys in voltage. If you live an older home or your neighborhood has power fluctuations you should consider a power conditioner. These devices protect against both power spikes and maintains a steady 120 volts to your electronic components. If the power drops or spikes a power conditioner will actually turn your components off to protect them. Your cost will be a few hundred bucks, but it will prolong the life of your family’s audio and video investments and computers.
A not-so-wise man once told me something I considered very wise. “Don’t mess with anything you can’t see!” The first thing I can relate that to is Electricity!
You’ve got the power!
I Think We’re Surrounded!
11/05/11 22:53
I don’t mean surrounded as in “The Little Big Horn”, but surrounded as in “Surround Sound”. What exactly is it? Why would I want it? How do I get it? What is this 5.1 thing? And what was wrong with left and right Stereo?
It’s kind of funny, a lot of people’s perception of surround sound is a lot of speakers and loud volume. And that’s not totally incorrect. But let’s fine tune the definition a little bit. The most common type of surround sound is known as 5.1. There’s nothing complicated about the term. It means 5 speakers; left, right, center in the front, 2 speakers in the rear, and the dot 1 is a subwoofer. Larger rooms might implement a 7.1 system which adds 2 speakers on the sides (usually dipole speakers). Today’s largest systems go to 9.2. That’s a 7.1 system, add 2 more front speakers (usually up high) and a second subwoofer. Hey, stop rolling your eyes, I know 9.2 might seem a little excessive, but in larger rooms, 9.2 is awesome.
What can a person expect out of a 5.1 system when compared to a good ole stereo system? Believe or not, Compact Discs (CDs) are native 2 channel stereo and so is your IPod. I will be the first to admit, sometimes music from a CD really sounds better in stereo. But when you add video, like a DVD or BluRay movie, surround sound really comes to life. The additional speakers give the audio depth, height, and directional realism. Example, if a train crosses your screen from right to left, you will hear it from right to left. If a helicopter comes in the picture from behind, the rear speakers kick in and you will hear the chopper from back to front and even coming down if it lands. The added data capacity of a DVD or BluRay disc allows 6 separate native tracks of audio to be experienced. Remember the 5.1 term? That’s 6 separate tracks of audio. And no, it doesn’t have to be loud. If a pin drops in the movie, you will sense where it landed. And if a door bell rings, you will sense where the front door is in the movie. Even footsteps or raindrops can be interesting effects if you sense where they are coming from.
Most of us focus on the video, but Hollywood will admit that the audio portion of a movie is more than 50% of the entertainment experience. That’s why movie producers have been more than open to the added expense of a surround sound production. The idea is to create realism, like loud explosions, tires squealing, or even a pin drop.
OK sound guy, so what is needed to set up a 5.1 system? Assuming you already have a TV, at a minimum you will need 5 speakers, a subwoofer, a surround sound receiver, and a DVD player (or BluRay). I think of the systems in 3 groups. On the low end there are systems called HTIBs. That means Home Theater in a Box. Everything needed is in one box, including the speaker wire. These systems are OK, but don’t expect Carnegie Hall. Stepping up in both price and performance would be purchasing everything separate. There are several well known manufacturers competing for you entertainment system dollar. Bringing in a professional to conceal the wires, integrate all of the components, and program a single remote control will cost you the most and usually give you the best performance.
And that subwoofer thing, is that really necessary? That’s an easy question to answer, YES! The subwoofer can go almost anywhere in the room because to the human ear, subsonic sounds are non-directional. All you need is an electric outlet to power the sub’s built-in amplifier. The subwoofer really adds presence, feeling and warmth to whole experience. If you don’t add a subwoofer, you will be missing out on a whole lot.
Treat the family to a fantastic home entertainment experience and get surround sound installed in your home.
Uh, General Custer, I heard something and it sounds like we’re surrounded!
It’s kind of funny, a lot of people’s perception of surround sound is a lot of speakers and loud volume. And that’s not totally incorrect. But let’s fine tune the definition a little bit. The most common type of surround sound is known as 5.1. There’s nothing complicated about the term. It means 5 speakers; left, right, center in the front, 2 speakers in the rear, and the dot 1 is a subwoofer. Larger rooms might implement a 7.1 system which adds 2 speakers on the sides (usually dipole speakers). Today’s largest systems go to 9.2. That’s a 7.1 system, add 2 more front speakers (usually up high) and a second subwoofer. Hey, stop rolling your eyes, I know 9.2 might seem a little excessive, but in larger rooms, 9.2 is awesome.
What can a person expect out of a 5.1 system when compared to a good ole stereo system? Believe or not, Compact Discs (CDs) are native 2 channel stereo and so is your IPod. I will be the first to admit, sometimes music from a CD really sounds better in stereo. But when you add video, like a DVD or BluRay movie, surround sound really comes to life. The additional speakers give the audio depth, height, and directional realism. Example, if a train crosses your screen from right to left, you will hear it from right to left. If a helicopter comes in the picture from behind, the rear speakers kick in and you will hear the chopper from back to front and even coming down if it lands. The added data capacity of a DVD or BluRay disc allows 6 separate native tracks of audio to be experienced. Remember the 5.1 term? That’s 6 separate tracks of audio. And no, it doesn’t have to be loud. If a pin drops in the movie, you will sense where it landed. And if a door bell rings, you will sense where the front door is in the movie. Even footsteps or raindrops can be interesting effects if you sense where they are coming from.
Most of us focus on the video, but Hollywood will admit that the audio portion of a movie is more than 50% of the entertainment experience. That’s why movie producers have been more than open to the added expense of a surround sound production. The idea is to create realism, like loud explosions, tires squealing, or even a pin drop.
OK sound guy, so what is needed to set up a 5.1 system? Assuming you already have a TV, at a minimum you will need 5 speakers, a subwoofer, a surround sound receiver, and a DVD player (or BluRay). I think of the systems in 3 groups. On the low end there are systems called HTIBs. That means Home Theater in a Box. Everything needed is in one box, including the speaker wire. These systems are OK, but don’t expect Carnegie Hall. Stepping up in both price and performance would be purchasing everything separate. There are several well known manufacturers competing for you entertainment system dollar. Bringing in a professional to conceal the wires, integrate all of the components, and program a single remote control will cost you the most and usually give you the best performance.
And that subwoofer thing, is that really necessary? That’s an easy question to answer, YES! The subwoofer can go almost anywhere in the room because to the human ear, subsonic sounds are non-directional. All you need is an electric outlet to power the sub’s built-in amplifier. The subwoofer really adds presence, feeling and warmth to whole experience. If you don’t add a subwoofer, you will be missing out on a whole lot.
Treat the family to a fantastic home entertainment experience and get surround sound installed in your home.
Uh, General Custer, I heard something and it sounds like we’re surrounded!
The perfect marriage?
08/05/11 22:54
I’m not talking about the Royal Wedding (I think we got enough of that!) I am referring to the Information Technology marketplace (aka the Computer Industry) integrating with the audio/video world . Or is it the other way around? Actually this is not a new concept, but for some reason the consumer marketplace wasn’t ready to accept the marriage. But the past year has seen manufacturers finally accept the fact that the two markets are perfect for each other.
Take an IPod for example, what is it? Well, it’s a miniature hard drive (a computer device) in a small package that stores digital audio (and video). You can upload music to it via a computer, from the internet or an existing CD. OK, so the IPod (an audio/video device with computer parts) at some point needs a computer. And you wouldn’t want to walk around the health club with your computer to listen to your music collection. So your computer at some point relies on your IPod (or portable music player). Maybe that’s a bad example, but ever since the Compact Disc was invented, audio and video has been going digital. And that paved the way for integration.
New A/V receivers, TVs, BluRay players, and other components are now shipping with network connections as standard inputs. Services like Pandora, Netflix, Vudu, Skype and more, are pre-loaded for our home entertainment. Why listen to Pandora (a free internet music service) on your computer speakers, when you can listen on your surround sound system? Upload the photos from your recent vacation to an internet site to be viewed by friends and family on their Hi-Def TVs. And if you want to video chat live with someone, log on to your free Skype account. It’s not necessary to use your computer, because your TV connects directly to your network router. Why stare at a 17” computer monitor when the whole family can Skype with distant relatives on the 65” TV in the Family room. Or Facebook, or Rhapsody, or other services that are becoming mainstream in our cyberworld. All you need is an internet connection.
I think of the internet as a huge pipe. It might be wired or wireless, and it carries massive amounts of information. Maybe the word information loses some people. Information can come in many forms. Sure “text” is information, but full motion video, audio, still photos, are also examples of information. Hey, if they could digitize a Big Mac…..nah, let’s not go there.
You might not think of Apple Computer as being in the music business. But Apple’s ITunes software and website has made Apple a Music Industry Giant!
How’s that for the Perfect Marriage!
Take an IPod for example, what is it? Well, it’s a miniature hard drive (a computer device) in a small package that stores digital audio (and video). You can upload music to it via a computer, from the internet or an existing CD. OK, so the IPod (an audio/video device with computer parts) at some point needs a computer. And you wouldn’t want to walk around the health club with your computer to listen to your music collection. So your computer at some point relies on your IPod (or portable music player). Maybe that’s a bad example, but ever since the Compact Disc was invented, audio and video has been going digital. And that paved the way for integration.
New A/V receivers, TVs, BluRay players, and other components are now shipping with network connections as standard inputs. Services like Pandora, Netflix, Vudu, Skype and more, are pre-loaded for our home entertainment. Why listen to Pandora (a free internet music service) on your computer speakers, when you can listen on your surround sound system? Upload the photos from your recent vacation to an internet site to be viewed by friends and family on their Hi-Def TVs. And if you want to video chat live with someone, log on to your free Skype account. It’s not necessary to use your computer, because your TV connects directly to your network router. Why stare at a 17” computer monitor when the whole family can Skype with distant relatives on the 65” TV in the Family room. Or Facebook, or Rhapsody, or other services that are becoming mainstream in our cyberworld. All you need is an internet connection.
I think of the internet as a huge pipe. It might be wired or wireless, and it carries massive amounts of information. Maybe the word information loses some people. Information can come in many forms. Sure “text” is information, but full motion video, audio, still photos, are also examples of information. Hey, if they could digitize a Big Mac…..nah, let’s not go there.
You might not think of Apple Computer as being in the music business. But Apple’s ITunes software and website has made Apple a Music Industry Giant!
How’s that for the Perfect Marriage!
LCD vs. Plasma vs. DLP, get the picture?
01/05/11 22:55
I get asked this question a lot. “What is the best TV in the marketplace these days? The answer is not as black and white as you might think (that was a joke!). Let’s start with DLP technology.
DLP stands for “digital light processing” which is a chipset designed by Texas Instruments and can be found in TVs and front projectors and probably other consumer electronics. DLP sets are actually rear projection TVs that are about 15” deep depending on the actual unit. They’re not as deep as older tube TVs, but not as slim as LCDs and Plasmas. If you bought a DLP set a few years ago you have a large TV and saved money compared to the other technologies back then. You also have a bulb to change every couple of years. A DLP bulb lasts around 3000 hours and costs between $200 and $300. The biggest advantage of a DLP TV is size vs. price. If you see a 73” hi-def TV advertised for a very low price, you can bet it is a DLP. Since the prices of plasmas and LCDs have dropped significantly in the past few years, so has the DLP marketshare. Only a few manufacturers still make DLPs.
Liquid Crystal Display TVs have been around longer than you may think. The technology is mature and reliable. They weigh very little (remember what a 32” tube TV weighed?) and can be only a couple of inches deep. Their images are bright, sharp and very nice. They are perfect for your teenager’s Wii, Xbox, or Playstation video games because they are immune to “burn-in”. The video snobs complained that LCDs were weak in their ability to display blacks. That makes sense because how do you create black with light? But really, to the human eye this technology creates a great picture. And if money is no object take a look at the new LED/LCD sets. These are the brightest, thinnest, and sharpest TVs and will make you do a double take. They are so rich in image, they can look almost artificial. Think of an LED/LCD TV as an LCD on steroids. The larger sets, say 42” and above been known to display artifacts or trails. But this was corrected by increasing the re-fresh rate. So if you see a spec that reads 240Hz, that is the increased re-fresh rate while 60Hz would be slowest.
Plasma is a gas technology that has been around for a while. When these TVs first hit the market, they had a short life-span and were ridiculously expensive. But the manufacturers corrected the issues and lowered the costs. Today a Plasma TV has the same life expectancy as an LCD which is about 40 years. Yes, I said 40 years! That is if you have stable power and don’t get surged by a lightening storm. Price wise, a plasma TV costs less than a comparable LCD (LESS, and that is NOT a misprint!). The newer plasmas are even energy star rated. You will get the deepest blacks, sharp images and realistic bright colors. Plasmas inherently have a very fast re-fresh rate (native 600Hz) and are immune to displaying trails. Some people complain about glare, which is due to plasma technology utilizing glass on the front of the TV. Of course glass will reflect light like a mirror where a glass-less LCD TV won’t. But the newer Plasmas have a non-glare coating embedded in the glass to reduce that objection. And while they could develop “burn-in”, there are safeguards built in such as auto shut-off to reduce this possibility. And there are ways to correct burn-in in that unlikely event. There used to be rumors circulating that plasmas needed to be re-charged every couple of years. NOT TRUE! No re-charging necessary.
So which is the best TV to buy these days? While DLP TVs had success, I think we can eliminate that technology for now. And the smallest plasma is 42”, so if you want a TV smaller than that, you are getting an LCD. If you’re looking for an average sized TV, maybe 50” (did I say 50” was average?), you will save money going with plasma. If you really want to show off to your friends, go with an LED/LCD. But understand you will pay a lot more for it. Personally, I like the price/performance of plasma. The images are realistic and prices are at all-time lows. But really, get the TV that looks good to you and is the best deal of the day! Prices can change day to day. If you stick with a known name manufacturer, ultimately you almost can’t go wrong. Get the picture?
DLP stands for “digital light processing” which is a chipset designed by Texas Instruments and can be found in TVs and front projectors and probably other consumer electronics. DLP sets are actually rear projection TVs that are about 15” deep depending on the actual unit. They’re not as deep as older tube TVs, but not as slim as LCDs and Plasmas. If you bought a DLP set a few years ago you have a large TV and saved money compared to the other technologies back then. You also have a bulb to change every couple of years. A DLP bulb lasts around 3000 hours and costs between $200 and $300. The biggest advantage of a DLP TV is size vs. price. If you see a 73” hi-def TV advertised for a very low price, you can bet it is a DLP. Since the prices of plasmas and LCDs have dropped significantly in the past few years, so has the DLP marketshare. Only a few manufacturers still make DLPs.
Liquid Crystal Display TVs have been around longer than you may think. The technology is mature and reliable. They weigh very little (remember what a 32” tube TV weighed?) and can be only a couple of inches deep. Their images are bright, sharp and very nice. They are perfect for your teenager’s Wii, Xbox, or Playstation video games because they are immune to “burn-in”. The video snobs complained that LCDs were weak in their ability to display blacks. That makes sense because how do you create black with light? But really, to the human eye this technology creates a great picture. And if money is no object take a look at the new LED/LCD sets. These are the brightest, thinnest, and sharpest TVs and will make you do a double take. They are so rich in image, they can look almost artificial. Think of an LED/LCD TV as an LCD on steroids. The larger sets, say 42” and above been known to display artifacts or trails. But this was corrected by increasing the re-fresh rate. So if you see a spec that reads 240Hz, that is the increased re-fresh rate while 60Hz would be slowest.
Plasma is a gas technology that has been around for a while. When these TVs first hit the market, they had a short life-span and were ridiculously expensive. But the manufacturers corrected the issues and lowered the costs. Today a Plasma TV has the same life expectancy as an LCD which is about 40 years. Yes, I said 40 years! That is if you have stable power and don’t get surged by a lightening storm. Price wise, a plasma TV costs less than a comparable LCD (LESS, and that is NOT a misprint!). The newer plasmas are even energy star rated. You will get the deepest blacks, sharp images and realistic bright colors. Plasmas inherently have a very fast re-fresh rate (native 600Hz) and are immune to displaying trails. Some people complain about glare, which is due to plasma technology utilizing glass on the front of the TV. Of course glass will reflect light like a mirror where a glass-less LCD TV won’t. But the newer Plasmas have a non-glare coating embedded in the glass to reduce that objection. And while they could develop “burn-in”, there are safeguards built in such as auto shut-off to reduce this possibility. And there are ways to correct burn-in in that unlikely event. There used to be rumors circulating that plasmas needed to be re-charged every couple of years. NOT TRUE! No re-charging necessary.
So which is the best TV to buy these days? While DLP TVs had success, I think we can eliminate that technology for now. And the smallest plasma is 42”, so if you want a TV smaller than that, you are getting an LCD. If you’re looking for an average sized TV, maybe 50” (did I say 50” was average?), you will save money going with plasma. If you really want to show off to your friends, go with an LED/LCD. But understand you will pay a lot more for it. Personally, I like the price/performance of plasma. The images are realistic and prices are at all-time lows. But really, get the TV that looks good to you and is the best deal of the day! Prices can change day to day. If you stick with a known name manufacturer, ultimately you almost can’t go wrong. Get the picture?