The Downfall of Plasma?

It does not seem likely that technical details such as power consumption or (even) resolution are killing plasma. It is how they look side-by-side with LCD and RPs. Visit the biggest selling venues: WalMart, CostCo, etc., and see all 3 technologies side-by-side, displaying identical signals. Which have the sharpest-looking, brightest, most colorful pictures? LCDs. Granted, store the environment isn't even close to that in a living room. But it is the comparison that counts, not the absolute qualities. In this, LCD seems to be winning.

I miss my plasma.:( But I can't wait for those new Panasonics!
I hate watching HD, or even regular TV for that matter, on LCDs. They don't seem clear enough for me and the color is just...dull. LCDs are only on laptops and for computors monitors. But I think the reason why people buy LCDs is that their cheaper upfront and down the road. The bulbs for my old Plasma Panasonic cost $600 for new ones, not counting installment.

anyone know what the OLED displays are supposed to be like, and if they're supposed to replace LCD's?

Generalsnozzle asked about OLED. See my blog entry from the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show where two companies showed OLED TVs: http://gottaget1.blogspot.com/2008/01/150-inch-plasma-tv-coming-from.html

I just bought a Pioneer Kuro Elite Monitor (60") for use in my basement home theater. The picture is way better than the best LCD's out there, including the Sony or Samsung priced in the same category. I expect to enjoy this for years and if I pay a little more for energy and it is a concern, then I should never have spent the money for the top visual display out there. There is quality and then there is economics. I vote for when I want to spend an evening watching something special, that I watch it on something special.

Why was Laser television not mentioned here?

If you want to see the future of displays check out the samsung's projector phone or research the company with the trading symbol: PANL. OLED is the new display in quality, price, size, etc.

Wow dude that is amazing!

RT
www.anon-tools.us.tc

What about DLP?

DLP sets are less expensive, as bright or brighter than plasma and LCD, have more colors, and are getting thinner all the time.

Why are they not getting any mention? They also have an incredibly high frame rate making them ideal as a platform for 3-D TV.

This is what I meant to say, and its a lot:

I miss my plasma.:( But I can't wait for those new Panasonics! I hate watching HD, or even regular TV for that matter, on LCDs. They don't seem clear enough for me and the color is just...dull(on regular TV, HD is fuzzy and a little dull). LCDs are only good on laptops and for computor monitors. Both of which there great for, but will eventully be replaced by OLEDs in the near future, 3-5 years. But I think the reason why people buy LCDs is that their cheaper upfront and down the road. The bulbs for my old Panasonic Plasma cost $600 for new ones, not counting installment. For gaming, LCDs are still where to go because it is near impossible to burn the screen with them. DLP is too little, too late. A friend of mine has a DLP that always seem to be fuzzy with OK HD quality and its big and heavy so it seems that for people who miss CRTs than DLP is your choice. But the future is OLED being replaced by "Thin Sheet TV's"(I forgot what there called but there like thin sheets of plastic).

What's an "empero"?

Seriously - do you have an editor? Or even just a goddamn spelling checker, if not? After seeing a whopper like that in sentence #2, I skipped the rest of the article.

One thing not mentioned in this article, and one that is very important to us gamers is the issue of burn-in.

When I tried gaming on a large plasma, after only 15 minutes of game play (in a game that showed several meters for things like ammo and health) I had visible burn-in. It was faintly visible for nearly 12 hours before it thankfully faded away. After that, I wouldn't bring my Xbox 360 anywhere near it.

On the LCD TV I've got, no problems what so ever.

"It’s extremely fast screen response rate"

Nice work, editors ;)

Hey Webpa...I think you need glasses. There is no way on gods green earth that LCD is sharper than Plasma. The only reason people buy LCD is that they are forced LCD's by stores. Nor do the people do the research about what they are buying. Plasmas have the better picture hands down. Tell a uneducated consumer something and he will believe it. Anyone remember Betamax video tapes? They had the better picture over VHS but for some unknown reason, Vhs became more popular. Goodbye betamax. Same thinking here. LCD becoming more popular (especially with gamers)goodbye Plasma. Manufacturers arent going to make what they arent selling. I actually had a salesman at a high end Electronics store try and force me to buy a LCD Monitor. Even after I told him I wanted the Plasma. Why?? Because he had a stack of them waiting to be sold.

I prefer DLP for large screens they just have better response and color then LCDs and can't be killed by a wiimote besides I have room for a 62" set.

Ok, I had to finally create my PopSci account just to comment on this article.

First of all, to address the "gamer" issue.
Burn-in is a moot point with any plasma made in the past 2 years or so. Pixel shift technology has made burn-in NEARLY impossible. I say nearly because it could still happen but for your average gamer, or average ESPN viewer it just isn't going to happen.

Second, to anyone who thinks an LCD produces a "better" picture at home or in a store, you just aren't looking at the right stuff. LCD's are BRIGHT, so people assume a BRIGHT picture is a good picture. Look closely next time at skin tones, look at the difference between black and white. Look at the reds and greens, are they really red or green. The easiest test of green on an LCD is to watch a football game. Even fake turf isn't "GREEN" its naturally green with brown mixed in. LCD's, especially those "tweeked" for maximum store brightness will always show a BRIGHT green football field.

Sure you can adjust your top of the line Sony XBR or Samsung 9000 series to get a damned good picture. But my Sony XBR CRT, or a plasma doesn't need to be "fiddled with" to deliver a great picture, fiddle and you have an AWESOME picture.

Once the new generation plasmas are out, the power curve will be reversed so the only problem I have with Plasma is the same problem with any phosphorescent display, as it ages, the image fades. Of course, it tends not to be immediately noticeable as it is very gradual.

I find that people make one decision about technology and hold that opinion no matter how much the technology advances. The original reason for buying LCD was cost as that issue is eliminated, the most important reasons for one over the other is motion. There plasma is the best.

dont like plasma anyway... leaves that burn-in mark if you keep it on the same frame for to long (if you leave it on pause for too long, your screwed forever)

DLP is the future!!!!

Hey, ecuapride92 - get real!

Read sarcasm101's post above, regarding burn-in. He's right.

You, on the other hand, are apparently high. Must be why you have the wacky tobaccy as your avvie pic!

You do know that smoking that stuff makes various parts of your anatomy shrink? Or even fall off....

Who knows the truth about the life of a plasma TV? The rumors that is has a life expectancy of about 10,000 hrs is widespread. It is the reason most people I know stayed away from them. Is the rumor true?

Like Kolbs in the previous post I also recently bought the pioneer Kuro. I have a sharp LCD in the house as well. The image from the sharp does not even come close to my pioneer. The pioneer has taken center stage in my house. You can still play games on the plasma and connect it to a computer (it has an orbital feature which prevents burn in).
Life expectancy is said to be 50,000 hours for the set. Although it does consume a little more electricity then the LCD, the difference is minor and a small price to pay for an increadible viewing experience.
If you want the best TV money can buy...there is nothing that can touch a properly calibrated Kuro set. Although pioneer stoped making the set, its demand has gone up and so has the price (due to limited stock).
Here is what a calibrated kuro picture looks like:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=920011&highlight=111fd

This kind of TV too expensive with me, I can buy it now, wish that the price will reduce much in near future.
http://buithixuan.info