Plasma Television Buying Guide

By Sapari Wasito

The Plasma TV Environment

Today's plasma TVs offer viewing angles approaching (and sometimes exceeding) 170 degrees. Room Lighting and the TV Picture
Lighting is also important in the area where your plasma TV is set up. What You Can Watch on Your Plasma TV
You can choose between HDTV (High Definition TV) and EDTV (Enhanced Definition TV) for your choice of plasma display. Devices for your Plasma TV
Some plasma TVs also include a VGA or DVI PC input, which allows your plasma unit to pull double-duty as a PC monitor.
Plasma TV Specifications
Resolution: Resolution is a determining factor in selecting a plasma TV. Tuner: Check your plasma to see if it is HD-ready or HD-integrated. An HD-ready plasma TV is essentially a monitor that needs an external tuner source before it can function as a TV. Check your plasma's specifications to see if it comes with speakers and if the speakers are removable.
There are basically two options for installing a plasma TV: Displaying it on a table stand, cart, or similarly equivalent horizontal surface; or hanging the Plasma TV (on a wall or from a ceiling, using wall mount fixtures).
o Table Stands are popular for displaying plasma units. o Flat Wall Mounts maximize the space-saving benefits of plasma technology. o Ceiling Mounts enable you to mount your plasma TV where you want it in case a wall isn't available. - $1,000 to $1,500 buys you a plasma TV up to 42"
- $1,500 to $3,000 buys you a plasma TV up to 50"
- More than $3,000 buys you a plasma up to 65"
Also:
- Under $1,500 buys you a refurbished EDTV plasma
- Under $2,000 buys you an EDTV plasma
- More than $2,000 buys you an HDTV plasma
Check and compare the manufacturer warranties for various plasma TV brands; extended warranties are always extra.