The lifespan of a plasma TV, contrary to rumor, is great. Also, the technology is ever advancing to produce better televisions that will last even longer. Most manufacturers will give an approximate lifespan of 60,000 hours for their plasma televisions. That's 20 to 25 years of normal viewing before the screen begins to noticeably dim. This is a new number that reflects the improvements made to the technology in recent years. In the infancy of the plasma television, the lifespan was only 30,000 to 40,000 hours; a substantial improvement. After the television begins to dim, many models give you the option of replacing the light source, which renews the life of the unit. There are several new technologies that have helped to increase the lifespan of plasma televisions. First we have the pixel orbiter. The orbiter quickly swaps the color of adjacent pixels when a static image is being displayed. This creates a sense of picture change for the television itself but it practically impossible for the viewer to see. This almost single-handedly eliminates the threat of burn-in. Another software component of "Anti-Burn" technology searches out pixels that have been on too long and shuts them off for a short period of time to allow them to rest. These advantages prevent burn-in and, by attending to pixel health, extend the lifespan of plasma televisions. A good tip for plasma television users is to watch as many shows as possible in widescreen format. This helps prevent a quality difference from developing between the inner pixels and the outer ones that would be neglected when sidebars appear. Also, keep brightness levels as low as possible. If you have your television in a bright room, you don't need to keep the brightness at 100%. Reducing this takes some of the strain off of the pixels and phosphors and helps lengthen lifespan. One last tip to increase the life of your plasma television is to keep it in a cool, well-ventilated location. A cool atmosphere reduces the amount of work done by the internal cooling components and helps the phosphors work longer. Plasma televisions provide a large screen (42 inches and up) for considerably less than a comparable size LCD. Knowing this, we see that even if television manufacturers are exaggerating the average lifespan of their plasma models, these units are still a better value than an LCD. Obviously, a first generation plasma television presents concerns for owners. They must more actively monitor the health of their screens. However, looking at the newer model plasmas and the future of the technology, it must be conceded that a plasma television's lifespan is long enough for any average user. |
