Johnny Waymire asked:


After readjusting the antennae or satellite on your old TV in hopes of fixing that junky picture and waiting on hold for hours with your cable company, can’t you just close your eyes and imagine the flawless picture you would get on a new plasma TV? You spend the next several months dreaming about and saving for this incredible new TV, all the while thinking of the perfect clarity in which you will be able to watch your favorite shows. But before finally choosing the TV you will take home, you should know a little more about some common problems with plasma televisions.

Mounting a plasma TV is an initial problem for many purchasers. Because of their large size, they are often unwieldy and difficult to mount. Most consumers don’t even know that mounting their plasma TV incorrectly automatically voids their warranty! Whether you install the set yourself or have a professional do it, be very careful not to grab the set in the wrong way–doing this can damage the screen and distort the images into a “starburst” pattern on portions of the screen.

A good rule of thumb is to never touch the screen, and a good way to make your investment last is to install a glass cover over the screen as a protective measure. Plasma screens don’t stand up to the wear and tear regular televisions do, especially if you plan on using your plasma television as a gaming console. The Wii system looks great on a plasma screen, but not if you hit the screen by accident! People offer differing opinions on whether the new gaming system causes “burn-in” on plasmas, but you can expect to have no problems if you take extra care during the first 100 hours that you use your TV. The screen should also be dusted on a regular basis to avoid rainbow-like arcs in your pictures.

A few other difficulties with plasma TVs have to do with display. Ghost shadows and flickering during broadcasting have been reported, but both can be minimized with additional accessories from your plasma television manufacturer.

Plasma TV has amazing potential but is still a relatively new technology. As it is still in its early stages, there are bound to be bugs to be worked out. Remember that sometimes simply turning off the set for a little while before turning it back on again can correct a problem.

TheNewDoubleStandard asked:


I just bought a 42PZ700U and followed the directions for the first 100 hours. I did play a game, but I made sure to cycle things up and not play for a very long time. Yet I have had a part of the game’s HUD ‘burned’ in the bottom right hand of my screen for over two days (I noticed it about 10 hours after playing the game and haven’t turned the game on since). It’s not terrible as I can only see it when the screen is very dark or very bright, but I do notice it. And it’s a new TV so that’s lame.

Will watching lots of different things during the rest of the 100 hours remove this? Will I have to worry about this after the 100 hours are over – do I have to set an egg timer when playing games so I’m sure to change the channel every hour, or can I actually sit down and enjoy a game?

And what about this Panasonic ‘concierge’ service? Anybody have any luck with that? I’ll wait the full 100 hours before checking into it but man what a let down.

Ike Ridley asked:


So you just bought a flat screen TV and no one told you anything about care and cleaning?

“What do you mean, care and cleaning?” some will say. “I grew up with a TV in the house, didn’t I? Everybody knows how to take care of a TV . . . right? You just dust it off every couple of months and don’t let the kids chew on the power cord. . . right?”

Well-l-l-l, there’s a little more to it than that when you own a Plasma, DLP or LCD flat screen TV. Some of it is common sense, but a lot what you need to know is unique to caring for the new television technology.

Special care must be taken when handling a flat screen TV, especially when touching or cleaning the display screen. Thin sheets of glass hold the Plasma cells on a flat screen TV, if they crack, the screen is ruined and cannot be repaired!

(If you’re not familiar with the differences between Plasma, LCD or DLP TVs, you should Google the "123 Guide To Plasma TV.com")

Bottom line: you need to know what you’re doing if you want to protect your expensive new TV from damage. You’re in luck . . . I’m about to tell you!

1) Avoid Touching The Screen!

Handle the TV only by the sides and bottom. Do your best not to touch the screen; don’t rub, scrub, tap, hit or touch it, since this could scratch, mar or permanently damage the screen. I actually want to encourage you not to touch the screen with your bare hands. (Good luck keeping the kids away from it!)

2) Keep Your Plasma TV Upright!

Whether you’re moving it, installing it, storing or displaying it, you should never lay your Plasma flat on it’s face, even if the directions tell you to. The plasma elements that make up the picture are sandwiched between two thin layers of glass. If these glass panels crack, your TV screen will be ruined. Large LCD and DLP display screens can be just as delicate.

3) Clean Your Flat Screen TV Correctly!

Even routine cleaning can present special challenges. You shouldn’t use dust cloths, chemical cleansers, soaps, sprays, alcohol or aerosols. Please don’t rub the screen, just dust it gently with absorbent cotton or chamois only. Clean the frame with a slightly moist sponge or cloth, don’t use chemicals or soaps. It’s best to unplug the TV before you begin cleaning.

4) Buy A Good Surge Protector!

Spring for a quality surge protector with a reset button and power switch. A phone line or ethernet surge protector for your modem and a coax surge protector for cable TV are great features to look for. If you can’t find these features on a power surge protector you can order them separately. A basic surge protector costs less than $10, and a really good one costs $30 – $50. There’s no excuse for not connecting every major appliance in your house to one. One lightning strike, one power surge and your $2,500 flat screen TV could be fried!

5) Don’t Let Your Big Screen TV Tip Over!

Most table stands are well designed, but be aware! When your teenager tries to imitate Kobe’s fantastic slam dunk or your toddler jumps up to slap Sponge Bob on the head, you don’t want a 150-pound big screen TV toppling over on them. Make sure your TV stand is sturdy, that it’s large enough to hold your TV (6-inches wider than the base) and is positioned against a wall, away from doorways and foot traffic.

6) Make Sure Your Wall Mount Is Properly Installed!

A correctly installed wall mount has little chance of allowing your TV to tip over; just one more reason to get a professional installation. If Harry Handyman from next door installs your Plasma and the mount comes off the wall, you could be facing substantial damage or injury. If you don’t know how to run wiring inside your wall, get a pro to do it.

7) Avoid Screen Burn-In!

Plasma displays have improved recently, but screen burn-in is still possible. Static images that don’t move or change, like video game scores, TV station logos, stock ticker displays and computer programs can burn images permanently into a Plasma screen. It may take weeks, months or years for the damage to become permanent, but it certainly can. LCD and DLP TVs cannot suffer burn-in.

With proper care, your big screen TV will give your family decades of brilliant service and lasting memories. Just tune in to Entourage and enjoy!

It’s as easy as 1 2 3!

pogo730 asked:


I’m trying to figure out if I can play a xbox360 on a 50″ Panasonic plasma TV set without causing any visible after-image or burn-in(when the image stays on the screen long after you finish playing regardless of if TV is on or off.) I would have thought this wouldn’t be an issue since the TV says you can display pic’s from a SD card(meaning youd have a static image on) or even hook it to a computer and use like a monitor. What makes me unsure is that after playing the original Xbox for 30min and turning it off I noticed the life bar and ammo bar from the game still visible on the screen. The image was visible for several hours after I was done before finally disappearing, obviously this got me worried that I may ruin my new TV when I finally get the xbox360 and hook it up. I’m confused because xbox360 is made for HD tv’s so I would think I’d be fine. Im also confused why I had the HUD stuff burned in with xbox only to disappear with time. Any input would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

the_t_man asked:


I don’t know much about the new tv’s except 1080p is the best. What kind, plasma, lcd, dlp, or something else and what brand should i get? I also heard something about images getting burned into the screen with video games, how can i avoid that?

Will Kinkaid asked:


Invariably in your search for a flat panel TV you will be faced with the decision of LCD or plasma. There’s a lot of good information on the web, however the technology is dynamic. Manufacturers scramble to

close disadvantages and win market space. Your final decision on your new TV should be based upon your own eyes- go to the store and look at the LCD widescreen, and then look at the plasma TV next to it and

choose what you like best. There are advantages to each type of TV- here are the top ten for LCDs.

1. No burn in – Static images can leave permanent ghost images in a plasma tv. Plasma manufacturers have developed some anti-burn in technology, be sure to check it’s there before you pick a plasma over LCD.

2. Brighter – LCD TVs perform better in bright environments than their plasma cousins. If you have a well lit room, add a point for LCD.

3. Less glare – Hand in hand with a brighter picture, less glare means a better picture in the living room with picture windows.

4. Runs cooler – If you have two televisions of equal size- say a 42 LCD and 42′ plasma TV, the LCD will run cooler. There’s some debate, but generally speaking cooler is better for electronic components.

5. Less power- Watt for watt you will use less electricity with a LCD TV. It will probably only be a couple of dollars per month, but if you’re ecology minded it’s a point to remember.

6. Long display life – 60,000 hours – LCDs will typically at least a decade- possibly quite more depending upon your use. Plasmas have made some strides, but be sure to read the specifications if in doubt.

7. Lighter – LCD televisions are lighter- this may be important depending upon where you are considering mounting the television, and of less importance, shipping.

8. Smaller sizes available under 32” – LCDs are getting bigger, and plasmas are getting smaller, but right now if you’re looking for a good HD TV under 32′, it will be a LCD.

9. Performance at higher altitudes – Due to a pressure differential in the plasma gases inside a plasma display and outside it, plasma TVs have to use a bit more power to display a picture at altitudes above

6,000 feet or so. This differential results in a buzzing sound due to higher power required to render the picture, and sometimes the TV’s fan will kick on. If you live at a higher altitude be sure to

consider a LCD television, or make sure that your plasma has been specially built to handle the altitude.

10. Price – Prices are dynamic, but as LCDs get bigger and make inroads on the plasma market, there are some bargains to be had where competition is at its highest (say around 42′); and you can find LCDs

that are less expensive than plasma.

You should also consider how your new TV will be used- there are certain disadvantages to LCD when it comes to blurring fast motion (read the specifications — manufacturers are improving), viewing angle

(also improving- but if you have a group that regularly watches TV be sure to form a semi circle around the TV in the store and check it). A LCD TV makes a great alternative to plasma.