DLP TVs

Even today, Texas Instruments remains the primary manufacturer of this technology. Many different manufacturers license the technology from Texas Instruments, and build their products around the TI chipset. In addition to its use in televisions and projectors, DLP technology is used in a number of specialized applications such as lithography and imaging.

DLP technology differs from other video technology in that it utilizes a small digital micromirror device (DMD) to tilt more than 1.3 million of these tiny mirrors, each of them smaller than the width of a human hair either toward or away from the light source contained within the DLP device. This process creates the dark and light pixels which appear on the projection screen.

The light is then filtered through a color wheel rotating at 120 times per second, to produce a technology that is capable of producing some 1024 different shades of gray. It is this gradation of color that really makes DLP technology stand out, and these gradations of color are achieved using color filters which are backlit using just the right intensity of pure white light.

There are four major components to the DLP system:

The DMD chip, which controls the mirrors
The color wheel
The light source and
The optics
In order to produce the picture, the light from the lamp passes through the color wheel filter and into the DMD chip, which then switches its mirrors on or off according to the color which is reflecting off of them.

This digital light processing, or DLP, technology is rapidly becoming a major player in the world of the rear projection TV, and more than two million of these TVs have been sold. More than 50 manufacturers sell at least one model of DLP based television, and as of 2004 the DLP TV had achieved a 10% market share. In addition, small standalone units, known in the business as front projectors, have become popular items both in the world of business presentations and in the world of home theater.

Advantages of DLP Technology

There are a number of important advantages to television sets that use DLP technology to produce their displays. Some of these advantages include:

Images that are smooth and free of jitter
No possibility of screen burn in
Good contrast
Good depth of color
In addition, DLP rear projection televisions are generally smaller, thinner and lighter in weight than traditional CRT televisions of similar size. Another potential advantage of the new DLP technology is that the light source is replaceable, which may be able to provide a longer lifespan than either traditional CRT or new plasma screen displays. The light source of the DLP unit is much easier to replace than that in an LCD model, and many models of DLP television feature light sources that are easily changed by the end user. Of course no one wants to replace the light source before its time, and the newest LED light sources on the market, introduced in April of 2006, have been shown to last 20,000 hours before needing to be replaced.

Disadvantages of DLP Technology

Of course there are some disadvantages to DLP television technology as well, and it is important for those in the market for a new TV to be aware of these potential pitfalls. For instance, in some single chip DLP designs, viewers may be bothered by the so called “rainbow effect”, which affects how colors are displayed on the TV and perceived by the viewer.

In addition to this rainbow effect, some possible disadvantages of DLP technology include:

Not as thin or as sleek as LCD or plasma displays, even though the weight is comparable
Some models have noisy fans
The replacement bulbs can be quite expensive, ranging from $200 to as much as $500
Competing Technologies

The main competitor to DLP in the market for rear projection televisions is known as LCoS (liquid crystal on silicon). This technology creates its images by using a stationary mirror which is mounted on the surface of a chip, and then uses a liquid crystal matrix to control how much light is reflected to create the image. These competing standards are still being worked out, so it is important to shop carefully and to read lots of reviews before making a final purchase.

When shopping for a DLP television, it is important of course to learn as much as you can about the new technology, and it is just as important to shop around for the best possible price. When shopping for a new DLP TV, it is important to look carefully at the kind of tuner the unit uses. Many modern television sets are designed to be multisystem devices, meaning that not only are they capable of reading the NTSC signal used in North America and Japan, but they will also be able to deal with competing standards such as PAL and SECAM. This can be an important consideration, so it is important to make sure you understand these various formats and how they affect you as an end user.

It is important as well to look at the type of components that can be connected to the new DLP television. Most modern TVs are built to accept signals not only from cable TV and satellite TV boxes but from DVD players, VCRs, and even computers. The presence of a VGA or DVI connection will allow the unit to function as a computer monitor as well as a television, but it is important to use caution when using any kind of rear projection TV for this purpose. While plasma TVs can often make excellent computer monitors, technologies like DLP may struggle to provide the depth and resolution that computer users are used to.

Even though the prices of televisions in general, and DLP televisions in particular, have become a lot more affordable in recent years, these TVs are still major purchases, and it makes sense to give that purchase the consideration it deserves. As with any purchase, shopping around carefully will help you get not only the lowest price but the best overall value as well.

LG Electronics 50PC3D

The LG Electronics 50PC3D Plasma HDTV with the 50 inch plasma screen is an average product when it comes to HDTVs. Although it received an satisfactory score at the tests, it has a good design and the price is low.

When speaking about the color quality, tones and brightness this HDTV manages to make them look ok. Although when you look at the skin color you may notice some pixelation, the overall quality is good and the skin looks quite real. When watching something that shows light and strident colors, the LG Plasma HDTV manages to polish them and brings out a nice combination without hurting your eyes. Also, the night scenes are really fantastic as this HDTV has good quality when it comes to black or darker spots in movies.

This LG Plasma HDTV also comes with many connections like three HDMI inputs which are similar to the ones found on the Pioneer Kuro PDP-5010FD. Keep in mind that it comes with a nice USB port that lets you use a flash card reader or a thumb device. You can also see high quality photos on the TV.

Another great feature of this Plasma screen is the remote control which has controls for any slide shows and lets you manage your photos manually. So if you simply want to view some photos get comfy and operate everything with the remote control.

The swiveling technology is like the one on the Samsung FP-T5084 but easier to use. Make sure you loosen the little bolt from the back if you want to swivel your TV. When reaching the back of your TV you can see the plastic half loop which ensures that your cables are packed together. An eye catching feature is the design of the display setting buttons, which is very elegant and futuristic. The buttons will only become visible when you touch the pad under the bezel.

Although this TV is rather average in quality, it has an organized structure that makes it very easy to use. You can adapt the colors and harmonize the aspect by using the on-screen display menu. The adaptable features are the red, green, and blue colors which can be found in the color temperature menu.

You can also choose from the predetermined settings if you don’t know how to adapt things manually. The options are: Standard, Mild, and Dynamic. They change to different levels of contrast, brightness and vividness. Although the Dynamic color looks most appealing, it makes things look a bit unnatural, so you might opt for the other two predetermined settings which look more realistic.

The option that lets you choose two customizable setting could prove useful if you want to switch from one to another without manually choosing all the settings. All of these can be made by using the touch pad or the remote. The remote’s design is not very eye catching as the buttons may seem a bit uncomfortable to use and it has no light (this will also prove uncomfortable in the dark).

The audio quality received a good score during the tests. Also, keep in mind that the speakers are on the sides of this TV and will make the panel design a little bigger than others from the same category. This will usually give a false view that the TV is bigger than others of similar size and shapes. The sound is very good and the LG Company guarantees your parts and labor warranty for two years, which is a good deal as most of the other producers offer less.

The LG Electronics 50PC3D Plasma HDTV has standard quality and may be a good TV for someone who doesn’t want to spend large sums of money on HDTVs. The sound quality may be a great advantage when choosing this product. However, if you want something extraordinary, you may be a little disappointed. So if you are looking for ok quality and not for best quality, this might suit your taste.

LG 50PY3DF

The LG 50PY3DF Plasma TV receives a big score in aesthetics compared to other brands in the same category of high quality television. Its tag price is attractive too, although it can't compete head-on in terms of performance against its competitors. This model targets consumers who give lot of consideration to affordability with a few good features.

Designed meticulously, the LG 50PY3DF looks really enticing and one reason is that it is more affordable than other brands of plasma television. Tested against other TVs in its size category, this 50-inch plasma HDTV garnered an average performance rating that is equivalent to Good. However, for the low price, its features run a bit short compared to more expensive brands belonging to the same TV lineup.

Tests show that the LG 50PY3DF gives strong, satisfactory color quality on standard- and high-definition images but it projects brightness and contrast that can only be considered okay or average. In TV programs like the George Lopez Show, the skin tones revealed are fairly believable while some hints of pixels are present. Game broadcasts like that of the San Francisco Giants showed a good balance of orange and green colors. Details were good too, during the dark scenes in the movie like the Lord of the Rings.

In terms of connectivity, the LG 50PY3DF features three HDMI inputs compared to other brands, which have four. User can also utilize a USB port for data stored in card readers or thumb drives. This USB port allows the LG 50PY3DF to display photos in a slideshow with the packaged remote control to manage the settings and pan the photos when browsing.

With some adjustments at the back, this TV model can swivel like the Samsung FP-T5084 but not as smooth. For a more organized setup, cables can be tied together using a loop that is installed at the back where the swivel bolt can be found.  To adjust the display settings manually, user should look for a mini touchpad at the lower right portion that will launch the menu for the TV settings.

Display settings include menus for color temperature adjustments with the colors red, green, and blue as indicators. The menu also allows the adjustment of contrast, brightness, and vividness of the display through color presets for Dynamic, Standard, and Mild.  Dynamic is the most enticing preset although there is a bit of concern with how unreal the saturation is - images appear un-natural. With the Standard and Mild settings, images are more realistic.

There are two ways to set the display: through the remote control or through the mini touchpad on the lower right portion of the TV.  The keys on the remote control are not backlit and a bit cramped but it serves its function well with the control of the on-screen display.

Stacked against other similar plasma screens the LG 50PY3DF would not receive an A plus score because it lacks some features that experienced electronic users may need. However, studies have found that most home users do not need, want or know how to use all of the extra features that are bundled on their gadgets. Considering its great price, this LG is perfect for those who wants a good plasma screen without a load of useless features that they will not use.

The LG 50PY3DF TV's size is quite deceiving. It appears bigger than its counterparts because of the panel extensions on both sides where the built-in speakers have been incorporated. These speakers deliver good quality sound from tests ran on shows like the Phantom of the Opera. Each LG TV comes with a 2-year warranty on parts and labor - which is quite an edge for the brand since others offer only 1-year warranties.

Though the LG 50PY3DF may be a bit behind in performance and features, there are still users who put emphasis on the price. These price-conscious buyers may find themselves purchasing this model especially with its demonstrated features and good sound quality, which give value for the money.

HP PL4272N review

he PL4272N isn’t the best product in the world when it comes to HDTVs, however it turned out to be a fairly good product for a low price if you aren’t too picky.  The resolution is not the best you can find; the 1024 by-768-pixel keeps it from being a better option on the market.

The visuals can be eye damaging, they tend to have a pink color, especially when showing people’s skin. That looks unnatural and gives an artificial touch to the whole scene. If you are a master in visual settings maybe you can remove that by manually setting your TV’s colors.

The menu is quite organized and may seem familiar to the people who bought the HPLX4276N. The advantage is the fact that they are easy to understand and handle, because the menu has two options, Simple Menu and Full Menu.

You might be surprised to find that there is an option called White Wash in the Setup menu and not in the Picture menu. You will not find this on previous LCDs. However, this option proves to be quite handy when you experience burn in problems and it helps you ameliorate those before they get permanent.

Another disadvantage is the fact that this utility lacks any of the options that display gray sidebars in 4-by-3 mode. This is a very useful option when people want to see programs with standard definition in the original aspect ratio, otherwise it can make damage by causing phosphor aging.  The same problem appears to Vizio VP42 HDTVs. Also, keep in mind that you won’t find any useful instruction about burn-in in the HP manual, although all other plasma manuals have it.

Unfortunately the PL4272N lacks a lot of entertainment features that other products usually have. You can’t find any jack for headphones; it has no media slots, and no picture-in-picture. These options could have added great improvement to this product but, unfortunately, it doesn’t have them.

The remote control also lacks most of the features found on these products. It’s rather large and the bad thing about it is that you can’t program it. The same thing happened with the LC4276N. You may expect many buttons on a remote control which has this size, but it’s not the case here; very few buttons compared to its size.

If you’re waiting for another disadvantage, here it comes: the buttons don’t have any light; this tends to be very uncomfortable sometimes. If there is not sufficient lighting in the room, you will have to constantly find a light source until you have memorized the button positions.

These modern electronics can be difficult to setup, so the HP PL4272N comes with a helpful setup wizard that takes you from beginning to end in a snap. It will walk you through the options and help you as you try to fix the colors, saturation and hue.

The HP PL4272N plasma has Dynamic 3D color gamut mapping, and this feature makes it easy to adjust the colors on the screen. Using this mapping technique, you can modify the colors for electronic gadgets that have limited color choices. It is also a great option for home viewers who have visual problems viewing colors, such as an individual who may be color blind.

Overall the visual quality is average, the whole handling seems quite simple, and the menu is understandable and easy to use. It looks like a mediocre product; however it will have a lot of fans due to its small price.

Although this product may seem like the worse there is, it’s cheap and may be a good option if you are planning to buy more than one without expecting major quality. It’s not the best thing in the world, but maybe if you know what you are doing, you can improve video quality from the settings. If you can afford another model for a few hundred dollars more, don’t hesitate, otherwise choose this product but don’t expect it to be amazing.