Special Report:
Issues in Technology
In One Screen … Out the Other
Part 3
by David English
The Price of Plasma
As prices have come down for plasma displays, manufacturers are beginning
to target their
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Pioneer
PDP V402
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models for specific applications. Recent technological advances are pushing the displays into new types of venues. This turn of events presents new opportunities for AV consulting firms, media distributors and content owners.
NEC Technologies is the first manufacturer to offer a distinct series of plasma monitors for specific applications. The PlasmaSync 50PD1 ($12,995), for example, is designed for public display applications. The 50-inch display is equipped with an anti-phosphor-burn technology and uses a larger pixel size for an average increase in brightness of 20 percent over similar plasma panels. Other features implemented for its use as a public display include a 24-hour timer for automatic start-ups and shutdowns, as well as a self-diagnostic mode that relays the monitor's status via an RS-232 port or a front-bezel LED. A special cabinet is available that holds both the 50PD1 and a single-board internal PC. And an expanded input panel provides a total of five inputs, including a 29-pin DVI connector that eliminates the need for ultra-fine picture adjustments.
While previous plasma screens have suffered from low resolution-early models were VGA and even sub-VGA-the latest generation of plasma displays includes models with a native XGA (1,024 x 768) resolution. Fujitsu offers two XGA models that differ only in their FCC classification. The PDS-4221 and PDS-4222 (FCC Class A and B, respectively) sell for $15,999 each, have a 16:9 aspect ratio, and are compatible with 1080I HDTV signals. Fujitsu uses an interlaced ALiS (Alternate Lighting of Surfaces) technology to display 1,024 scanning lines using the same 512 lines of scanning electrodes as a conventional system. The monitor alternately discharges the spaces between the display electrodes and the conventional scanning electrodes.
Pioneer's PDP-502MX ($19,995) is a 50-inch monitor with a 1,280 x 768 resolution and 16:9 aspect ratio. It's capable of displaying uncompressed 720P and 1080I HDTV signals. The company uses a proprietary Continuous Emission Display Technology to combat the problem in plasma displays of poor contrast in the dark areas of the screen and false contours in the light areas of the screen.
David English is a freelance writer in Greensboro, North Carolina.
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