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Beating the Odds
How does the usable life of the display compare for the two technologies? “All display technologies lose brightness over time,” says Miller. “The rate of drop is similar for both plasma and LCDs, except the shape of the curve is slightly different. The drop for LCD tends to be pretty much a straight line. Plasma drops a little faster initially, and then more slowly. You see more effect in the first few thousand hours, but then see very little effect.”
Of course, these are statistical averages. The actual life of a monitor can be greatly affected by how it’s used. “Phosphors are subject to burn-in,” says Kenneth Walker, director of technology strategy for the Philips Components Division. “If you were to call the New York Stock Exchange, you might find out how many times they’ve had to replace the beautiful plasma panels they love to show off on the trading floor. They wouldn’t have had these burn-in problems with an LCD. With some applications, even if the LCD costs twice as much for the same size plasma, long term it can be more effective.” Similarly, for digital signage applications, LCDs may prove to be a better choice than plasma, “because you have a lot of consistent, common types of elements that burn into the screen,” explains Walker.
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Yanke sees digital signage as being shared equally between the two technologies—at least in the near future. Plasma’s wide viewing angles allow it to be placed in a variety of retail and public environments. “With boardrooms in Fortune-1000 companies, where they’re likely to install a 50- or 61-inch screen, plasma still has the size advantage,” he says. “With financial markets, I can see a combination of both, given LCD’s resolution and its 30- to 40-inch sizes.”
Room to Grow
While demand is important for setting price—which in turn affects the ways in which the product is used—the manufacturer’s cost can be influenced by other factors. For example, LCD has a strong appeal for manufacturers because it doesn’t lock them into manufacturing a specific size. “The factory that takes a 1-by-1.2-meter piece of glass can produce 40-inch televisions, 18-inch monitors, 5-inch PDA screens or 2-inch cell-phone displays,” says Walker. Plasma panel production is limited as much as CRT tube production is, because “you have to build a factory line for a particular size panel.”
Both plasma and LCD technology will improve sharply over the years, narrowing some of the performance gaps. “In large sizes, both of these are relatively immature technologies,” says Miller. “Obviously, plasma has been around a long while, but not in the 40- to 60-inch sizes that are selling to home theaters and boardrooms—at least in terms of volume. Large LCDs are extremely immature, with the largest one being 40-inch. Both technologies are early on the learning and development curve.”
Contributing editor David English covers and reviews presentation technology from his home in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The AVVMMP Guide to Plasma Displays and LCDs | |||||||
Model | Type | Size* | Resolution | Price | Company | Phone | Web site |
PDP46W1 | Plasma | 46 | 852 x 480 | $5,995 | BenQ | 866-700-2367 | |
| PDP7859 | Plasma | 42 | 852 x 480 | $4,995 | BenQ | 866-700-2367 | |
| MP4200 | Plasma | 42 | 853 x 480 | $4,499 | Cornea Systems | 800-681-6155 | |
| P5071 | Plasma | 50 | 1,280 x 768 | $10,999 | Eizo Nanao | 800-800-5202 | |
| Plasmavision PDS6101 | Plasma | 61 | 1,366 x 768 | $24,999 | Fujitsu | 973-575-0380 | |
| Plasmavision PDS-5004 | Plasma | 50 | 1,366 x 768 | $9,999 | Fujitsu | 973-575-0380 | |
| Plasmavision PDS-5003 | Plasma | 50 | 1,366 x 768 | $12,999 | Fujitsu | 973-575-0380 | |
| Plasmavision PDS4241 | Plasma | 42 | 1,024 x 1,024 | $7,999 | Fujitsu | 973-575-0380 | |
| Plasmavision PDS4229 | Plasma | 42 | 852 x 480 | $5,999 | Fujitsu | 973-575-0380 | |
| Plasmavision PDS4233 | Plasma | 42 | 852 x 480 | $5,999 | Fujitsu | 973-575-0380 | |
| Plasmavision PDS4242 | Plasma | 42 | 1,024 x 1,024 | $7,999 | Fujitsu | 973-575-0380 | |
| CMP5000WXU | Plasma | 50 | 1,024 x 768 | $15,995 | Hitachi America | 800-225-1741 | |
| CMP4121HDU | Plasma | 42 | 1,024 x 1,024 | $7,995 | Hitachi America | 800-225-1741 | |
| CMP307XU | Plasma | 37 | 1,024 x 768 | $8,995 | Hitachi America | 800-225-1741 | |
| PDP 7843 | Plasma | 42 | 1,024 x 768 | TBA | iiyama North America | 800-394-4335 | |
| Flatron MU-60PZ11B | Plasma | 60 | 1,280 x 720 | $14,629.95 | LG Electronics | 800-243-0000 | |
| Flatron MU-50PZ41B | Plasma | 50 | 1,366 x 768 | $11,499.95 | LG Electronics | 800-243-0000 | |
| Flatron MU-42PZ15B | Plasma | 42 | 852 x 480 | $5,999 | LG Electronics | 800-243-0000 | |
| Flatron MU-40PA10B | Plasma | 40 | 640 x 480 | $6,199.95 | LG Electronics | 800-243-0000 | |
| PlasmaSync 61MP1 | Plasma | 61 | 1,365 x 768 | $19,995 | NEC Solutions America | 800-632-4636 | |
| PlasmaSync 50MP2 | Plasma | 50 | 1,365 x 768 | $12,995 | NEC Solutions America | 800-632-4636 | |
| PlasmaSync 50PD2 | Plasma | 50 | 853 x 480 | $9,995 | NEC Solutions America | 800-632-4636 | |
| PlasmaSync 42MP3 | Plasma | 42 | 853 x 480 | $7,995 | NEC Solutions America | 800-632-4636 | |
| PlasmaSync 42MP4 | Plasma | 42 | 1,024 x 768 | $9,495 | NEC Solutions America | 800-632-4636 | |
| PlasmaSync 42PD3 | Plasma | 42 | 853 x 480 | $7,495 | NEC Solutions America | 800-632-4636 | |
| TH-50PHD3U | Plasma | 50 | 1,366 x 768 | $10,995 | Panasonic | 800-528-8601 | |
| TH-42PHD5UY | Plasma | 42 | 1,024 x 768 | $7,995 | Panasonic | 800-528-8601 | |
| TH-42PWD4UY | Plasma | 42 | 852 x 480 | $5,995 | Panasonic | 800-528-8601 | |
| TH-37PWD4UZ | Plasma | 37 | 852 x 480 | $4,995 | Panasonic | 800-528-8601 | |
| 50FD9934 | Plasma | 50 | 1,365 x 768 | $13,999 | Philips | 800-531-0039 | |
| 42FD9954 | Plasma | 42 | 1,024 x 1,024 | $7,999 | Philips | 800-531-0039 | |
| 32FD9954 | Plasma | 32 | 1,024 x 852 | $5,999 | Philips | 800-531-0039 | |
| PDP-5030HD | Plasma | 50 | 1,280 x 768 | $15,500 | Pioneer Electronics | 310-952-2000 | |
| PDP-503CMX | Plasma | 50 | 1,280 x 768 | $15,500 | Pioneer Electronics | 310-952-2000 | |
| PDP-4330HD | Plasma | 43 | 1,024 x 768 | $11,500 | Pioneer Electronics | 310-952-2000 | |
| PDP-433CMX | Plasma | 43 | 1,024 x 768 | $11,500 | Pioneer Electronics | 310-952-2000 | |
| PME-42V3 | Plasma | 42 | 852 x 480 | $4,999 | Sampo | 800-203-4429 | |
| PPM63H1 | Plasma | 63 | 1,366 x 768 | $18,000 | Samsung Electronics | 800-726-7864 | |
| PPM50H2 | Plasma | 50 | 1,366 x 768 | $12,999 | Samsung Electronics | 800-726-7864 | |
| PPM42S2 | Plasma | 42 | 852 x 480 | $6,499 | Samsung Electronics | 800-726-7864 | |
| PFM-50C1 | Plasma | 50 | 1,365 x 768 | $12,499 | Sony Electronics | 800-686-7669 | |
| PFM-42B1 | Plasma | 42 | 1,024 x 1,024 | $7,999 | Sony Electronics | 800-686-7669 | |
| KZ-42TS1 | Plasma | 42 | 1,024 x 1,024 | $7,999 | Sony Electronics | 800-686-7669 | |
| PFM-32C1 | Plasma | 32 | 1,024 x 852 | $5,999 | Sony Electronics | 800-686-7669 | |
| KZ-32TS1 | Plasma | 32 | 1,024 x 852 | $5,999 | Sony Electronics | 800-686-7669 | |
| RCA Scenium PHD50400 | Plasma | 50 | 1,365 x 768 | $14,999 | Thomson | 800-336-1900 | |
| 50HP81 | Plasma | 50 | 1,366 x 768 | $15,999 | Toshiba America | 800-631-3811 | |
| VPW425 | Plasma | 42 | 852 x 480 | $4,995 | ViewSonic | 800-888-8583 | |
| P60W26 | Plasma | 60 | 1,280 x 720 | $14,999.95 | Zenith | 877-993-6484 | |
| DPDP60W | Plasma | 60 | 1,280 x 720 | $14,999.95 | Zenith | 877-993-6484 | |
| P50W26B | Plasma | 50 | 1,366 x 768 | $9,499.95 | Zenith | 877-993-6484 | |
| P42W22B | Plasma | 42 | 852 x 480 | $4,999.95 | Zenith | 877-993-6484 | |
| P40V22 | Plasma | 42 | 640 x 480 | $4,999.95 | Zenith | 877-993-6484 | |
| Apple Cinema HD Display | LCD | 23 | 1,920 x 1,200 | $3,499 | Apple | 800-692-7753 | |
| Apple Cinema Display | LCD | 22 | 1,600 x 1,024 | $2,499 | Apple | 800-692-7753 | |
| FP2081 | LCD | 20 | 1,600 x 1,200 | $1,840 | BenQ | 866-700-2367 | |
| HS2051 | LCD | 20 | 1,600 x 1,200 | $1,995 | BenQ | 866-700-2367 | |
| CML200B | LCD | 20 | 1,600 x 1,200 | $1,619 | Hitachi America | 800-225-1741 | |
| T221 | LCD | 22.2 | 3,840 x 2,400 | $8,399 | IBM | 888-746-7426 | |
| T210 | LCD | 20.8 | 2,048 x 1,536 | $4,929 | IBM | 888-746-7426 | |
| Pro Lite 5611 | LCD | 22.2 | 3,840 x 2,400 | $8,400 | iiyama North America | 800-394-4335 | |
| Pro Lite 5311 | LCD | 20.8 | 2,048 x 1,536 | $5,733 | iiyama North America | 800-394-4335 | |
| Radius RAD-23 | LCD | 23.1 | 1,600 x 1,200 | $4,148 | KDS | 800-237-9988 | |
| Studioworks 295LM | LCD | 22 | 1,600 x 1,200 | $3,329.95 | LG Electronics | 800-243-0000 | |
| LCD3000 | LCD | 29.5 | 1,280 x 768 | $4,299 | NEC Solutions America | 800-632-4636 | |
| MultiSync LCD2110 | LCD | 21.3 | 1,600 x 1,200 | $3,799 | NEC Solutions America | 800-632-4636 | |
| MultiSync LCD2010X | LCD | 20.1 | 1,280 x 1,024 | $1,699 | NEC Solutions America | 800-632-4636 | |
| TC-22LT1 | LCD | 22 | 854 x 480 | $2,999 | Panasonic | 800-211-7262 | |
| 20PF9925 | LCD | 20 | 640 x 480 | $2,199 | Philips | 800-531-0039 | |
| WS231 | LCD | 23.1 | 1,600 x 1,200 | $3,499 | Planar Systems | 866-752-6271 | |
| PL201M | LCD | 20.1 | 1,600 x 1,200 | $1,500 | Planar Systems | 866-752-6271 | |
| SyncMaster 240T | LCD | 24 | 1,920 x 1,200 | $4,189 | Samsung Electronics | 800-726-7864 | |
| SyncMaster 241MP | LCD | 24 | 1,920 x 1,200 | $4,799 | Samsung Electronics | 800-726-7864 | |
| SyncMaster 211MP | LCD | 21.3 | 1,600 x 1,200 | $3,129 | Samsung Electronics | 800-726-7864 | |
| Silicon Graphics F220 | LCD | 22 | 1,600 x 1,024 | $3,999 | SGI | 800-800-7441 | |
| Aquos LC-30HV2U | LCD | 30 | 1,280 x 768 | $7,999.95 | Sharp Electronics | 800-237-4277 | |
| Aquos LC-22SV2U | LCD | 22 | 854 x 480 | $3,999.95 | Sharp Electronics | 800-237-4277 | |
| Aquos LC-20B2UA | LCD | 20 | 640 x 480 | $2,499.95 | Sharp Electronics | 800-237-4277 | |
| LL-T2010 | LCD | 20.1 | 1,600 x 1,200 | $2,099 | Sharp Systems | 800-237-4277 | |
| VP230mb | LCD | 23.1 | 1,600 x 1,200 | $3,139 | ViewSonic | 800-888-8583 | |
| VP2290b | LCD | 22.2 | 3,840 x 2,400 | $7,999 | ViewSonic | 800-888-8583 | |
| VP201mb | LCD | 20.1 | 1,600 x 1,200 | $1,599 | ViewSonic | 800-888-8583 | |
| VP201m | LCD | 20.1 | 1,600 x 1,200 | $1,599 | ViewSonic | 800-888-8583 | |
| VX2000 | LCD | 20.1 | 1,600 x 1,200 | $1,499 | ViewSonic | 800-888-8583 | |
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