When shopping for televisions, ignoring plasma HDTV as a long time option can really hurt you in the hip pocket in the long run.

There was a time when plasma was considered an expensive and almost wasteful option because of the bad press it received about it’s longevity value. Those claims were sometimes a little over the top and unfounded.

The fact is, plasma HDTV is now affordable to every one and better still, it has the staying power to see out almost half a person’s lifetime. Major brands such as Panasonic are now claiming plasma has a lifetime of up to 60,000 hours.

Plasma vs.LCD

This now means plasma TVs are now equal to LCDs in longevity which is impressive considering LCDs were supposed to run them out of town when they first hit the market and many were shouting the “death of plasma.”

Many are still clinging to the claims of nearly a decade ago that plasma TVs burnt out too quick and were not worth their purchase price in comparison to their shelf life.

THe price of plasmas has dropped significantly – thanks to new technology, more units being sold and the competition from LCD units. Today’s models are thinner, have superior anti-burn technology and consume much less power. From a viewing perspective, they have always been superior especially from TV viewing distance and viewing angle.

3 Ways To Preserve Your Plasma

The figure of 60,000 hours longevity will differ from brand to brand so keep in mind that some are superior to others. Here are some important tips in keeping your plasma HDTV working in tip-top order for many years:

- keep it in a well ventilated area
- do not leave static images on the screen for longer than 8-10 minutes
- avoid watching in very brightly lit rooms; in other words, plasma TVs perform better in normal lit and dimly lit areas

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