Plasma Televisions

Some of the top brands are Panasonic, Samsung, Pioneer and Toshiba.

Plasma TVs, (usually called Flat Screen TVs), work by having thousands of sealed, low pressure gas chambers, that look a bit like tubes, filled with neon and xenon gases. Behind these little chambers are colored phosphors....one red, one blue and one green. When these "plasma" chambers are energized they emit invisible UV light. The invisible UV light hits the red, blue and green phosphors making these chambers produce visible light.

The size, quality, and options available with these little technological wonders are as varied as the companies that make them. Sizes range from around 32" all the way up to the new 103" screens. Some have full HDTV options, some give only the basic features that your "old fashioned" models give with cable, or satellite cable.

The primary consideration for most people is the cost and expense of purchasing one of the Plasma TVs. And the cost can run into the thousands.

While there are many advantages of these type of TVs, there are also many disadvantages. The major problem with these type of TVs is their delicate nature. Even the slightest bumping can cause problems, damaging the tiny, little tubes.

Say you have small children playing and one of them inadvertently bumps into the TV. Hundreds of the tiny tubes lose their ability to glow, and, if they can be repaired, the cost of repairing them is very expensive. So, if you have small children, and you wish to own a Plasma TV, make sure to hang it up on a wall in an area that is well away from rambunctious toddlers and young children. And, no playing or rough housing in the TV room!

The other down side of having to hang your TV higher on a wall is that you have to mount it at an angle so the picture isn't distorted when viewed.

So, with all this information in mind, choose your type and brand of Plasma TV carefully, and enjoy!