So why does plasma suck ? :)

bobert50 · 8 Feb 2008 at 12:57

Right! its got to the point where i really fancy getting a flatscreen for 75% SD, 25% media centre / pc stuff (ideally in 1080p). Clearly plasma's are better for 75%, i've seen for myself just how much better they clearly handle motion for e.g.

So why would a 1080p plasma suck for media centre pc use? would i be really risking it burning in and looking a right mess or is this an old problem removed on modern sets? what other things could i have overlooked? I'm just wondering why everyone immediately says "go lcd for media centre" ? I've seen the ghosting really blatently even on pretty modern sets such as the m86 series, yet on plasma's the motion looks fine to me.

So whos in the know?

why is there so much plasma-bashing when it comes to media centre use? It'd obviously make sense for me to get a plasma for all the SD i watch so i am really hoping the issues are more a thing of the past.

Someone please explain why 1080p plasma's suck for pc usage vs 1080p lcd's !

Virdi · 8 Feb 2008 at 13:16

Have you played with your Resolution settings? is your GFX card upto the job?

What kind of video format/files are you playing on Media Centre PC? is their quality pukka?

bobert50 · 8 Feb 2008 at 13:19

yea pc's pretty top of the range. c2d + 8-series nvidia and so on.

It could just be any old random thing, not even neccessarily videos. Maybe some pc games on the big screen for novelty value...maybe just browsing around.

Will the taskbar for e.g. still burn into a modern plasma over time these days?

Fothsn · 8 Feb 2008 at 13:52

It’s very hard to burn a Plasma with today’s technology helping out like Pixel shift etc Image retention will pose the main problem with desktop use just make sure when you use your PC set the contrast and brightness down

I see a fair bit of image retention with my Sammy Plasma but this is gone after a few seconds

[DOD]Asprilla · 8 Feb 2008 at 14:14

I wouldn't bash plasma for MC use, just for desktop and gaming.

badbob · 8 Feb 2008 at 14:16

fothsn said:
It’s very hard to burn a Plasma with today’s technology helping out like Pixel shift etc Image retention will pose the main problem with desktop use just make sure when you use your PC set the contrast and brightness down I see a fair bit of image retention with my Sammy Plasma but this is gone after a few seconds

Not hard at all, it still occurs and is a risk. A 1080p plasma will be ok using in Media Centre, just don't leave in on the desktop or static Media Centre menus for too long.

[DOD]Asprilla · 8 Feb 2008 at 14:31

badbob said:
Not hard at all, it still occurs and is a risk.

It is a risk but susceptibility varies greatly from model to model. It's worth finding out about screen burn and image retention on any model you consider, rather than thinking that all plasmas will behave the same.

Columbo · 8 Feb 2008 at 14:33

All easily sorted by just sticking a screensaver on, should you require. Oh and my Xbox looks awesome on my 50" plasma as well.

bobert50 · 8 Feb 2008 at 15:51

[DOD]Asprilla;11063246 said:
I wouldn't bash plasma for MC use, just for desktop and gaming.

This is totally the sort of thing i'd like to know, whats the prob with gaming would you say?

I've just had another look at the tv shops...I'm actually really impressed with the 100hz feature thats in the le32m86bd as the smoothness is fantastic, and the "slightly speeded up effect" i actually like.

F86 is looking quite favourable right now, especially if its 100hz implementation is even better than in the much older le32m86bd, even if not as good as the super-expensive x3000/x3500 which tbh is out of budget for me atm.

Vertigo · 9 Feb 2008 at 00:21

I'm going to pair my forthcoming 1080p panel with an HTPC and I have no intention whatsoever of getting an LCD

The only reason people recommend LCDs for HTPCs is the same reason they recommend them for consoles - retention or burn-in. Just as static elements in a console game can exhibit this problem, so can the static menus in HTPC software.