What to look for when buying a plasma television

The following provides some helpful information to keep in mind when you're shopping for a plasma television.

Technology for televisions has changed drastically in the past decade. If you haven't bought one in a while, you might be a little confused about where to start.

Plasma TVs can create billions of colours, whereas LCDs can only create millions. The result is improved contrast in colours and a sharper image.

The science

Plasma technology is when noble gases turn into plasma. The gases are in phosphor-coated cells between two panes of glass. Electricity is applied to the cell and they illuminate.

• The size and resolution are two of the important factors you will want to look for when shopping.
• It's a good idea to have a sense of what sort of other electronics you'll be plugging into the television so you can be sure you have enough inputs and ports for your other devices.

Give yourself a budget before you begin your search, as it will determine the range of options available to you.

The plasma TV offers a unique viewing experience, like that of a home movie theatre.

• Plasma TVs are ideal for watching sports because of the time it takes to switch pixels is faster, which makes a difference when it comes to the blurriness of fast-action plays.

Beside sharper colours, plasma TVs are also much sought after because of their anti-glare capabilities.

• Newer televisions have greatly improved the viewing experience by reducing light refraction, so now you and the family can watch the screen from all angles of the room with a clear, crisp image.

When you finally decide to buy your new plasma, it's important to keep resolution, price and size in mind.

The first plasma sets came with a lower resolution, but today you can choose from a variety of options.

• Resolution is so high today, that there is no problem sitting closer to the set, because you will still enjoy an incredible quality.