Are plasma TV owners happier?
OK, let’s get something straight before we begin. I’m publishing the findings of a recent report because I find it laughable -– not credible –- as the “Plasma Display Coalition” claims nearly 100 percent of plasma TV owners are happy with their purchase. Gee, did ya think they’d published results that proved otherwise?!
OK, let’s get something straight before we begin. I’m publishing the findings of a recent report because I find it laughable -– not credible –- as the "Plasma Display Coalition" claims nearly 100 percent of plasma TV owners are happy with their purchase. Gee, did ya think they’d published results that proved otherwise?!
Apparently there’s an organization called the Plasma Display Coalition – er, you know, the "PDC" – and they claim owners of plasma sets are extremely happy about their choice of TV.
Commissioned by this coalition and conducted by Rockbridge Associates, Inc., this online survey was completed by 1,247 U.S. adults who own a plasma TV. The key finding was that 98 percent were "very satisfied" (75 percent) or "satisfied" (23 percent) with their plasma TVs.
Two-thirds of those surveyed said they’d also recommend a plasma TV to family and friends, while one-third said they’d likely buy another plasma TV at some point before the middle of 2009. The study found 43 percent of those surveyed also owned an LCD TV.
Um, call me crazy, but wouldn’t this so-called "study" be more credible if an organization called the Plasma Display Coalition didn’t fund it? Is this a joke? Apparently not. Sigh.
We own both plasma and LCD TVs and I have to say we are happier with the plasma, have recommended plasma to friends, and will probably buy another plasma. The survey is NOT lying. We did our research before buying. LCD is good under certain circumstances, but if you're talking about picture quality while watching DVD/TV, you can't beat plasma. I LOVE my plasma.
I have a 50 inch 1080p Samsung Plasma screen and two 32 inch Samsung LCD screens. Samsung has done a fantastic job with both these screens but I use the plasma screen for movie watching and the LCD screens for everyday use. I believe peoples' satisfaction of the plasma screens should be based on its' purpose and manufacturer.
Let's clarify something here. I am not "happier" with my life because of my plasm. But happier with my televsion. Headlines are so deceiving.
A lot of people I know own either a plasma or LCD and the two differences I can see is the cost of their cable/satellite bill in comparison to mine and the amount of space the two models take up.
To really get the benefits of plasma/LCD the owner needs to get high definition television. And even with high definition, there is still a lot of pixilation in both plasma and LCD from either a cable or satellite.
I have an 8 year old 61" Panasonic rear-projection television with digital cable and satellite. The quality is very similar to plasma and LCD. Playing video games is pretty much the same quality on my tv as with plasma and LCD.
I've also had HD programming on my television for a month and the difference (if any at all) in picture quality is hardly noticable.
In my opinion… of course plasma/LCD tv owners are going to say they are (very)satisfied with their televisions. Not many people (2% according to the PDC survey) would admit to not being happy with something they just spent thousands of dollars on.
Moreover, these people don't own their tv's, their tv's own them as they will only work best when they receive an HD signal. Much like a spoiled kid throwing a temper tantrum.
I have a panasonic 42" plasma and the picture quality is great. I reviewed several brands in both LCD and Plasma versions and found the plasma gave a better picture. I would recommend a plasma over a LCD anyday.
If you are going to comment on the credibility of an article, perhaps make sure you don't have any spelling mistakes or gramatical errors. Especially if it's in the title……. Is Marc Saltzman a joke? Apparently…. Sigh… Headshake….Close eyes.
Alex,
F.Y.I. "Grammatical" has two m's in it.
@Alex Walsh, "If you are going to comment on the credibility of an article, perhaps make sure you don't have any spelling mistakes or gramatical errors." Uuuuummmmmmm…..it's spelled 'grammatical'….(Somewhere, Homer smacks his head and says "DOH!!!")
Tom,
Ha, thanks for the comment to Alex! Obviously the headline is supposed to make you think. Happier than what? LCD? Happier in life? That was intentional! And no spelling or grammatical errors either! Thanks, Tom,
Marc
ha ha ha that's a very good point. Personally as a Plasma owner I will agree, I'm very happy with it and would buy another and also recommend plasma over LCD to others. I also have a 50" LCD that hasn't been turned on in almost 2 months. I have nothing against LCD's they do the job and they do look good but the blacks and white's aren't as rich and/or deep as the Plasma.
To DMBJunkie, Sorry but if you had HD hooked up and could not notice a difference, I am thinking you didn't have it hooked up correctly. With my Panny Plasma, the HD content is very noticiable. Try hooking up a Blu-Ray player and WOW! The picture will stand out more if you get your television professionally calibrated.
Some other comments:
Burn in is pretty much a thing of the past with today's technology unless you literally leave a static image on screen for a day. Even then, by playing full screen content, it will wash away eventually.
The bulbs in plasmas, I believe they have a ridicuously long half life, something like 60,000 hours or so. If I can get 10+ years out of my plasma then I will be happy.
With some models of the Panasonic Plasma, you can get a TV which has a screen "like" an LCD. This means that you will have no reflective glare.
To Patti, Why would you say that LCD tv's are better than plasma's? You had two tv's, from the same manufaturer fail. There are problems with every product out there. You might have been one of the unlucky ones and happend to get two.
With your reasoning, it would be the same as saying that i had two serious problems with the Dodge vehicle I recently purchased. All Dodge vehicles must suck then. You can't paint such a broad stroke saying that all plasmas suck because you happened to have two duds.
Maybe you should do a little research. Plasmas have a longer life than LCD tv's. 50,000 to 70,000 hours for the plasma vs 5,000 to 7,000 for the LCD.
I also agree that there are pros and cons to both plasmas and LCD's. I just think you should make a little more educated reply than saying that all plasmas must be bad because I had two problems. Give me a break!!!!
Hi to you all,
Guys, the dispute is not as to whether Lcd, plasma or a good old regular tv is better than the others as only a few of you have realised, but the issue behind Marcs article was that the study was "slightly" biased. Its like Microsoft saying that the XBOX 360 is the greatest gaming console ever made, or the golden retreiver club of Canada saying that breed is the most loved type of canine in Canada, or the NDP,s announcing that most Canadians feel that they should, infact run the country. (haha as if)
This is not a comments page for slagging off different styles of tv, and some people need to read and reread the initial article before they (supposedly) put their brain in gear. Kudos to the few who read the article for how it was written. Love your articles Marc, keep up the good work!
There are a few points I would tend to agree with. The first one would be that the study would be more credible if it was conducted by another agency. But, I find it very likely that plasma tv owners are happy with thier tvs.
Most people are probably happy with thier tv purchases, whether they are plasma or LCD, but the plasma will give a better more colour accurate picture then a LCD. Either way you go, without a HD source, you will not reap all of the rewards of a HDTV
I have a projector…100 inch+ screen makes me happier im sure!
Both technologies have their plus' and their negatives. Personally though, at this time, a plasma was the smarter buy for ME. I'm very happy with my Panny plasma and don't regret it at all. Will this change 5 to 10 years from now? Perhaps, perhaps not. We will see how far LCD and OLED technology has come at that time.
You have to realize that most people buying Plasma's are informed buyers nowadays.
I do believe that EVERYONE should do their research before investing in a 40inch+ display. What do they want from it? What size would they prefer? How much money do they want to invest? What will they do mainly with it?
These are all questions that must be asked. Once you have decided. Go buy your TV. Whether it is Plasma or LCD, you will be happy with it.
To DMB Junky, I think I will take my flat screen over your bulky RPTV. You are probably correct, there is hardly any picture difference to your RPTV and a plasma, with digital and SD tv. How about hooking up a bluray player or HD, then you will see the difference. HD is the future, why wouldn't I want to enjoy it on my TV set. 90% of the programs I watch are in HD, I hardly ever watch SD TV. The picture quality is far superior with HD.
It sounds like you are living in the past. You sound like one of those old guys who still think that a rortary dial phone is better than a touch tone phone.
DMB Junky, YOu have to hook up your HD receiver to your TV with an HDMI cable or component cable to get a HD picture. If you just used an RCA, S-Video, or coaxial, you will not get a HD picture.
Brian,
Thank you…….someone read the article! Thats is the whole issue, and you hit the nail on the head. Every servey that that expects credibility, should be done by an outside agency with no affiliation to the company, item or service being monitored. Or else it is flawed and entirely worthless….and should be treated as so. Who gives a damn if jim-bob or sally loves their plasma? that is NOT the question….To all except my friend Brian (the one with the iq larger than his shoe size) read Marcs article and my comment above.
Thanks
@ Brad
"Maybe you should do a little research. Plasmas have a longer life than LCD tv's. 50,000 to 70,000 hours for the plasma vs 5,000 to 7,000 for the LCD."
where did you get this info???