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A Little About a Lot

Posted by Jason Baker on July 27, 2009

Okay, first off, let me apologize for not posting in quite some time.  Personal obligations, travel, and work have all had their toll.

Let's make up for lost time. 

What's a Twitter?
Chances are you've already heard about Twitter.  Maybe you're already tweeting (the name given to short messages posted in real time on Twitter.com).  So what exactly is this global Twitter phenomenon?  Twitter is social networking platform that allows just about anyone to post small, quick, frequent messages that attempt to answer one simple question.  What are you doing?  Maybe you just landed in LAX and want to share that trivial piece of information to anyone willing subscribe to your Tweets.  Twitter provides the medium, you provide the tid bits of information.   Twitter isn't for everyone, but it's gained such acclaim, that celebrities, athletes, fashion tycoons, and grandmas all over the world are joining the party.  Check it out at www.twitter.com

Which flat-panel TV is right for you?
Plasmas generally offer slightly better contrast and black level performance than LCDs, along with noticeably wider viewing angles. People often describe plasma's picture quality as "filmlike," so it's a great choice for a home theater.

Plasmas can deliver a smooth, "filmlike" picture with impressive black levels. (Samsung PN58B860 pictured)

A plasma TV might be for you if:

• You like rich, warm colors and deep black levels.
• You'll be sitting off-axis when you watch TV or movies.
• You don't watch many TV shows or play video games with static images on the screen for more than a few hours at a time. The possibility of screen burn-in still exists for plasma TVs, though it's unlikely to happen with current models.
• You're able to control the amount of light in your viewing room — plasma screens are more likely to reflect room lights, which can be distracting.

If you need a screen smaller than 42", LCD is your only flat-panel TV option. LCD displays are very bright (brighter even than plasmas), and most LCD screens have a "matte" finish which is very resistant to glare from sunlight or room lights. LCDs perform great in a kitchen or any other room with bright lighting. LCD is also one of the most rugged display types. Its total immunity to screen burn-in makes LCD an ideal choice if your viewing includes playing lots of video games or using your TV as a computer monitor. And if you often leave your TV on for hours at a time tuned to a news or sports channel with a scrolling "ticker," LCD would be a safer choice.

Today's LCDs are often quite energy efficient. (Sony's XBR9 pictured)

An LCD TV might be for you if:

• You watch a lot of TV shows or play lots of video games with static images on the screen for extended periods of time, multiple days a week.
• You do a lot of daytime viewing in a room with windows lacking blinds, curtains or drapes — most LCD screens resist glare, although some high-performance models have screens that are nearly as reflective as plasmas.
• Low power consumption is a priority — LCD TVs are usually more energy efficient than plasma models with the same screen size.

Before purchasing any flat-panel TV, do your homework, know what you're buying, and know the reasons why.  I'm a guy, so the bigger the better.  Plasma rules!

More coming soon...