Monthly Archive for November, 2008

Here Is How To Redo Your Kitchen On A Shoestring

Published
by
Chester Ebenhart
on November 30, 2008
in Home Improvement
. 0 Comments
by Chester Ebenhart

Everyone wants a dream kitchen, but in today’s tight economy, who can afford it? Here are some tips to help you get what you want without breaking the bank.

The trick to budget kitchen remodeling is to plan ahead. Think about exactly how you want your kitchen to look in the long run. Write a list of each thing you need to do to get you there. Keep in mind that it may be a long time before you can get all the work done, but if you have a good idea of how you want your kitchen to look, the finished work will look pulled together.

To get ideas, visit the corporate websites for the “big box” home improvement stores, such as Home Depot. You will find a lot of information to help you determine the best upgrades for your home. These stores also often host seminars to help you do much of the work yourself. You can also often special order products and even hire a contractor.

Next go online to get an idea of how much each part of the remodeling job will cost both in terms of material and in terms of labor.

Now try to plan how you will do the job: which work you will do first, etc. For example, it would be better to paint the walls first before you install new flooring or you will risk having paint splattered on the new floor. Think of how you want the finished kitchen to look, from the curtains to the coffe makers.

One great way to save money is to do the work yourself. Painting is a fairly easy task that almost anyone can do. In addition to saving money, doing the work yourself is a way for your family to work together on a task, thus bringing you closer together.

However, before you decide to take on a task yourself, consider whether you have the time and the skills. If you work a 60-hour week, you will be too exhausted to install a new heating and cooling system. You also probably would not have the skills to do it right. Instead of bringing your family closer together, the irritation at not getting the work done may drive a wedge among the family. In that case it is worth the cost of hiring a contractor who will be able to get the job done quickly and correctly.

One family I know saves up their money to do their kitchen remodeling bit by bit. Every time they get $200 set aside, they consider if they are ready for another project. By tackling these projects a bit at a time, they are seeing a dramatic improvement in their kitchen.

If you plan ahead, your dream kitchen can become reality, even if you don’t have a lot of money. Why not stop dreaming and start working on it today? You’ll get there sooner than you think.

About the Author:
Chester Ebenhart routinely writes summaries on information related to quality coffee makers and brewmaster coffee maker. His writings on coffe makers are published on his website .

A Comparison of Foliage Plants Including Piggy Back and Peperomia

Published
by
Gary Antosh
on November 30, 2008
in Gardening
. 0 Comments
by Thomas Fryd

If you will be growing many plants at home, it is likely that many of them will be foliage plants. Although they are not as showy as flowering plants, they are very easy to grow, propagate easily, and can adapt to any environment where you would like to grow them.

Foliage plants are very important in any home garden because most of them continue to grow and thrive all year long, unlike seasonal plants which are only at their full beauty for several months of the year. They will add variety and visual interest which will last all year, making your garden beautiful without requiring a lot of extra effort.

There are many hundreds of common foliage plants, including thousands of hybrids and varieties to choose from. You can choose from a wide variety in terms of shape, size, leaf shape and leaf color. Many can be grown in any part of the country, and are available at any nursery.

One common foliage plant, Peperomia (specifically P. Sandersi), has been nicknamed the Watermelon Begonia because of its striped leaves, although it is not even related to Begonias. The leaves are oval-shaped, smooth, and shiny, and the stems are red and pink. It is a low growing and bushy plants. Because they are originally from the Brazilian jungle, they thrive in warm, moist climates, without drafts or wind. They like partial sun, and lots of room-temperature water and plant food. In the spring, you can grow more of this plant through stem or leaf cuttings.

Another common foliage plant, Pick-a-back Plant, is also known as the Piggy Back Plant. This unusual name comes from the fact that it grows new plants in an unusual way, from its leaves where the leaves join with the stem. The beginnings of plants will root when they touch the ground. It is originally from the West Coast, from California to Alaska. The leaves are light green and shaped like hearts, attached to the plant at the end of a long stem.

Growing new tropical Piggy Back Plants is very easy. Just place a stem with leaves into a mixture of starting soil, and it should root. Starting it in water instead of soil can even be successful. If you do start it in water, be sure to dissolve some charcoal in the water first, as this will purify it and help your new plant grow quickly. Use liquid fertilizer for Piggy Back house plants.

About the Author:
For your information there is much more on the topic of tropical house plants. Click on the link to visit http://www.plant-care.com.

Search For The Right Interior Design School

Published
by
Chad Dethelo
on November 29, 2008
in Interior Design
. 0 Comments
by Chad Dethelo

After some consideration, you may have begun to understand the potential in the interior design business. Yes, you may have always dreamed of starting your own interior design company. You should though, consider a few things prior to beginning your venture. Are you already a creative artist, or do you at present only try to redesign the interior of homes for friends and family? One of those items will be the beginning of your search for the right interior design school. There are several different types of schools for this training. You have to decide which one is going to offer you the best training in order to work in the design field. Essentially, do you have the drive to succeed or do you just want a paycheck?

If you’re already employed fulltime in another field , you will want to find a choice of schools to select from that offer flexible class schedules. Are you going to be able to work around your job? Consider your coming homework assignments carefully and how it will affect your day job. Then there is your employment schedule and your possibly rusty study habits. Considering all of this, you will want to find the right design school that is close to you. You may have difficulty finding a balance for everything, so look for a design school which is closeby.

Considering everything, you might want to be a little innovative. What about the various design schools online? Just make sure you can locate their certification on the Internet. Attending an online school is good if potential employers will look favorably upon your educational experience. When you find a brick and mortar location, and a class schedule that suits you, you still might feel that you won’t be able to accommodate everything. Attending and online school may be an excellent way to obtain your certificate or degree and start your new life. As was said earlier, just to be certain the online school is a certified institution. One of the downside’s to online learning is that numerous prospective employers will not be happy with your educational experience because as yet many have difficulty trusting the education from an online institution. Another consideration is the various pros and cons to attending either a school structure or a virtual school.

With the brick and mortar school of design, you are stuck with their schedule. Your lesson time is as scheduled and you can’t change it or do make-ups. Think about what transportation you’ll be using. If you drive a car, is your car in good shape? Will there be adequate alternate transport for you if your car is put into the shop? Maybe there is a bus route to the school. You should know that you’ll always be able to get to class no matter what.

Most online design schools, offer you greater flexibility. You’re able to login at a suitable time. You can work on your assignments fundamentally at your convenience be it creating a kitchen design or coming up with your own custom window covering ideas. The only restriction is that you participate as many times as required to get your assignments in on schedule. These arrangements are terrific for those who have commitments to family and employment.

Your decision to start your interior design business involves your family. Thoroughly discuss your intentions with your family and yes, even your acquaintances. Any decision you make will affect more people than you think. You might wish to consider those closest to you, and speak with them separately. Many times, they will cause you to think about circumstances you hadn’t yet thought of.

About the Author:
Chad Dethelo regularly writes newsletters on ideas relating to motorised window covering. His articles on custom window covering are found on his site .

Babysitting Agencies: How To Select The Right One

Published
by
Rashel Dan
on November 29, 2008
in Home Security
. 0 Comments
by Rashel Dan

Babysitting agencies are a great help. Getting a sitter from an agency will give you some assurance that procedures have been followed to ensure that you have a qualified sitter. Different agencies however have different methods and procedures. You would want to be with an agency that can source the best sitters. How do you know that you are with a good agency?

Source of Sitters

Background of Agency - Finding out about an agency’s background is a given. Your next step should be finding our exactly where they get their sitters. It would be good if an agency can get sitters from various sources. After all, this is not a question of discriminating against certain places as sources for sitters. It’s about finding out how they screen their applicants.

A good agency would typically conduct preliminary checks, investigation and screening. This includes verifying a sitters real identity and checking for past records of cases of misdemeanor. Determine how an agency conducts its checks.

Agency Requirements for Sitters

What are the agency’s requirements in accepting sitters? Are sitters required to have certificates in first aid courses? In some cases, sitter applicants aren’t required to have these certificates. This is because not every sitter would have the motivation or resources to take these courses. Some agencies however take it upon themselves to provide learning opportunities. A sitter who is well-versed in emergency response is valuable. You would want a sitter who can respond to emergencies and accidents.

Sitter Matching

They should be able to offer you a sitter who can respond specifically to your needs. Your sitter for example should be able to work well with kids who have the same ages as yours. You may also have special requirements such as sitters being able to cook as well. Find out how an agency will help you find the exact sitter that you need. Some agencies will help you interview their sitters so you can find a good match. Others will interview you personally so they can determine your needs and find a sitter who fits.

Agency Guarantees

Agencies should have some form of guarantee. Products typically have money back guarantees. Agencies on the other hand have guarantees for replacements. This is important because there will be instances when your sitter will be unable to come in. It is also quite possible that you may not be satisfied with your sitter and would like a replacement. Will your agency replace a sitter at no extra cost?

Cost

As with everything else, the price is a crucial factor. How much do you have to pay your agency for a sitter? You may have to pay an initial fee whether or not you finally decide to get a sitter from them. Some agencies have non-refundable initial fees. You then have to pay for a placement fee. This amount covers the costs for agency services include background checks. In some cases you may have to pay extra for transportation costs. Once you have your sitter, you have to pay her an agreed sum every month.

Compared to looking for a sitter yourself, you may have to spend a bit more with an agency. If you think about it though, the cost may be worth every penny. Just think about it as paying a large amount for the safety of your kids.

About the Author:
See babysitting agencies online. Get the cheapest babysitting rates today.

Product Review of the HT-7120 Massage Chair

Published
by
James Knolan
on November 28, 2008
in Furniture
. 0 Comments
by James Knolan

We are going to evaluate and review the HT-7120 massage recliner from Human Touch. Over the years, we have developed a 5 category review process to provide balance and consistency for our readers. We will review the HT 7120 in the following categories: warranty coverage and customer service, comfort and ergonomics, ease of use, key features and massage therapy. We score each category up to 20 points each and sum them up for an overall possible rating of 100 points. The Human Touch line is extensive and the HT 7120 is in the $2,000 to $3,000 price range.

Warranty Coverage and Customer Service: We start with warranty, since this is the consumer’s long term protection against the occurrence of defects in workmanship. The warranty coverage for the HT-7120 is 3 years on the structure, 1 year on parts and 90 days labor. Labor is provided for 90 days and Human Touch will cover the shipping to and from the customer during this period. There is in home technician service available, but at the customer’s expense. This is a very light warranty by industry standards. Customer service is provided by Human Touch and they are competent at diagnosing problems. We rate the warranty coverage for this recliner a 12.

Comfort and Ergonomics: Ergonomics is the science of designing products to fit your body and its associated movements. This is particularly important with massage chairs where you need to relax. The HT 7120 has a good ergonomic design and construction. It fits the body well and the adjustments are well positioned. Interestingly, you can adjust the width of the leg ottoman but it cannot be extended. We give this massage recliner an 18 for comfort and ergonomics.

Ease of Use: We are always concerned how the controls of the massage chairs are going to be with so many new features being added to these chairs. Regardless, the controls need to simple and easy to use for the users of the recliner. Human Touch has come out with a very well designed remote for the HT 7120 with a slim design. It has control buttons on two sides of the remote which is unique. The remote goes into a pocket on the chair, so there is not remote stand. The leg ottoman is flipped manually and takes some coordination. We give it a 19 in this category.

Key Features: The HT 7120 has some unique and innovative features. The calf massage width adjustment and the compression massage technique are the two key features we will point out. The leg ottoman comes with a width adjustment to better fit the feet or the calves. There are 6 different width settings to tailor to your specific needs. The compression massage emulates a sports type massage with deep tissue pressure. Two types of techniques are used which are alternating strokes and a rocking motion. The stroking spreads and applies pressure to deep muscle tissue. The rocking motion helps to loosen the spinal joints. This can help with overall posture and improve mobility. We give this massage recliner an 18 in key features.

Massage Therapy: The HT-7120 comes equipped with 3 pre-set programs, 5 manual massage programs and 3 level height controls for your back. The 3 pre-set programs are sore muscle relief, energy rejuvenate and auto-demo. The 5 manual programs are rolling, kneading, compression, percussion and vibration. There are heating elements built into the lower back or lumbar area to soothe lower back pain. There is a full body stretch mode which decompresses your spine. The feet and calves are massaged with the rotating leg ottoman. This is a therapeutic massage chair with effective massage therapy. We give the HT 7120 a 19 in massage therapy.

The overall rating we give the HT 7120 is an 86 points out of 100. We like the contemporary design of this classic massage chair recliner. The massage therapies are thorough and invigorating. We are concerned with the light warranty with this recliner. The HT 7120 comes with some advanced features and has an easy to use remote. If you are shopping for a mid range model, then the HT 7120 is a massage chair recliner worthy of your attention.

About the Author:
Learn more regarding this futuristic massage chair recliner. Read our reviews regarding Human Touch Massage Chairs. Human Touch has a large selection of massage chairs in addition to the HT-7120 Massage Chair. Peruse our other reviews.

5 Tips You Must To Know About Woodworking Projects

Published
by
Jonas Clarkson
on November 28, 2008
in Landscaping
. 0 Comments
by Jonas Clarkson

Often individuals will jump into a hobby before they even acknowledge if its for them. So to start with, the first thing you want to know before taking on a carpentry project is, that its going to suit your interests. But the fact is that,, you won’t know if you’ll enjoy it before you have even tried it, and thats a just argument.

Decide first of all that you are going to start with something smaller. Maybe a birdhouse or a planter or even a easy ornamental shelf. Nothing too flamboyant though. It may even be a superb idea to commence with a kit. This way you wont have to invest in a lot of tools while you are in this testing stage. Once you have completed your test project and found that you genuinely did love it, then you are ready to move onto bigger and better affairs, slowly though.

Now is the time to genuinely start studying about what working with wood is all about. Its time to cultivate yourself and do some exploration. You need to attain at least the fundamental principle if you wish to move forward. Plan on investing in some magazines and books. Try to purchase magazines pitched towards beginners at first, and lookout for the ones that offer free models in them as well.

The next item on your list for things to know is, what instruments are you going to require. Dont run out and buy state of the art, or top of the line instruments. These are not needed. If you have been studying your magazines, then by now you should have a sound idea what you are going to require. They no doubt gave you some sound pointers on how to select your tools. Every woodwork project will have some tool essentials, but most of these projects will commonly comply to the average wood working tools.

Before you even begin to think about starting a tricky woodworking project, read any data that came with your tools. It is wise that first and foremost you become educated and adhere to all of the safety rules and guidelines. Some very serious accidents can take place with the types of tools you will be using.

Now you are ready to start your project. Be sure that you have purchased a pattern, and preferably a easy one. If you leap into something too elaborated it could get expensive, and you could become demoralized at it not turning out exactly as good as what it could be.

Woodworking projects require the same practice as anything else that you have become accomplished in. You will gradually get better the more you do. Try and take some time to maybe take a few classes. Check out your local improvement stores and see if they offer seminars. Just make sure they are applicable to the kind of carpentry that you are doing.

If you follow these elementary guidelines, and keep reading and exploring, before you know it you will be able to class yourself as a seasoned woods craftsperson.

About the Author:
Do you want to learn how to build a shed? MyShedPlans has over 12,000 shed plans and free shed blueprints for you to download. From small birdhouses to large sheds, you’ll find what you want.

Choosing and Caring For Your New Foliage

Published
by
Gary Antosh
on November 27, 2008
in Gardening
. 0 Comments
by Kent Higgins

If you have many plants, then likely most of them will be considered foliage plants. Unlike flowering plants, they are not as showy. Instead they make up for it by growing easily and quickly, and acclimating themselves well to any environment in which they are placed.

Foliage plants are an important part of any home or garden. With very few exceptions, they grow and flourish all year long, unlike most flowering varieties. There are many hundreds of different types of foliage plants, including many hybrids and varieties, which can add interest to your garden.

Home gardeners can choose from a nearly endless range of size, shape, leaf form, and color when choosing plants. Many of these can be found in any nursery, and can be grown in any part of the country.

For example, Kangaroo Vine is recognizable through its long, narrow shiny leaves, which are heart-shaped with jagged edges. This plant grows to be three feet tall, and does best in East- or West-facing windows.

Another example, Maranta, is sometimes called the Prayer Plant. This is because of the shape of its leaves, which close up at night. It is a low plant, usually staying under a foot tall. The leaves are a beautiful green, covered with diamond-shapes spots. These spots start off purple when the leaves are young, turning brownish as they mature. These plants require a humid atmosphere, so you should spray them with water regularly, and they do best in an East or West window. They should be fertilized frequently and always kept well watered if you expect them to thrive. If you wish to grow more, they can be propagated with leaf cuttings.

Pandanus are another type of foliage plant which grows well in many climates. However, be sure to select an appropriate species, as some can grow to be fifty feet tall or more. Others have been cultivated for home growth. The popular name of Screw Pine includes both the types grown at home and those living in a natural state. These plants have sword-like leaves which grow in spirals from a common base. They are narrow and can grow up to three feet long in the houseplant variety. The leaves are dark green, with silvery or red stripes at the base. The leaves’ edges are spiny, and they have sharp points, making it a perfect outdoor plant just like the yucca plant and the Agave plant. Pandanus grow best when kept as moist as possible, so you should take care to water them often, as well as spray their leaves. Care for Pandanus state that they should be kept in partial shade although they can tolerate a warm atmosphere, and they enjoy East or West windows. Panadus can be grown by cutting off the suckers at the base and rooting them in new dirt.

As you can see, there are many choices when it comes to foliage plants. Most are easy to grow, and can provide interesting variety.

About the Author:
For more information about yucca plant care. Drop by today at http://www.plant-care.com/yucca-plant.html.

Posters Are Often Overlooked, But Add Warmth To Home

Published
by
Tyler Mcdougal
on November 27, 2008
in Interior Design
. 0 Comments
by Tyler Mcdougal

A cheap and welcome addition to any home or apartment are posters. There is a huge number of different types of posters for sale. Since they are so affordable as compared to purchasing real artwork, people can rotate them often so they do not tire of them.

Different types of posters include artist posters, movie posters like Scarface posters, panoramic posters, sports posters such as Tiger Woods posters, and also historic ones like Aztec posters.

Posters range in price from a couple of dollars all the way up to one hundred dollars for uncommon artist or photography prints. Considering how much the actual artwork would cost, this is still a good deal.

Landscapes are a favorite for many people. Breathtaking views can be added to your home. If you have been to that place, everyday the poster will remind you of the great trip that you went on. Further trips to new places might also be inspired by looking at posters.

Good posters need to be balanced in design. The eye can be drawn away if too much emphasis is put on one side or another. Be sure to consider this before you purchase a poster.

You should always go with your first impression for which poster you like best. The things we are first drawn to always are what end up purchasing. Much time can be saved when using this method.

Posters are needed to do more than just fill up space. Care should be taken picking out something that will not just be ignored. With the wide variety in the market, there is sure to be something that will be perfect for your wall.

Posters can make excellent gifts as well. You can find something to make anyone happy and the receiver will have a gift representing their favorite places or activities.

About the Author:
For amazing dragonfly prints or scarface posters, visit this site.

Teak Outdoor Garden Furniture

Published
by
Spencer Wilkins
on November 26, 2008
in Gardening
. 0 Comments
by Spencer Wilkins

There are many different types of materials from which furniture that goes outdoors in the garden can be made. Although teak is not only one of the most expensive materials from which outdoor garden furniture can be made it is also one of the most popular. In this article we look at some of the reasons why teak outdoor garden furniture is so popular.

Reason 1 - Teak wood has a large amount of rubber in its structure and this makes it naturally resistant to what the elements are likely to throw at it from wind, water, heat and frost. Also because it has its own natural oils inside the wood this makes it resistant to damage by insects as well. This is a very durable wood and can cope with all kinds of weather and won’t need much maintenance over the years.

Reason 2 - Teak wood does not actually require any type of oils or polishes to be applied to the wood unlike other furniture to keep it looking great. However, some people don’t like the color the teak turns after several years being outside so will apply a good teak oil to theirs.

However, if the teak furniture is not cared for over time the natural oils in the wood become depleted and this can lead to the surface of the furniture being damaged. Along with the surface becoming rough, cracks may appear allow the right environment in which fungus can develop. It may be several years before you feel that your teak garden furniture needs maintaining, but if you care for it properly then it will last for years to come. Below in another part of this article we look at the types of things one can do to care for teak outdoor garden furniture.

Reason 3 - Teak wood has the properties that when it comes into contact with metals it won’t cause them to rust or corrode. It is for this reason people are now coming up with garden furniture designs that allow them to combine these two materials together, so that they have some completely unique and stylish for their garden.

Reason 4 - Caring for your teak outdoor garden furniture is far simpler. All that needs to be done regularly is for it to be washed down using a scrubbing brush and some mild warm soapy water. However, if the furniture is rather large then one can opt to use a high pressure water sprayer instead.

Teak wood which has not been properly maintained and becomes weathered and mildew allowed to develop on it can only be returned to its former glory using a specialist cleaning product. These contain chemicals that will not only remove the dirt but kill off the fungus and mildew that has developed on the wood. To use them you need to be wearing a good pair of protective gloves, do the work in a space that is well ventilated and away from areas where it can do damage or where people are like to be.

After the teak has been cleaned and washed down now it needs time to dry out. To fully dry out it will take several days and only after this can the right kind of teak wood sealer be applied. Such sealers for teak outdoor garden furniture can be applied either with a foam brush or they come in a spray bottle. But both types will ensure that the wood is able to absorb enough of the sealer to provide it with the right level of protection. In one day two coats of the teak wood sealer need to be applied and after the second coat has been applied any excess needs to be removed by wiping it away with a clean cloth.

About the Author:
As you can see there are many advantage to choosing teak outdoor garden furniture instead of other materials such as plastic. You may also wish to consider purchasing a shed so you have some storage space for your furniture should it be required.

LCD tv or Plasma tv - Which is better ?

Published
by
Armadeus Cornelius
on November 26, 2008
in Home Improvement
. 0 Comments
by Armadeus Cornelius

[b]Are there any differences between the two technologies?[/b]

When it comes to flat screen TVs the two technologies LCD and Plasma look very alike with almost lifelike images and the ability to be hung on the wall. Although LCD tvs and Plasma tvs panels may look very similar in the stores, there are many differences between the two technologies.

How LCD tvs work

The LCD tv screen is a thin flat display device and is made up of a two clear panels which have many colour liquid crystal filled pixels that are arranged in arrays in between them. When a small voltage is applied to the crystals they twist or untwist repositioning themselves so that light can either pass through or it is blocked. When millions of crystals do this a picture is displayed. Very little power is used in this process. Behind the screen is a back light that illuminates the pixels and displays a colour depending on their colour (either red, blue or green), also areas of light and dark spots are displayed depending on how they are positioned. LCD devices are available in small sizes for items such as a watch up to 108 inches. Most television manufacturers produce LCD television including Hitachi, JVC, LG, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, and Toshiba.

[b]How does a Plasma screen display a picture?[/b]

A Plasma tv screen comprises of millions of tiny ‘light bulbs’ which are small glass cells filled with inert gases such as xenon and neon. These cells are lit by a current being applied to electrodes in the gas filled cell and its atoms become ‘excited’ to a plasma and emit photons of ultraviolet light. These photons in turn hit a phosphor coating which emits visible light. The colour of the visible light emitted by each cell depends on the three different coloured phosphors - green, blue and red, and can together make billions of colours when combined. As with the LCD tv screen, the millions of cells combine to form the image on the screen. Currently the only manufacturers of Plasma tvs in the UK are Samsung, Philips, LG, Panasonic, and Pioneer. Plasma tvs are available in sizes from 32 inches to 150 inches.

A comparison of the Picture quality and Performance

Screen Brightness

The picture on LCD tv screens can be brighter than Plasma tvs. Depending on where the television is located and what is being viewed will determine how this difference in screen brightness is perceived. However both Plasma tv and LCD tv screens are capable of producing brightness levels that in normal viewing conditions are in excess of what is needed.

Black Levels and the Contrast Ratio

The contrast ratio is a measure of the difference in light and dark tones that a panel can produce - generally a high ratio means greater details can be discerned. Historically LCD tv panels have had a lower contrast ratio than plasma tvs because the backlight bleeds through darkened pixels and lightens the image. Recent advances in technology have created techniques to avoid light leakage, and improvecontrast ratios so that they are more comparable with Plasma tv, but still not as good. Because each cell on a plasma tv is able to be switched off rather than blocking the light as per LCD tvs the blacks are blacker. For a television picture, the black level is very significant because black encompasses the entire spectrum of colour. Thus the deepest blacks generate the richest colours and thus more realism. Without deep black levels the colours look more ‘pastel’ like. Typically the black on an LCD tv screen is more ‘grey’ when compared to the plasma tvs black.

Colour Saturation

colour saturation is a measure, in the presence of grey shades, of colour purity or how accurate the colours are on the screen. The higher the colour saturation the more accurate the colour rendition. With blacks that aren’t as black the grey shades will be higher resulting in a lower colour saturation. Plasma offer better levels of colour saturation due to better black levels because of their ability to switch of pixels that aren’t in use, preventing diffusion of colours by stray light emissions. This results in hues and tints that are more life like colourful.

Colour Gamut

Is the breadth and amount of colours that can be displayed. The most costly models are now claiming to have colour gamut’s getting rather close to the full spectrum for plasma tv and LCD tv. In fact most plasma TVs tend to be better than most LCD tvs apart from the top of the range ones. With the cheapest LCD tv models usually offering a colour gamut that isn’t as good the higher LCD tv models. So as a rule the plasma tv has the best colour gamut.

Resolution

The screen resolution is a measure of the total pixels that makes the screen. The higher the definition, the higher the resolution and greater the detail and sharpness will be in the picture. LCD HDTVs have a resolution 1920 pixels x 1080 pixels or 1080P are, size for size, at a lower price than comparable Plasma tvs. 1080 is the vertical reolution and the P is for progressive scan because it isn’t interlaced. The best Plasma tv and LCD tvs screens above 37 inches are HDTVs with the same 1080P resolution i.e. there is no difference. At sizes of 37 inches down to 32 inches the best LCD tv screens are still 1080P set but the Plasma tvs are lower resolution HD ready 720P (1280 pixels x720 pixels) models. There aren’t any Plasma tvs smaller than 32 inches, but there are many LCD tv models.

Response Time and Refresh Rate

The combination of these two characteristics affects how a screen can handle fast moving pictures without blurring. The gauge of how quickly a screen can change when an input signal is received is the response times. In the past motion blur on LCD tvs was caused by slow response times where the pixels took too long to change state from, on to off, and back on to refresh an image. The latest models of LCD tv screens have improved pixel response times that now mean that actual response time is no longer the cause of motion blur. The main cause is now the frame rate refresh rate.

Less expensive models of Plasma televisions and LCD televisions operate at frame rates of 50 frames per second or 50hz. Recently 100hz tv models were launched on more expensive models which reduced motion blur by creating an extra middle frame which is placed in between the normal frames. This middle frame is created by advanced signal processing software that interpolates what the middle frame would look like. The addition of the middle frame results in moving images that are fluid with little, if any definition loss. Even with 100hz the best plasma tvs still out perform the best LCD tv models but by a narrowing margin because of reduced response times and 100hz and 200hz.

Viewing Angle

This is a measure of how far off axis you can view the picture before it fades. The viewing angle of a Plasma television is between 160 degrees to 180 degrees. On an LCD television the viewing angle is about 100 degrees at which point the picture dulls.

[b]The screen surface[/b]

Plasma tvs have reflective shinny screen surface which can be affected by glare depending on the viewing conditions. Lcd tvs have a matt finish which reduces glare.

[b]Screen Burn-in[/b]

For Plasma tvs With prolonged displaying of non-moving images, graphics or text, such as a menu bar, channel logo, or news scroll a permanent ghost image can be permanently burned on the screen with a darkened appearance. SO even if the image on the screen is changed or removed it can’t be removed for the rest of the plasma tvs life and is always seen as a shadow image. Regardless of how long a static image is displayed on an LCD tv they aren’t affected by burn-in. But the problem of burn-in is exaggerated and unlikely under normal viewing.

Image retention

image retention is often confused with burn-in which has similar characteristics. However image retention is a ‘ghost image’ that appears on a plasma tvs after a still picture has been displayed for an extended period of time, but then disappears when a bright new image is displayed. Or it vanishes after a few seconds. By having a ‘break in’ period of about 100 hours from new, this can be minimised. Whist watching programs during this break in period care should be taken to watch programs that don’t have any static bright images like station logos and scrolling news headlines at the bottom of the screen. Also try to watch programs that fill the whole of the screen. It recommended that during this period the brightness and the contrast is kept at about a mid level. These characteristics of image retention and burn-in have been greatly reduced by technical improvements to reduce the possibility of burn-in or image retention.

[b]Is there any difference in power consumption of LCD tvs or Plasma tvs ?[/b]

The power consumption of an LCD tv is virtually constant because they have a back light that is on all of the time. The back light can be manually adjusted but uses less power on a low setting and more power on a high setting. The modulation of the LCD tvs screen pixels takes very little power.

Because Plasma TVs charge the gas in the individual pixels to a plasma to create the light, and the more light that is required on a scene the more energy is used. So pictures with low brightness in them use less energy, and high brightness more energy i.e. the power consumption varies.

The energy requirements that are quoted for Plasma tvs are for full brightness settings. The effect of this is that lcd tvs seem to use less power than plasma tvs. But the power consumption of a plasma tv varies depending on the amount of dark and bright areas on the displayed image. Studies have found that when the viewed programs are mainly dark or on movies the amount of power consumed for plasma tvs will be lower than an lcd tv. However when the viewed programs are sports and cartoons the power consumption for plasma tvs is greater than on lcd tvs. When varied programs are viewed the power consumption is similar for LCD tvs and Plasma tvs. Future plasma tvs are going to consume less than half the amount power consumed at present.

Life expectancy of Plasma televisions

Many ‘experts’ claim that plasma tvs don’t last very long. But in reality manufactures are publishing life expectancy figures of 100000 hours, this equates to 11.5 years of non stop use. Clearly there is no reason for concern.

Conclusion

Both technologies have benefits. Plasmas tvs typically have a superior subjective picture with healthier black level, higher contrast, and superior colour rendering than LCD TVs. While LCD TVs have higher brightness, and no screen burn-in worries, and are lighter and thinner. This is not always the case sincea good LCD TV could have a better picture than an middling or poor plasma TV. But on balance I think that a plasma tv is the better option with more advantages. Ultimately you get what you pay for so spend as much as you can afford on you preferred format.

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