Plasma Monitors: Large Screens, Commercial Availability

Plasma screens are not available in small sizes due to manufacturing limitations. Plasma screens are bright, have a wide colour gamut, and can be produced in fairly large sizes—up to 3.8 metres (150 inches) diagonally. Plasma screens are also heavier and more power-hungry than their LCD and LED counterparts. They are also susceptible to screen burn and are more expensive to manufacture. These factors, among others, have contributed to the decline in popularity of plasma screens, with manufacturing for the US retail market ending in 2014.

Plasma screens are fragile and susceptible to screen burn

Plasma screens are also heavy and power-hungry, making them impractical for portable devices like laptops. They require a high voltage and low gas pressure to function, and their power consumption varies greatly depending on the brightness of the displayed content. Additionally, plasma screens are not suitable for use at high altitudes due to pressure differences between the gases inside the screen and the ambient air pressure.

While plasma screens offered superior picture quality, with deeper blacks, higher contrast ratios, and wider viewing angles than LCDs, their fragility and susceptibility to screen burn ultimately contributed to their decline in popularity.

Plasma displays are power-hungry and not suitable for portable devices

Plasma screens are also heavy, fragile, and susceptible to screen burn. They are therefore not well-suited to portable devices, which are often transported and used in a variety of locations and conditions. Plasma screens are better suited to large, static displays, such as televisions or information screens in airports.

In addition to their power consumption and weight, plasma screens have other drawbacks that make them less suitable for portable devices. They are fragile and susceptible to screen burn, making them less durable than other types of screens. They also have a high minimum pixel size, which makes them unsuitable for small devices.

While plasma screens offer superior picture quality to LCD screens, with deeper blacks, higher contrast ratios, and wider viewing angles, their high power consumption and other drawbacks make them impractical for portable devices.

Plasma screens are heavy and expensive to manufacture

Plasma screens are heavy, and their weight is a significant factor in their high manufacturing cost. Plasma screens are made of glass, and the manufacturing process involves packing in many more power electronics than other screens. Plasma screens are also heavier than LCD screens, which is one reason why they fell out of favour with consumers.

The weight of plasma screens is a particular issue for portable devices, such as laptops, which use batteries as their power source. The heavier the device, the more power it will consume. Plasma screens are also heavier than CRT screens, which made them cumbersome for large screen formats.

The weight of plasma screens also makes them extremely susceptible to screen burn. They are also fragile, and even tilting them can result in damage.

Plasma screens are not ideal for close-up viewing

Plasma screens, with their larger pixel size, are not able to achieve the same level of sharpness and detail as other display technologies with smaller pixels, such as LCD or CRT. This limitation affects the overall image quality and clarity, particularly when viewed up close.

The viewing distance for a plasma screen is typically greater than that of a traditional computer monitor. Plasma screens are commonly used for televisions, where the recommended viewing distance is based on the screen size. For example, a 50-inch plasma TV is typically viewed from about 7 to 8 feet away. At this distance, the dithering effect of the pixels becomes less apparent.

Additionally, plasma screens have a minimum size limitation due to the manufacturing process. The smallest plasma screens typically available are around 32 inches in diagonal size. This larger size further contributes to the need for a greater viewing distance.

The dithering effect of plasma screens can be particularly noticeable when displaying text or fine details. For tasks such as reading or working with detailed images, a closer viewing distance is often preferred. However, the dithering effect of the pixels can make these tasks more challenging and fatiguing on the eyes.

In summary, plasma screens are not ideal for close-up viewing due to the dithering effect of their larger pixels. This limitation, along with the minimum size requirement, makes plasma screens less suitable for applications where a close viewing distance is desired or necessary.

Plasma screens are not as bright as LCD screens

The brightness of an LCD screen, on the other hand, is not impacted by these factors. LCD screens use a backlight to illuminate the display, which can be controlled to increase or decrease the brightness. This makes them a better choice for well-lit rooms, as they can fight glare from light sources more easily.

Additionally, the manufacturing process of LCD screens has improved over time, leading to increased brightness and better contrast ratios. This has further widened the gap between the brightness of plasma and LCD screens.

The lower brightness of plasma screens makes them more suitable for dimly lit or darkened rooms. They perform better in environments with less ambient light, as they are less susceptible to glare and light reflection.

It is worth noting that while plasma screens may not be as bright as LCD screens, they offer other advantages such as better contrast ratios, colour accuracy, and motion tracking. However, the lower brightness of plasma screens is a significant factor that contributes to the decline in popularity of plasma displays.

Frequently asked questions