Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Interior Design With A Plasma

One of the amazing things about plasma televisions is the multitude of options they create for interior designers. The main feature benefit of the plasma is its slim profile. When switched on, a plasma television can dominate a room, but when switched off it can become an unobtrusive wall hanging.Of the many design options, camouflage remains one of the most popular. In the living room, a plasma television can be inset in the wall and easily covered by a sliding panel to hide
the unit when not in use. That would have been impossible with a bulky CRT television. The sliding panel can hold a mounted print and act as a contributing member of the décor.

I recently saw another interesting technique used to incorporate a plasma television into a room's design inside a friend's master bedroom. The TV was mounted with a gilded
frame to cover all but the screen itself, and placed at the foot of the bed, on the wall above a dresser. The reflective nature of the powerless screen, combined with the frame to give the
appearance of a large dressing mirror. Then, with the push of a button the screen can come to life.Some designs will choose to embrace the modern style of a plasma television instead of hiding it. It's becoming common practice to wire your home more creatively, and a plasma TV
can benefit from this. With a little work, or planning curing the construction phase of your home, you can create a small alcove behind the television's mounting location. This niche can contain outlets for both power and data. The plasma screen could then be plugged in and hung with no visible wires. This simple demonstration of technology follows the worldwide embrace of all things wireless. The appearance of wireless downplays the complexity of the plasma display itself, and eliminates all distractions from the picture itself.If you buy a plasma television, take the extra time to incorporate it into your home. Blending your plasma display with a little class makes the unit itself, and not just the picture, a treat for the eyes. Adding a bit of style to the
television will make the addition to your home more interesting and impressive to all those who visit.


http://www.articlefair.com/Article/Interior-Design-With-A-Plasma/14232

HDTV: Buying Guide, Part One

There's never been a better time than now to buy a high-definition television (HDTV). Whether your primary source of television programming is local over-the-air broadcasts,
cable or digital satellite TV, you will find that there is now a wealth of high-definition programs available. If you have a standard-definition television you will also enjoy all of your widescreen-format DVDs that much more on a HDTV.And with Toshiba now shipping their first-generation HD-DVD players and Blu-Ray players coming to North America next month,
there are even more reasons why it makes sense to take the plunge and buy an HDTV.

Now that you're convinced you need to go out and buy a brand new HDTV the question is what type of unit to buy. First,you should decide what size HDTV makes sense for you. Because
HDTV's have a wider aspect ratio (16:9) compared to a standard television (4:3) you will want to choose a larger diagonal screen size for your new HDTV than you might expect. CNET has
a great guide you can check to find out the right size that meets your needs.

Now that you've chosen what size HDTV to get the next question is what type of technology you should look at. Older CRT analog televisions were all based on the same basic technology, but now you have a potentially confusing array of choices: LCD, plasma, DLP, LCoS, and D-ILA. LCD and plasma are both flat panel technologies that can be mounted on walls. If you're looking
for an HDTV less than 42 inches then LCD is probably your best choice. Plasma is a better choice for HDTVs over 42 inches, as current LCD units get very expensive in larger size formats.

I just pre-ordered the new Samsung HLS-5087W 50 inch rear projection DLP HDTV. Many believe that DLP technology offers the best price/performance in the 50 inch plus category of
HDTV today. Sony has made a large investment in LCoS technology which it brands as SRXD, while JVC brands their LCoS line D-ILA.LCoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) is most similar to DLP
(Digital Light Projection) technology, however many believe the DLP camp has made faster progress on reducing manufacturing costs to offer consumers a better price/performance ratio.
While rear projection DLP HDTVs lack the flat panel appeal of LCD and plasma units, they are much lighter and have far less depth than the CRT televisions of the past.

You've chosen the right size and technology for your new HDTV,and now you're trying to understand what is 720p versus 1080i versus 1080p. Let me help you out here - don't bother getting a 720p today. I'd recommend at least a 1080i, better yet a 1080p.My new Samsung is both 1080p input as well as output. In order to understand what all of these strange numbers mean, well,you've have to wait until my next article.


http://www.articlefair.com/Article/HDTV--Buying-Guide--Part-One/13347

Choosing a Television Set

Nowadays the problem isn’t just what to watch on TV, but the kind of TV you want to watch it with. There is just a huge variety available in the market today—

not just brands, but product categories. Here are some things to consider as you make your choice.

Direct-View televisions have amazing picture quality, while still being less expensive than flat panel types. Screens come as small as 9 inches, and as big as 40 inches—imagine how fun it would be to play the Playstation 3 on that! Because of the shape of the screen, you have a good view from nearly any angle in the room. Unfortunately, many people say that it doesn’t give quite the “immersive” experience that you can get from other types of televisions.

Rear Projection televisions also give excellent image quality, and can be considered to be better than some of the newer technologies. It has the richest and subtlest blacks, and are very very affordable. Unfortunately, they’re bulky. Some models are 30 inches deep, making it difficult to put it into a standard TV cabinet. (And because of its weight, it’s hard to move around.) And they require to be finetuned by an expert to maintain optimum image quality. Some complain that the image starts to dim when viewed from certain angles.

Microdisplays are smaller rear projection TV’s. They have very sharp images, and have no rainbow effect. But it’s difficult to watch comfortably from a short distance (some people describe it as something like watching TV through a screen door), so you need a big viewing room.

DLP rear projections have good black levels, and smooth pictures, but there’s some “noise”—sparkles in some areas of the screen—and can occasionally have rainbow effects, especially when you move your eyes quickly.

LCO’s have excellent resolutions, some as high as 1080x1920. Prices are high, too, and you may have some problems getting the really rich black colors.

Flat Panel TVs, the new big thing to hit TV, are being praised not only for their high resolution but their form factor. They can sit elegantly in a living room, almost as sleek as a sculpture, and the handy shape also means that they don’t take up valuable space (ideal for those in small city apartments). Disadvantages include burning in of static images. LCD Flat panels don’t have the burn in problem, but may be difficult to view at wide angles.

As you can probably see, choosing the right tTV for you involves many different factors. These include, of course, your budget. How much are you willing to spend on your television? Of course, prices are affected not only by the type of television, but the size. Also look at the set-up of your room. Certain types of televisions are best viewed from some angles, or have blind spots. Where is your sofa located? Where will people be seated when they watch? Consider that when you choose a model.


http://www.articlefair.com/Article/Choosing-a-Television-Set/11422

Wireless Satellite - It's Not Just For TV Anymore

As technology advanced forward, many of the things we've taken for granted for years are being reborn under the banner of wireless or wireless satellite Internet. Of course, we're talking about a lot more than just receiving the Internet from a satellite connection. Many other technologies have also obtained new life through the use of "sky birds."

Some of the most visible changes in technologies has been in communications and entertainment. Cellular telephones use satellite services to bounce signals literally around the world. Although cell phone service is typically within a 2 mile radius of a cellular tower, by using the power of stationary satellites, a signal or connection on a cell phone can be routed to wherever another cell tower can be found. This is especially good news for those people who tend to be in more remote areas.

Wireless satellite Internet is a connection to the web that's available anywhere the sky can be seen. Using a satellite to make the connection into the web holds the promise of all the web all the time, anytime. The always on no matter where you are can be a major benefit for many people. This feature is especially promising for serious followers of sports, sport teams, news, weather junkies, stock reports, etc. Imagine anytime, all the time, whenever there's a computer to be able to log into you Internet connection using wireless satellite Internet services.

Another technology that falls under the umbrella of wireless satellite Internet is the whole television genre. Companies like Direct Way and Dish Network are rapidly building infrastructure that replaces traditional antennae or cable television reception options. For about the same price as cable-TV a clear view of the southern sky will deliver crystal clear television with all popular channels.

Movies on Demand is an up and coming technology that will literally allow you to order movies to watch whenever you want. No more being tied to the start times of the networks, cable companies or even the satellite entertainment providers. All movies, whenever, all the time is the driving force behind the wave of growth in this fast paced industry.


http://www.articlefair.com/Article/Wireless-Satellite---It-s-Not-Just-For-TV-Anymore/11260

Metal Detectors and Finding them

The subject of metal detectors can start to be really perplexing but the number one thing is to try to stay with the product you first wanted to order, you should not set out looking for Bounty Hunter Lone Star Metal Detectors and end up purchasing Bounty Hunter Sharp Shooter II Metal Detectors, this can easily happen if you get sidetracked.

When you enter into any metal detector purchases it would be good to ensure that the treasure huntng source you could be buying a garrett treasure ace metal detector from gives you the feeling that getting your money back and item returns would never turn out to be a hassle, exchanging or part exchanging a minelab gp for a mint garrett electronics headset should never turn out to be a problem.

A large amount of metal detector merchants will be reliable and a small number quite average, if a person needs local electronics feedback it may very well be better to send such local sources of metal detector info a brief email, make it as uncomplicated as you can and include in your message something a lot like this "I need some info on whites metal detector coinmaster db case hip mounts or wild planet spy gear metal detectors", the contents will depend on what kind of metal detector product you are interested in.

Because of the web, access to a whole lot of metal detector knowledge can give you details on a great selection of fine products, say you want a expert item, lets say a mutoscope int reel co ny brass metal detector, you might possibly be smarter searching in a electronics or metal detector directory, these will contain specific categories so locating a Garrett GTI-1500, Rens P-3000 and even a straight rod for minelab sovereign metal detector will never turn out to be a problem.

Consider also when you search this area of electronics that you may be overloaded with a good deal of truly varied research results, such results as whites coinmaster di metal detectors and whites dd eclipse coil for dfx metal detectors might though be very relevant to your needs.

Another thing to consider when you research this area of electronics that you might very well be overrun with a large selection of truly varied search results, such items as whites classic ii metal detectors and white's eclipse dd coil for dfxmxtm metal detectors may however be fairly relevant to your necessities.

You will find treasure huntng listings are a particularly useful source of guidance concerning various items such as traveler pc stainless sand scoops and treasure hunter vision xj metal detectors, these kind of portals can be found throughout the internet.

A significant amount of metal detector merchants may very well be decent and a small number somewhat poor, if someone seeks local electronics information it may very well be better to send any local sources of metal detector guidance a brief email, make it as clear as you can and write something such as "I want some info on whites metal detector partss or white's spectrum xlt eseries metal detectors", whats in your email will depend on what sort of metal detector item you are mainly interested in.

Now if you want info on bounty hunter sharp shooter pro metal detectors it might be better to make use of a metal detector site to make contact with a metal detector specialist, if you do this you will obviously get hold of a small amount of metal detector guidance for free.



http://www.articlefair.com/Article/Metal-Detectors-and-Finding-them/9441

The Top 3 Problems With Plasma TVs

It's easy to be instantly drawn to a plasma TV screen, especially one that is displaying full HDTV programming. The visual beauty is amazing. And plasma TVs tend to be among the lower cost thin screen technologies that are available today. But there are a few problems inherent to the design and you should at least be aware of them before making a buying decision.

The first is that plasma TVs use inert gases that are illuminated to display colors on the screen. The way that this is accomplished makes for very high contrast, vivid images on the screen, but it also can be affected by high altitudes. If you live above 6,000 - 7,000 feet above sea level, you should know that plasma TVs have to work much harder to produce the same image than they would at lower altitudes. This may not cause an immediate problem, but over time the monitor wears out much faster due to the extra work load. So if you happen to live in high altitudes, just bear this in mind when buying a plasma TV.

The second problem that plasma TVs can exhibit is a susceptibility to screen burn-in. This happens whenever any static image stays on the screen for a very long time and is still faintly visible even when the image changes. It is said to have been "burned-in" to the screen, and can be very irritating to see a ghost pattern still visible as you watch TV. The easy way to avoid this problem with older plasma screens is to make sure that you don't leave the TV on when you are not watching it, and especially when pausing a video game for a very long time. Thankfully though, newer plasma screen TVs have technology built in to address this problem that subtly shifts the image to surrounding pixels as you watch and essentially keeps the image moving although your eye does not detect it.

The third plasma TV problem that we will discuss is the heat it generates as it runs. Plasma screens often cause so much heat inside the unit that manufacturers usually install a fan to cool it down while operating. This actually works very well, but on some models the noise that the fan makes can become an annoyance. So listen for this problem carefully before you buy.

None of these problems are major enough to say that you shouldn't buy a plasma screen TV, but they should be understood beforehand so you can use the equipment properly, and choose the right plasma TV when you buy.


http://www.articlefair.com/Article/The-Top-3-Problems-With-Plasma-TVs/4750

Plasma TV or LCD - Which Should You Choose?

When it comes to high quality flat screen TVs, there are a number of choices available these days and the technology is constantly improving. However, as each competing TV screen technology matures and improves, the differences between them become more difficult to detect. And so it is with the comparison between LCD and plasma TVs.

The big advantages of both kinds of TV monitors is that they are very thin, only a few inches thick. Because of that you can choose to either place them on a stand, as you have with televisions you have owned in the past, or mount them to the wall instead. They both also produce stunningly beautiful visual displays, especially when coupled with high definition television programming. But there are some subtle differences that you will want to be aware of though.

Plasma TVs have been in use for many years and they use inert gases that are illuminated to display colors on individual pixels on the screen. Their best feature is the high contrast image that they reproduce. The colors are extremely vivid and sharp and this is mostly due to the fact that plasma TVs are able to exhibit true saturated blacks, whereas other monitors, LCDs included, usually have some compromise in how much true black they display.

Plasma screens are also easily viewed from almost any angle and so if you have a wide room with seating that extends out at an angle from the front of the television set, you may want to consider this advantage, although recently many LCD TVs have been steadily improving in their accepted viewing angle.

One area that plasma TVs have historically had a disadvantage is in the amount of electricity needed to power them and how hot they run. It can cost more to run a plasma TV if you use it very regularly, and it can generate quite a bit of heat inside, enough to warrant most manufacturers making use of a fan to cool them down as they run. This is not a noticeable problem unless the fan makes noise that can be distracting. So be sure to actually view a plasma TV before buying that particular model and see if the fan noise is a problem.

Another quirk of plasma TVs is that they can be susceptible to screen burn-in, which happens when one image is left on the screen for a very long time and it then becomes "burned into" the screen so that you can still faintly see it even when another image is displayed. This can happen on some TV channels that display an image that stays in a certain part of the screen for a long time, and if you play video games, there may also be a possibility that some games can cause this problem. So ask yourself before buying how you intend to use the TV, and if you happen to view programming that may have static screen images a lot of the time, it may be wise to choose an LCD screen as it does not suffer from this problem.

LCD TVs may not produce deep contrasty images like plasma monitors do, but the colors are still very pleasing and they can also be a better choice for brightly lit rooms since their display is not as susceptible to ambient light influences. However, they can tend to get more pricey than plasma TVs once you go above the 40 inch screen size.

All in all though, either type of TV screen technology will do a great job for you. The best recommendation is before you buy, visit a local electronics retailer and view representatives from plasma screens and LCDs. Bring along your own movie that you are familiar with and look for the differences. Then choose the one that makes the most sense to you. There is no need to buy from the store as you can often save lots of money by making your purchase online instead, but by doing your homework you can make a more informed buying decision.


http://www.articlefair.com/Article/Plasma-TV-or-LCD---Which-Should-You-Choose-/4743

Should I Buy A Laptop Or A Desktop?

With the advances in computer performance technology moving forward in quantum leaps it has created some difficult questions for us, one is deciding between a laptop or a desktop.

Now, not only do we have the problem of our computers being outdated very rapidly but we also need to decide which route to take.

Let’s look at the pros and cons and identify what we will use our computer for so that we will be able to make an intelligent decision about it.

First let’s look at the laptop. Obviously the greatest benefit to a laptop that is glaringly apparent is the mobility. This allows you to always be able to take your computer with you to work, school, on vacation, etc. At the same time this portability also allows anyone else the ability to walk off with your laptop as well. If this happens, not only are you out a computer but you have also lost all the data you had on it as well so security is a concern.

Another issue is the price difference. While prices have come down, there will still be a good disparity in the price of a laptop to a comparable desktop so you have to weigh that out as well. The difference is usually $400 or $500. Do you need the mobility enough to pay the difference in price?

Another concern with purchasing a laptop is the availability of parts and how upgradeable the unit is. Don’t buy some off brand laptop that you won’t be able to buy parts for and don’t buy one that you can’t upgrade later.

A big issue for me is the size of the screen, yeah size matters. If you get a laptop with a small screen you will be aggravated, trust me. I have a 17” screen on my desktop and a 15” on my laptop and it really makes a difference. You can get a laptop with a 17” screen, it will just set you back a bit more in cash outlay.

So ask yourself these questions:

Do I mainly use my computer at home or do I need it at work or school?

Do I travel a lot?

Will I use the laptop?

Am I willing to pay more for the convenience?


http://www.articlefair.com/Article/Should-I-Buy-A-Laptop-Or-A-Desktop-/1635

Tablet PC Review - The Best Table PCs On The Market

A tablet pc is a personal computer that has a touch screen. Much lighter and more manageable in small spaces than a laptop, a tablet pc is a truly personal computer. While a built in keyboard is not standard on a tablet pc a keyboard may be plugged in if the user prefers. To enter information on a tablet pc you simply write on the screen. The tablet pc is able to read your writing based on handwriting recognition. The handwriting is stored as a graphic and can be converted to text either in real time or stored and completed after you have finished your notes. If you would prefer to be more natural, comments, notes and doodles can be left in your own handwriting. Tablet pcs use Windows XP Professional as their operating system. There are a wide variety of additional software programs available to customize a tablet pc to meet your individual needs.

Tablet pcs are lightweight and are designed for students and business people alike. With their wireless capabilities tablet pcs are great for checking emails and keeping important files and information at your fingertips.

Tablet pcs on the market

* Hewlett-Packard offers a tablet pc that comes equipped with wireless options, integrated security and an outdoor viewable display. Battery life is up to 5.5 hours and an additional travel battery can be purchased for all day use. This tablet pc comes with a three-year warranty.

* Gateway offers a full bundle tablet pc that comes with USB keyboard, dock for a desktop, and DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive. It is a slate type model and comes with Windows XP Tablet PC software. Standard battery for this tablet pc lasts at least 3 hours. With a weight of three pounds this tablet pc is perfect for students or business people on the move.

* Toshiba is marketing a dockable tablet pc that combines a notebook pc with the versatility of the tablet pc. The fully rotating screen allows viewing in either the landscape or portrait orientation. This model of tablet pc is must for adding personal notes or diagrams to presentations.


http://www.articlefair.com/Article/Tablet-PC-Review---The-Best-Table-PCs-On-The-Market/1603