The battle between plasma and LCD televisions was won some time ago by LCD of course; providing a comparable picture, at a lower cost, with lower energy consumption and with greater longevity. Job done you would have though then. But things are never that simple, and now we have the LED television to consider.
Initially of course, it may seem just another way for the major players in the world of TV screens to get their hands on more of our hard earned money. But it is more than this; it is a step forward and the benefits to be had are far reaching.
In essence, an LED television is just the same as the LCD that is probably sitting in your lounge right now. The difference is regards how the light emitting diodes, (LED), send the light to the screen. This is of course very complex, but in layman terms relies on backlit or sidelit, (edge), technology.
LED television technology, (light emitting diode), also allows for these lights to be controlled completely independently of each other. This allows for a greater spectrum of colors to be seen, whilst blacks are the blackest and purest yet seen by an artificial image production. And it is here that a television is really measured by the industry, (and increasingly the consumer following clever marketing in certain quarters).
This is all fantastic of course, but what are the downsides to LED television technology? Increased power? Short Lifespan? Surprisingly, the opposite of each of these is true. The technology use less energy and, just as importantly uses this energy well with minimal wastage, which in itself drives up how long the TV itself will last for. Indeed, estimates suggest they could go on indefinitely if looked after well.
They are also a great deal thinner than there predecessors. Whilst regular LCD TVs are very slim; at just mere inches, an LED television will be measured with a depth given in millimetres. Indeed, the leading manufacturers are producing units that are a mere 6mm in depth.
However, new technology does of course command a higher price; and whilst quite sizable LCD screens can now be purchased from six hundred dollars, you will not find many LED screens bigger than fifty inches for much less than two thousand five hundred. The savings on energy consumption, (estimated to be around forty percent), will offset this somewhat of course.
The price of course is easier to swallow, when you look at the bigger picture, (no pun intended), and consider the up to forty percent saving to be made on energy costs. Though this will not sit well with some of course.
However, as with any new concept, the price will be high initially, to pay for investment that the manufactures have had to spend on research and development. The price of an LED television may be out of the reach of many for the time being, but over the next few years this will come down to realistic levels. Just in time for the next advance probably!
Wayne Torres writes about led televisions and hdtv online
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