I haven't necessarily looked at plasma screens recently, but for $3500, I doubt you're going to be finding one that comes close to the resolution of the cinema display, especially the HD Cinema. Low end plasmas run a resolution comparable to that of D1 NTSC, and the nicer 50" screens run a resolution of around 1380x860 or something to that tune.
The next problem you run into is the idea that plasma screens are not designed to be workstation displays, but rather presentation displays. For example, you have a 42" plasma display that shows, and I haven't kept up with resolutions, but lets just say 860x512. The dot pitch on that thing is going to be quite noticeable when you're within a few feet of it, and it is more optimal for viewing at about seven to eight feet away, as that would be the distance to where the pixels are less noticeable. The only high resolution plasmas are the 50" displays, but they are still of a lower resolution than both Apple Cinema Displays.
Basically, you *can* do what you seek to do. You need to make sure your video card will support the resolutions the plasma in question supports. Plasma screens were designed to be just heads that accepted multiple inputs. They were also designed to be presentation displays, not workstation displays.
<strong>Would connecting to it via VGA lose me any quality?</strong><hr></blockquote>Connecting a computer to a TV is almost always a terrible idea unless you need it for displaying presentations (where fine details aren't necessary) or for testing digitally edited video (which is typically just 720x480).
It the only reason you're choosing a plasma TV is so you can share it with the computer, I think that's a bad idea. I don't have experience with connecting a plasma TV specifically, but my experience with all other kinds of TVs and projection systems is that nothing beats or even comes close to a real computer display.
Well, currently the 50" plasma screens don't even support a true HDTV resolution. You're probably going to be waiting a while if you're holding out for a 1920x1080 42" plasma display. And when and if it does ship, it's going to be expensive.
And going into it via VGA is going into it via analog means. I mean, technically, a plasma display is digital, no? So the signal will suffer from the same losses as going VGA into an LCD display.
As far as I know, Sony is the only manufacturer making a 1024x1024 Plasma display (and let's call them displays, not televisions, because they are technically displays), but the problem with running one of those is that you now have rectangular pixels, not square.
In terms of color fidelity, just like anything, you get what you pay for. NEC and Panasonic have some of the best displays, but you pay for it too. It isn't going to be as accurate as some LCDs on the market, and certainly not as accurate as some CRTs.
Of course, the underlying problem that we will keep coming back to is the idea of how far away from the display you will be seated. Why not just get a projector? A projector is cheaper, and usually has a greater flexibility in terms of supported resolutions, and certainly interfaces better with your computer.
<strong>Well, currently the 50" plasma screens don't even support a true HDTV resolution. You're probably going to be waiting a while if you're holding out for a 1920x1080 42" plasma display. And when and if it does ship, it's going to be expensive.
And going into it via VGA is going into it via analog means. I mean, technically, a plasma display is digital, no? So the signal will suffer from the same losses as going VGA into an LCD display.
As far as I know, Sony is the only manufacturer making a 1024x1024 Plasma display (and let's call them displays, not televisions, because they are technically displays), but the problem with running one of those is that you now have rectangular pixels, not square.
In terms of color fidelity, just like anything, you get what you pay for. NEC and Panasonic have some of the best displays, but you pay for it too. It isn't going to be as accurate as some LCDs on the market, and certainly not as accurate as some CRTs.
Of course, the underlying problem that we will keep coming back to is the idea of how far away from the display you will be seated. Why not just get a projector? A projector is cheaper, and usually has a greater flexibility in terms of supported resolutions, and certainly interfaces better with your computer.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I remember hearing that IBM had made a 61" plasma screen display that had 3000-somethingx2000-something resolution... (not sure of the second dimention, but the 3000-something dimension I remember clearly. I *think* this was a plasma display. Might've just been HDTV. It was a post on slashdot.org.
Comments
The next problem you run into is the idea that plasma screens are not designed to be workstation displays, but rather presentation displays. For example, you have a 42" plasma display that shows, and I haven't kept up with resolutions, but lets just say 860x512. The dot pitch on that thing is going to be quite noticeable when you're within a few feet of it, and it is more optimal for viewing at about seven to eight feet away, as that would be the distance to where the pixels are less noticeable. The only high resolution plasmas are the 50" displays, but they are still of a lower resolution than both Apple Cinema Displays.
Basically, you *can* do what you seek to do. You need to make sure your video card will support the resolutions the plasma in question supports. Plasma screens were designed to be just heads that accepted multiple inputs. They were also designed to be presentation displays, not workstation displays.
In the meantime, I believe the highest res. is @ 1024x1024 on a 42".
Would connecting to it via VGA lose me any quality?
I was thinking I could do the plasma TV instead, so I could watch TV on it also, along with cpu usage........
or bad idea?
how would you control which input got control of what was displayed? [if cpu/tv signals are both pluged in, and turned on?]
<strong>Would connecting to it via VGA lose me any quality?</strong><hr></blockquote>Connecting a computer to a TV is almost always a terrible idea unless you need it for displaying presentations (where fine details aren't necessary) or for testing digitally edited video (which is typically just 720x480).
It the only reason you're choosing a plasma TV is so you can share it with the computer, I think that's a bad idea. I don't have experience with connecting a plasma TV specifically, but my experience with all other kinds of TVs and projection systems is that nothing beats or even comes close to a real computer display.
Computers using serial output for there moniter connection. Every
computer moniter with VGA resolution can be considered High Defintion. Most Plasma TV's/Moniters have serial connections on them.
hehehe...have fun....
Here a few links for the inquiring minds out there.
<a href="http://www.planetdtv.com/Plasma_Display/Plasmadisplays.htm"; target="_blank">http://www.planetdtv.com/Plasma_Display/Plasmadisplays.htm</a>;
<a href="http://www.avdeals.com/TVHOME.HTM"; target="_blank">http://www.avdeals.com/TVHOME.HTM</a>;
<a href="http://www.eliteus.com/tek9.asp?pg=products&grp=26"; target="_blank">http://www.eliteus.com/tek9.asp?pg=products&grp=26</a>;
<a href="http://www.shopsunshine.com/Path.asp?Id=215"; target="_blank">http://www.shopsunshine.com/Path.asp?Id=215</a>;
& i would assume color reproductions on plasma would be outstanding?
obviously i have no plasma [yet] so i'm unsure of how this would all work out in the real world
And going into it via VGA is going into it via analog means. I mean, technically, a plasma display is digital, no? So the signal will suffer from the same losses as going VGA into an LCD display.
As far as I know, Sony is the only manufacturer making a 1024x1024 Plasma display (and let's call them displays, not televisions, because they are technically displays), but the problem with running one of those is that you now have rectangular pixels, not square.
In terms of color fidelity, just like anything, you get what you pay for. NEC and Panasonic have some of the best displays, but you pay for it too. It isn't going to be as accurate as some LCDs on the market, and certainly not as accurate as some CRTs.
Of course, the underlying problem that we will keep coming back to is the idea of how far away from the display you will be seated. Why not just get a projector? A projector is cheaper, and usually has a greater flexibility in terms of supported resolutions, and certainly interfaces better with your computer.
front-projector ->> noisy & it HAS to be in a dark room
plasma --->>> modern looking, unobtrusive
^^^^^^ expensive :_D
was hoping that plasma displays would be suitable for computing so I could save from not having to buy a TV [and using the plasma for both].
<strong>Well, currently the 50" plasma screens don't even support a true HDTV resolution. You're probably going to be waiting a while if you're holding out for a 1920x1080 42" plasma display. And when and if it does ship, it's going to be expensive.
And going into it via VGA is going into it via analog means. I mean, technically, a plasma display is digital, no? So the signal will suffer from the same losses as going VGA into an LCD display.
As far as I know, Sony is the only manufacturer making a 1024x1024 Plasma display (and let's call them displays, not televisions, because they are technically displays), but the problem with running one of those is that you now have rectangular pixels, not square.
In terms of color fidelity, just like anything, you get what you pay for. NEC and Panasonic have some of the best displays, but you pay for it too. It isn't going to be as accurate as some LCDs on the market, and certainly not as accurate as some CRTs.
Of course, the underlying problem that we will keep coming back to is the idea of how far away from the display you will be seated. Why not just get a projector? A projector is cheaper, and usually has a greater flexibility in terms of supported resolutions, and certainly interfaces better with your computer.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I remember hearing that IBM had made a 61" plasma screen display that had 3000-somethingx2000-something resolution... (not sure of the second dimention, but the 3000-something dimension I remember clearly. I *think* this was a plasma display. Might've just been HDTV. It was a post on slashdot.org.