Very Nice Things

Plasma Televisions

Plasma Television Buying Guide

by: Microtek Lab Inc

Calculating the Correct Distance

In setting up the environment for your plasma TV, a primary consideration is to determine the screen size to match the floor plan or available space where the plasma will be displayed.

Plasma monitors are measured diagonally across the screen, just like any other television set. You can typically choose from the following sizes: 32″, 40″, 42″, 46″, 50″, 61″, or 63″. Bigger is not always better, and a certain distance must be maintained between the plasma TV and the viewing area for optimal viewing experience. Sitting too far away diminishes the overall impact. Sitting too close, however, could also present its own problems - as when you start seeing the screen’s “structure”; i.e., the dots or pixels that make up the plasma display.

In determining the appropriate TV size for you, you should also consider the space required to install the unit itself. When recessing a plasma display unit, allow at least 3 inches of open space at the top of the unit and adequate ventilation space of at least 2 inches behind it as well. Remember, too, that most plasma displays do not have built-in speakers, so you’ll need to allow space enough to attach speakers.

What You Can Watch on Your Plasma TV

You can choose between HDTV (High Definition TV) and EDTV (Enhanced Definition TV) for your choice of plasma display. Which type you prefer depends on the kind of material you intend to watch on the plasma.

EDTV is the perfect entry point into digital television, with a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio and an image resolution that is 200% better than today’s analog televisions. On the other hand, HDTV has up to four times the resolution and colors compared to EDTV, offering the ultimate visual and sound experience.

At present, only a limited number of programs are broadcast in true high-definition format (all major networks broadcast HD counterparts to their regular analog-signal broadcasts). In fact, if you plan to use a plasma HDTV for regular TV programming, you may be surprised to find that regular TV programming may even appear slightly worse, as the big screen exaggerates the flaws in standard TV programs. DVD images from most of the currently available DVD titles on the market today also do not fare as well on true HD plasmas. In fact, these DVD images appear better on EDTV plasma units, because the image resolution of a widescreen DVD (nominally 740 x 480) more closely matches the actual resolution (852 x 480) of the EDTV plasma display.

Why bother with a High Definition TV at all, you may ask? Because HDTV, paired with a true High-Definition or high-quality source, can produce truly stunning images. With a progressive-scan DVD player paired with, say, any of the recently released HD-DVD or forthcoming Blu-ray DVD titles (encoded in true HD format), your plasma HDTV can come to spectacular life and bring out unrivaled image quality. And as more TV programming becomes available in High-Definition format with the looming of the FCC deadline for switching to all-digital broadcasting, plasma HDTV sets will have more TV content to show. One thing’s for sure: Your HDTV won’t be obsolete anytime in the next few years.

Plasma TV

Specifications When comparing plasma TV sets, it’s important to know what to look for to make sense of the specifications you’re presented with. Below is a quick rundown on the necessary specs that you need to weigh before making that all-important purchase decision.

Resolution: Resolution is a determining factor in selecting a plasma TV. Do you want HDTV or EDTV? HDTV, with a resolution of at least 1024 x 720, is the ultimate visual and sound experience, but what is available for viewing on HD is currently restricted to a few HD channels on cable, as well as the newly emerging - and necessarily few - DVD titles from the HD-DVD and Blu-ray DVD formats. On the other hand, most of the currently available DVDs actually play better when viewed on EDTV, because the image resolution of a widescreen DVD (nominally 740 x 480) more closely matches the actual resolution (852 x 480) of the EDTV plasma display. Choosing the type of plasma TV that you want, therefore, is a question that should be considered along with the type of content you frequently watch or will be watching on your plasma.

Inputs: A plasma television should work with any existing video component with standard A/V, S-Video, or Component Video outputs. In addition, most plasma TVs have DVI or HDMI connections for use with high-definition sources. Some plasma TVs also have VGA input connections that allow them to be used as monitors for a PC. At the minimum, look for the following specifications on a plasma connection: DVI-I or DVI-D, Component, RCA or Composite, and S-Video. Take into consideration your current component set-up - such as your satellite system, cable box, DVD player, and external stereo components - and see what kind of inputs or connectors they use.

Tuner: Check your plasma to see if it is HD-ready or HD-integrated. An HD-ready plasma TV is essentially a monitor that needs an external tuner source before it can function as a TV. An HD-integrated panel has a tuner built into the set and is ready for use. If you receive your HDTV programming via cable or satellite instead of over-the-air, you may not need a tuner at all, as you will be using the set-top boxes provided by your cable/satellite service to receive HDTV programming. Check with your cable or satellite providers for more details. Some cable/satellite companies do away with set-top boxes and provide their subscribers with cable cards instead. Check with your cable/satellite provider if they provide cable cards and the cable-card type that they offer, and then check the specification on the plasma for cable card slots.

Contrast Ratio: Contrast ratio is the measurement that determines the variation between the whitest and darkest parts of the image. This is an important specification, since plasma TVs with a low contrast ratio will make dark images look muddy and gray while making light images look washed out. A good measure of contrast ratio is 1,000:1 or higher. Anything less than 1,000:1 - especially on a set that is 42″ or larger - may not provide optimal viewing experience.

Brightness: Without sufficient brightness, your image will look muddy and soft - even in a dark room. Viewing distance, screen size, and ambient room light will also affect the need for more brightness capability. A brightness rating listed at 550 cd/m2 or higher is good, but don’t get bogged down with the technical number listed. Instead, make sure that the screen is bright enough for your needs as you conduct your own visual inspection.

Panel Life: Look for a minimum of 60,000 hours of panel life in your plasma specifications. This is the rating on how long it would take before your panel has half the brightness compared to when it was new. A 60,000-hour spec translates to approximately 20 years of viewing at 8 hours per day. (This approximation may vary, depending on the source and type of content, settings, environment, and use of your plasma TV.)

Anti-burn-in/Pixel Shift: Burn-in refers to the remnants burned on to the screen after a static image has been left on the plasma for a long period of time. To minimize or prevent burn-in, determine if the plasma panel utilizes burn-in protection, such as power management settings, full-time picture or pixel shift (both vertical and horizontal) technologies, or automatic screensaver functions.

Speakers: If you plan to use an external surround sound system, you won’t need audio speakers, but most plasma TV sets include speakers that rated anywhere from 7-12 Watts Pre-amp - which is much better than that of conventional TVs and sufficient for most viewing. Check your plasma’s specifications to see if it comes with speakers and if the speakers are removable.

Universal Remote: A universal remote can take the place of having one remote, so that it controls all the various components of your TV system, such as the DVD player, audio, cable/satellite etc. If you plan on buying a universal remote, check to see if it’s supported by the plasma set of your choice to make sure the plasma accepts universal remote devices.

Power Consumption: Power consumption for plasmas range from 240 watts to over 500 watts, If you’re concerned with how much energy a plasma set may use, check its specifications to determine power consumption. Units tend to have higher wattage requirements as the screen increases. A good rule of thumb is to compare similar-sized units together; units with higher wattages tend to use inferior components as a rule.

About The Author

Microtek Lab Inc. is a consumer electronics company focused on scanners, plasma and lcd televisions, digital projectors, lcd monitors, digital cameras, home theatre equipment, and accessories. You can view their online store at http://store.microtek.com Use of this article is permitted provided that the article is used in its entirety.

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Luxury Cruise

Luxury Cruises - Debunking the Myths of Elite Cruises

by: Liz McDougall

Recently I’ve talked with some people that think that the luxury cruise market is only for the uber-rich, or star-struck contest winners that wander around Titanic-like ships with first and third classes. They worry about dress codes, fork placement, the dreaded last-day invoice, and a whole host of possible faux-pas they could make while onboard, like stumbling into the Captain’s personal brandy stash, and being thrown overboard for “bad form”.

First, let me put your mind at ease. Luxury Cruises, while being, well, luxurious, are very approachable and very affordable. The staff onboard the ships are used to folks experiencing a higher level of service, food and ambiance for the first time, and they are very happy to help you discover all there is to offer.

Here are some suggestions:

Relax and Talk to Experts.

As you prepare for your cruise, be honest with your travel planner about your concerns. The more information they know about you and what you expect, the better they can match you to the right cruise line and right ship. There are some luxury cruise lines which cater to an older crowd and so the nightlife won’t be as expansive. There are some that have added educational seminars rather than Karaoke (both are fine, by the way…) - just be sure and communicate your likes and dislikes clearly so you’re not disappointed.

Sticker Shock Averted.

Your travel planner’s motto should be, “We can work with any budget, What’s yours?”. Don’t be offended by this question; they aren’t trying to wrangle more money out of you. It helps them (and you) to weed out options which clearly won’t work - but will allow them to perhaps get some extras included by way of their relationships with the cruise lines if they have a little wiggle room. Be sure you know exactly what’s included and what’s not in the cost of your cruise fare, and consider flexibility in terms of dates, departure ports and even length of your cruise. It could be the cruise of a lifetime even if it is only a four-day, rather than a sixty-eight-day sojourn.

Shopping & Gambling Onboard

I have a confession to make. I love to play blackjack, and I especially love to play on cruise ships. I can imagine myself in a 40’s spy film being watched by some tall, dark, handsome man who buys me a drink… and… I digress. Reality is, its usually my dapper tuxedoed husband desperately trying to keep me from losing our next month’s mortgage on one hand. The point is: have a budget in advance and stick to it. Things can add up quickly when you’re shopping and gambling onboard.

Do your Research, but Validate Them Professionally

I wouldn’t make a move without a travel professional these days. I simply can’t call the Internet, although I do love to surf for ideas and research and despite the fact that I can connect with people around the globe and get first-hand information, having someone that knows me, what I like, what I dislike and can tell me without fear of offense that I would be making a terrible mistake by doing such and such. That kind of unbiased “travel therapy” is crucial today, and I appreciate it.

So, dive in. Explore the world of the uber-rich and take a luxury cruise. It may be a once-in-a-lifetime trip, but aren’t you worth it?

About The Author

Liz McDougall is the Senior Staff Writer and Cruise Review Expert for http://CruiseMatch.com, which specializes in helping travelers plan and prepare for cruises of all types. As an avid traveler, she loves to see and discuss the world with other lovers of travel.

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Golf Clubs

Golf Clubs On A Budget

by: Eoin Kane

Having the right golf clubs and accessories can turn a good golfer into an even better golfer. But it doesn’t have to cost a fortune to get the equipment you need to perform well out on the golf course. Pre-owned golf clubs can be just as good as brand new clubs – and they cost half as much!

Purchasing the right kind of golf equipment does not have to be an expensive activity. There are many golf manufacturers that empty out their inventories by selling their equipment cheap to discount stores. There is nothing wrong with the equipment, it is just that they need to move it quickly so they reduce the price and sell it in bulk to large-scale discount stores.

There are also plenty of ways to purchase pre-owned and a pre-loved golf club, through local trading newspapers and on E-bay and other used goods websites on the Internet. Pre-owned golf clubs will give you the opportunity to save you money on what can be an expensive investment in a hobby. If golf is your primary hobby, then you deserve to have the best clubs to play with because they can make all the difference to your level of performance. Callaway, Ping, Titleist and Nike pre-owned clubs give everyone the opportunity to have the name brand clubs without having to spend a fortune.

These are the brands you will want to seek out. You will usually be able to pick up a full set of clubs for less than half price if you look around. And then you too can say you own a set of the best. As an example, Ping golf clubs are known worldwide as the choice in golf clubs. Ping golf clubs have been the prized possession of many a golfer for decades but because of the price many people opt for the pre-owned Ping clubs instead. Ping is now one of the most recognizable names in golf and this is largely because they make good quality equipment. But as with all name brand golf clubs, Ping clubs can be pricey. Ping golf clubs are generally among the most expensive of all the available brands.

They do excel in performance, but that does come at a price. So how can you obtain discount Ping golf clubs so you don’t break the bank? Ping golf clubs are usually custom fit and when you buy, Ping can get the clubs that best suit your game. They have a variety of different lines that are designed for each individual and indeed each individual’s game. But this is an expensive way to kit yourself out, so it is best to search out a pre-owned or discount set of clubs if you are a golf enthusiast rather than a professional player. But how can you do this? Easy.

There are two options for purchasing discount Ping golf clubs. Firstly, you can head to your local sports warehouse where they sell name brands at discount prices or you can let your fingers do the walking and purchase a set of clubs online – either pre-owned or brand new. If you do decide to purchase Ping golf clubs, you will simply fall in love with these clubs. They are of the highest quality. They will perform for you every time. Ping golf clubs are among the best in their class. These clubs are favorites all over recreational golf courses across the world.

About The Author

Eoin Kane is the editor of a top http://www.nicegolfing.com website, and he also runs a site about http://www.mytvreviews.com

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Laptop Computers

How To Save Big Bucks On A Laptop Computer

by: John San Filippo

If you’re a bargain shopper looking to get the most bang for your buck, you’ll find no shortage of deals on the Internet.

And that’s particularly true in the fast-changing world of laptop computers, where you’ll find three bargain sources right at your fingertips:

1. Clearance Sales

Just like many brick-and-mortar retail stores, many computer manufacturer websites have clearance sections. On these web pages, you can find great deals on last year’s leftovers.

These are all new products (unless otherwise stated) and carry their original warranties. The only difference is that the price has been reduced.

Of course the manufacturers aren’t the only ones with clearance merchandise.

Major electronics and office supply retailers also include clearance sections on their websites, where you may be able to find the laptop bargain of your dreams.

2. Refurbished Laptops

Factory refurbs represent another great bargain opportunity. It works something like this:

Joe Blow buys a new laptop, but decides a week later he doesn’t like the color.
He takes it back to the store within the store’s stated return period, so the store is stuck with it.
Since they can’t sell the laptop as new, the store sends it back to the manufacturer to be “refurbished.”
The factory inspects that laptop to make sure everything works right, and then ships it out to a retailer that deals in refurbs.
The refurb retailer then sells it to you at a great discount off the original price.
Buying a refurb can literally save you hundreds.

3. Online Auctions

You can always logon to an auction website and find a great deal on a used laptop. However, beware!

Buying anything used carries with it some risk. Buying a used laptop carries more risk than most people should be willing to take.

When you buy a used laptop from a private party, you don’t get any sort of warranty beyond DOA.

DOA stands for “dead on arrival”, a common auction term that means the seller guarantees the item will work when it arrives at your house.

But what happens if your laptop dies two weeks after it arrives? You’re out of luck, that’s what.

There are enough bargains available on warrantied laptops that all but the most meager budgets should be able to avoid buying used.

Stick to clearance and refurb machines and you’ll save yourself hundreds on your next laptop computer.

Copyright (c) 2004 HowToBuyALaptop.com.

About The Author

The author, computer journalist John San Filippo, has created the definitive guide to help you navigate through the laptop jungle. Visit the site today and find out everything you need to know about laptops before you buy. Check out: http://HowToBuyALaptop.com/

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Snow Blowers

Which Snow Blower is Right For You?

by: Michael Lee

If there’s one thing people hate about winter, it’s shoveling the driveway. Clearing snow and ice from driveways and sidewalks is hard work but doing it with a snow blower will make your job much easier than shoveling.

The type of snow blower you choose will depend on whether your driveway is gravel or paved, large or small, flat or hilly, as well as the severity of your winters. Snow blowers come in three basic designs.

1. Two-Stage Gas Snow Blowers

They are larger and can clear an area faster, with clearing widths up to 30 inches, than single-stage models. Two Stage gas snow blowers have driven wheels, a snow-gathering auger, and an impeller to help disperse snow.

2. Single-Stage Gas Snow Blowers

They are smaller (21-inch clearing width for most) than two-stage models and take longer to clear a given area. Single stage gas snow blowers are lighter to push and turn, are less expensive, and store in less space that two-stage models.

They rely on a rubber-tipped auger alone to gather snow, disperse it, and help propel the machine.

3. Single-Stage Electric Snow Blowers

They are even smaller (11 to 18-inch clearing width) than single stage gas models.

Single stage electric snow blowers cost even less and are easier still to handle and store than single stage gas models.

General Rule of Thumb

For heavy annual snowfall (over 12″), you will need a larger engine to tackle the job and a larger intake area to clear more snow quickly. Two-stage models are recommended for medium (6′-12″) to heavy snow conditions, while single stage model should be sufficient for light snowfall (under 6″).

About The Author

Michael Lee is the webmaster of http://www.snowblowerguide.com A guide on snow blowers such as what to choose, where to buy, manuals, safety and maintenance etc.

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