On Wed, 26 Dec 2007 12:10:03 -0600, "Ryan P."
wrote:

dgk wrote:
On Fri, 21 Dec 2007 19:49:22 -0600, "Ryan P."
wrote:

dgk wrote:

...

.
I have not, as yet, bought a big plasma (very high electric usage I
hear) TV, but my resistance is eroding. The Superbowl is fast
approaching.
.
.
I suggest a big screen LCD. Much less power consumption, for one. I
think the picture is better, and you can actually touch them without
burning your hand!


Is that correct? It's hard to find info on which uses less
electricity. I know that plasmas are very hot, but I've read that LCDs
also are hot enough to cook on. Bu then, I have no idea how much my
current CRT model uses. That gets hot also.
.
.
Out of curiosity, I asked an engineer relative about this.

His basic response: It depends what you watch on the screen. The
plasma screens are cheaper *IF* you watch a lot of darker programming
(suspense movies, for example). LCDs are cheaper *IF* you watch a lot
of bright programming (sports, for example). He said that you're
looking at maybe a $1 or $2 difference over the course of a month.

You can save more money per month by unplugging (or use a power bar)
electronic equipment when you aren't using it. He says the average
techonogeek (multiple TV's, stereo, computer, ect ect) could cut their
electric bill by about 10% by doing this.

So I guess I was wrong! It pays to know people who know things!


This is from Solar One, an arts and education center on the NYC east
side (that I happen to pass while biking in and out of Manhattan):
---------------------------------------------
In the market for a new TV? LCD screens, in general, use almost 70%
less energy than their tube counterparts. Plasma TVs use a bit more,
and rear-projection TVs used the least. But some used way more vampire
current than others. A Sharp TV set used a whopping 72w in standby
mode. Check out this CNET chart for different models.

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6475_7-6400401-3.html

--------------------------------------------

The Plasma sets do seem worse.

On the plus side, they apparently use LESS electricity than my current
CRT set, so I suppose I can feel less guilty about buying a new set.

The one that I've been looking at, a 42" Visio, appears to be pretty
good.