PLASMA
________________________________________________

History
The concept for plasma display panels was first conceived in July 1964 at the University of Illinois. The first displays were nothing more than points of light created in laboratory experiments. From then on, the technology was developed and improved and by the late 60's, it had become advanced enough to allow the scientists to construct geometric shapes. Further development was limited, scientists were restricted by the materials that were available, so screens were small, and image quality was low. Today the progression in high speed digital processing, materials and advance manufacturing technology, has made full color, bright plasma displays possible. Fujitsu was the first to offer a plasma television to the market. While many companies showed them at the trade fairs, only Fujitsu had them had them fully resolved.

Video - display convergence
To summarize, plasma's will do what few other televisions will - display computer signals.
They are a truly versatile display device. Fujitsu calls them convergence products. Accepting the input from virtually any video source, plasmas' are the perfect convergent visual display for numerous applications. It can display images in true 1080i and 720p HDTV as well as 480i and 480p SDTV signals, thanks to its improved 1024 x 1024 high-resolution pixel array. The PDS-4241 can also display the video output from a computer up to UXGA resolution, to display computer graphics with extraordinary clarity and color definition. most video devices accept composite and S-video as two types of signal transmission. Almost all plasma televisions will accept both inputs.

Tthere is a new standard known as component video. Some of the new DVD players offer a component video output signal in addition to composite and S-video. You will also be able to get component video signals from some satellite systems. Component offers a superior video signal.
If you are interested in optimizing video performance, and you have a video source that offers component video output, check to see which of the plasma tvs on your list are capable of accepting a component video signal. The spec sheet may say component video, or alternatively (Y, R-Y, B-Y) or YPbPr.