A TV WATCHER'S DREAM
Everyone knows that plasma TVs are the coolest way to watch television. No matter which one you choose, your plasma TV will deliver a bigger and brighter picture than the largest direct-view CRT (cathode-ray tube). You may not be aware, however, that there are huge per
formance differences between panels. The Hitachi 42HDT55 retails for about twice as much as an entry-level unit. Is it worth the premium?
Hitachi’s newest plasma
harbors a number of technological features to give it better picture quality than other panels. This includes VirtualHD, which can even improve regular television signals. |  |
Forty-two-inch plasmas (measured diagonally) come in two flavors: ED and HD. No, ED is not the Bob Dole Viagra variety. It means enhanced definition and has a 480-pixel resolution (measured vertically). HD stands for high definition and must display 720 vertical pixels or higher. This panel boasts 1,024 vertical and horizontal pixels with over 2.5 times the picture detail of an ED set. Watch the image from
15 feet away or more and you won’t notice the extra pixels, but look at it from a viewing distance of six to ten feet and the additional detail makes a difference.
