Step 4: Advantages of DLP TVs

DLP TVs look cool and save space, but what are the real advantages of owning one?

First of all, it's easier to watch. DLPs are inherently brighter than other display technologies because it is a reflective device. Its higher-than-average light efficiency means that a DLP TV will perform exceedingly well under most ambient light conditions. Brightly lit rooms won't wash out the pictures on DLP televisions. DLPs can achieve deeper, more realistic shadows and blacks than other fixed-pixel display technologies because DLPs create blacks by reflecting light away from the screen. And you don't have to worry about eyestrain, since DLP TVs don't flicker the way old-fashioned TVs do.

A Note on Off-Axis Viewing & DLP Technology: One of the quirks of DLP TVs is that their viewing angles are one dimensional--i.e., horizontal. You can watch your DLP television about 70° to 75° in either direction from the center of the screen along what would be the horizontal or y-axis. This is not true of the vertical viewing axis. DLPs need to be positioned at eye level--any higher or lower makes for an awfully dim viewing experience. This is one area where flat-panel technology takes the prize for viewing flexibility. The picture is also smooth, colorful, and impeccably realistic. DLPs have none of those annoying scan lines that conventional CRT-type sets do. This owes to the fact that each pixel has its own optical equivalent in the DMD chip itself. The result is a smooth, evenly lit image across the whole display surface. Unlike the rear-projection units of yesteryear, the picture on a DLP is clear and bright all over--even at the edges.

The square micromirrors on a DMD chip are 16mm2 with 1mm gaps separating them, which translates into a fill factor approaching 90%. (By contrast, the best LCDs have fill factors of just 70%.) About 90% of the total pixel/mirror area actively reflects light when images are being displayed. This tight interpixel spacing renders individual pixels nearly invisible: There's so little "dead" or non-image-generating space between pixels that you can scarcely tell where one pixel ends and another begins. High fill factors make for higher perceived resolutions, which make for virtually seamless pictures. DLP TVs don't suffer from the "screen door" effect (a k a "pixelation"), where a faint impression of the pixel grid seems to be overlaid on the screen.

Because of the high speed with which the micromirrors on a DMD switch on and off--approximately 50,000 times per second--DLPs display moving images with ease and virtually no motion artifacts or image streaking. Which means that DLP TVs are well suited for gaming.

DLP TVs deliver strikingly clear, non-pixelated images with perfect geometry. Unlike CRTs, DLPs can display perfectly straight lines. This makes DLP monitors especially good for use with graphic-intensive software applications like PageMaker or Excel.

And, you can watch your new DLP TV right out of the box because the tuner is built-in. DLPs generally come with NTSC tuners and speakers already built-in to them, which equip them for standard-television watching. Some of the newer DLP models also include ATSC tuners for high-definition reception. Since DLP TVs don't require external tuning devices, they are ideal for situations where less is more--at least with respect to wires coming out the back of your TV (e.g., houses with small children, etc.).

Finally, these displays are multi-functional and extremely long-lived. A DLP is a television monitor, capable of displaying HDTV, standard TV, and home video. It's also a computer monitor. In fact, it can accept almost any video format. DLP TVs typically include inputs for (a) composite video, (b) S-video and component video, and (c) one or more RGB inputs from a computer. Because of the high resolution and perfect geometry of DLPs, text and graphics look especially sharp when viewed on them, which makes them one of the best solutions for displaying data and web-based content. And, of course, you can view static images like Excel spreadsheets with impunity since it is literally impossible to "burn-in" projected images onto a TV screen.

You can expect to use your DLP monitor in many capacities for many years to come. The only element of the display that suffers from wear is the light source, which can be easily replaced--without much technical assistance--to obtain "like new" performance levels. They utilize very bright light sources, such as Metal Halide or Ultra High Performance bulbs that last between 8,000 and 10,000 viewing hours. The bulbs cost about $250. All of which makes DLPs inherently reliable: Even the most committed couch potatoes won't be able to "burn out" his or her TV. This could literally be the last television you'll ever buy!

If you'd like to learn more about the reliability of Texas Instruments's DMD chip, take a look at one of its White Papers covering this topic: http://www.dlp.com/dlp_technology/images/dynamic/white_papers/135_Myth.pdf

8 Steps to Buy a DLP TV

• STEP 1: DLP Television Today
• STEP 2: DLP: Rear Projection Television for a new generation
• STEP 3: How does DLP technology work?
• STEP 4: What are the advantages of DLP displays?
• STEP 5: DLP TV purchasing considerations
• STEP 6: DLP Television placement options
• STEP 7: How and where to buy a DLP TV
• STEP 8: Find a reputable online DLP TV dealers/vendors