Incorporating plasma or LCD TVs into your construction plan can affect ceiling height, room size, wiring configurations and soundproofing needs.
So you've decided to start offering flat-panel displays (FPDs) as an amenity in the homes you build. Good choice, but the work is just beginning. There are a myriad of questions you must ask yourself and answer to seamlessly integrate FPDs into your homebuilding business (see sidebar).
These are just some of the key questions (and quick answers) for builders as flat-panels become more prevalent. And they are. The latest data from Quixel Research, a consumer research company, reports that the dollar value for flat televisions skyrocketed to an astounding $3.3 billion in the first three quarters of 2004. This surpasses the 2003 total value of $3 billion with Q4 (at press time) poised to be the strongest quarter yet. In the survey, flat TVs encompass products based on direct view LCD or plasma technology.
"Market growth is the big story for Q3 2004," comments Tamaryn Pratt, principal at Quixel. "Plasma dollar value increased almost 50 percent in Q3 compared to Q2, and LCD has increased a whopping 114 percent in the past 12 months."
According to the study, entitled Plasma TV Market Review and LCDTV Market Review, LCD TV sales experienced dramatic growth, particularly in the large screen sizes. LCD TV sales in the 30-inch-and-above screen size segment quadrupled in the past 12 months. Meanwhile, the survey found that the plasma market has made an impressive recovery from a soft Q2, with unit sales increasing 60 percent.
According to another study by IDC, the plasma market is expected to continue to grow to nearly 5.5 million sales by the year 2008. Specifically, the 50-inch to 55-inch category will average nearly 100 percent growth each year. The 60-inch-plus category will average 89 percent annual growth.
Flat TVs now represent 58 percent of all total advanced TV market sales. And the market is expected to continue to grow. In a nutshell, the statistics are evidence that FPDs are a product category that builders will definitely be required to meet the demands of their home buyers, just as they do for granite countertops, ceiling fans and other "hot" amenities today.
Analyzing Plasma vs. LCD When a builder determines to begin offering FPDs, he primarily has a choice between two technologies: plasma or LCD. Which is better? There is no simple answer, but instead there is a slew of characteristics to consider when presenting the options to homebuyers.
Among the traits to consider is the amount of dimming that takes place. All display technologies lose brightness over time. Many manufacturers offer plasma displays with a "half-life" up to 60,000 hours, which is equivalent to almost 20-plus years at eight hours-a-day use until the unit reaches half its original brightness. LCDs do not dim as quickly as plasmas.
Image retention is also a concern among plasmas, however, residential applications are not as susceptible as commercial applications, where a unit might be set on a specific channel all day. Any phosphor-based device is susceptible to permanent image retention. Among the precautions that can be taken are advising use of a screen saver built into the DVD player or gaming console if available. Another trick is to select plasmas that adjust aspect ratios from the set-top box or DVD player to make sure screen is filled. Some units also come with phosphor protection built into the display.
If you are a green builder, power consumption might be an issue. Plasmas definitely use more power than other display technologies, but not much. Plasma displays use as few as 260 watts in a 42-inch footprint. Based on 10-cents per kilowatt at eight hours per day for 365 days per year, a 42-inch plasma will cost a homeowner between $78 and $87 per year in electricity, compared to between $68 and $81 per year for a 40-inch LCD.
Plasmas weigh more than LCDs. On average, about 10 percent more. However, the profiles are nearly the same. Plasmas are as thin as 3 inches.
For builders in Colorado or other states with high elevations, there are now plasma displays that work at higher altitudes, including those from NEC, LG and Sony. Some plasma manufacturers have displays that operate up to 9,200 feet above sea level. In the past, the units were inoperable at high altitudes.
Lighting and viewing angle should also be considered. Plasmas are best suited for low-light conditions where the room can be darkened for optimum viewing. So a combination media room/great room with large windows or skylights that does not darken sufficiently may not be the best choice for a plasma, unless that room is equipped with automatic blinds also.
Plasmas definitely offer sharper image clarity and deeper colors than other flat panels. They also have better viewing angles, which can be a problem with LCDs. You know the experience...like when the screen on your laptop is not open all the way and the screen appears dark. So an LCD may not be the most suitable flat panel technology for an oddly shaped room in which it is likely that viewers will not be sitting directly in front of the television.
Finally, cost is a consideration between plasmas and LCDs. According to one report, several large LCD manufacturing facilities have ramped up operations in China and the costs are set to drop. In the meantime, builders should expect to pay more for plasmas than LCDs, but not much more. Depending on the size and the quality (HDTV vs. the lower resolution digital formats EDTV and SDTV), plasmas can range as low as $67 per diagonal inch. LCDs are as low as $54 per diagonal inch.
More in-depth information answering the questions builders are asking regarding the effects of flat-panel displays on home design will be presented during the seminar at the International Builders Show.