 Scaling
A television's video processor can match the resolution of the incoming signal to its native pixel resolution. This process is called scaling. This means that lower resolution signals will be upscaled, but the processor will downscale higher resolution signals so that they can be displayed at the TVs native resolution.
Poor scaling can result in artifacts, such as jagged edges and inconsistent detail. Results also depend on the quality of the incoming signal.
Contrast Ratio
One of the most important factors of Plasma TV is contrast ratio, or the degree of variation of the whitest and darkest parts of the image. If a Plasma TV has a low contrast ratio, dark images will look muddy and gray, while light images will look washed out.
A good LCD TV offers contrast ratio 5,000:1 or higher. Those Plasma TVs which have less than 5,000:1 contrast ratio, especially on a set that is 42-inches or larger, may not provide an optimum viewing experience.
Brightness
Your image will look muddy and soft without sufficient brightness, even in a dark room. Viewing distance, screen size, and ambient room light will affect the need for more brightness capability.
A brightness rating listed as 550 cd/m2 or higher is good, however, don't get bogged down with the technical number listed, just make sure the screen is bright enough for your needs upon your own visual inspection
Viewing Angle
Check if you can view the image on the Plasma TV from the sides as well as from the prime viewing area. Plasma TVs typically have a good side-to-side viewing angle, with many going as wide as 160 Degrees, or about 80 degrees from the center viewing spot.
If you find that the image starts to fade or becomes unviewable within 45 degrees from either side of the center viewing spot, then it may not be a good choice where you have a large group of viewers sitting in different parts of the room.
Tuner Considerations
Almost all Plasma TVs contain built-in NTSC tuners, and some also include built-in HDTV tuners for over-the-air HDTV reception. Nevertheless, some Plasma TVs are Monitors Only, which means that they require an external tuner to get any and all television signals.
However, if you receive your HDTV programming via cable or satellite, instead of over-the-air, the need for a built-in tuner is negated as you will be using the settop boxes provided by your cable/satellite service to receive HDTV programming.
Connectivity with other Devices
A Plasma television made for consumer use will operate with any existing video component having standard AV, S-Video, or component video outputs. In addition, most Plasma TVs include DVI or HDMI connections for use with high definition sources. Some Plasma TVs can be used as monitors for a PC because they have VGA input connections.
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