There’s a saying that what goes up must come down. This can be true for prices – specifically, plasma TV prices. When plasma panels first hit the scene, they were priced very high, but recently, prices have gone down. Some very large screens still cost an arm and a leg (like Samsung’s 80-inch model, which is priced at more than $120,000) but for the most part, plasma televisions have become more affordable.
One example of a low-priced plasma TV is the F42PDME, 42-inch offering from Funai Corp., a subsidiary of Japanese electronics manufacturer Funai Electric Co., Ltd. As far as plasma display panels go, this model is not bad – but it certainly can’t be ranked among the top performers when it comes to features. For one thing, the contrast ratio is a measly 500:1 – these days, 10000:1 is becoming more common. The other features are pretty much standard: VGA resolution of 852×480, brightness of 1000 cd/m2, 16.7 million colors, and wide screen format with 16:9 aspect ratio. This flat screen TV also has Natural Color Matrix technology for natural-looking colors and On-Screen Picture Control for the user to adjust the screen image (brightness, sharpness, color, and tint) to his or her liking.
At $1,599, the Funai F42PDME is a bargain compared to the offerings of more prominent brands. Sure, it may not be as cutting-edge as the latest other models out in the market. But if all you’re looking for is a decent viewing experience and the ability to claim that you’re watching your favorite shows on a plasma TV, then this model just might fit your bill.
