Read this tip to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Plasma TVs and other TV topics.
Before you buy a plasma TV, ask if you can try it in a low-light setting and a setting approximating normal home lighting. The 42" plasma television that looked stunning on the well-lit store shelf may not function quite as well under real-life conditions.
Be aware, though, that plasma televisions arrive from the factory with their settings optimized for the fluorescent-lit in-store display -- not at all the sort of lighting you're likely to have in your living room. If you do buy straight off the store shelf, spend some time with the settings -- brightness, contrast, tone -- until you get a picture that looks best to you.