Time can't erase all plasma TV burn-ins

By BILL HUSTED

Cox News Service

February 3, 2008

Q:  About a year ago, I bought a 42-inch plasma TV. One night I went to bed without turning off the TV. I had been watching a movie on DVD, and now there is a "blemish" midscreen that, when at its most noticeable, shows the words "PRESS PLAY TO RESUME" in flickering chartreuse.

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I wrote to the manufacturer and was told to re-set the TV to original specifications. I did and it's a little better, but [the blemish] is still there. I didn't think burning was a negative feature with plasma, but it seems at this point to be undeniable. I'm still hoping there is something that can be done. Is there?

—  David Cass

A:  The problem may fade in time. But there are no guarantees.

Burn-in happens when a static image is displayed for a long time. The constant image actually dims some of the pixels — the little dots that make up the picture. Burn-in is not a problem for LCD or DLP sets.

When it comes to plasma, here's the truth as I know it. Burn-in is only a worry in a case like yours, where a static image is on the screen for more than just an hour or two. The burn-in usually fades with time, but in many cases the image never disappears.

A DVD product claims to reverse burn-in in some instances. It uses patterns of light and images designed to even out the viewing surface of the screen. Here's a link: http://www.plasmasaver.com/burnin.html

Readers can examine the product's claims and decide for themselves. If I had the same problem, I'd see if time took care of the problem.

Q:  My USB ports no longer work. What can I do to fix the problem?

—  Lee Mailander

A:  The coward's way out (I've taken it myself) is to install a USB card if you have a free slot. It worked fine, and I paid about $35 for the USB card. Otherwise, I'd end up taking the machine to the shop. But you'll likely pay from two to three times what the USB card would cost, assuming you installed the card yourself.

Please send your questions to Bill Husted at bhusted@ajc.com. While he reads every e-mail, not all are answered. E-mails are selected for publication based on the likelihood that the answers will be of general interest.