Editing Plasma display (section)

=== 1980s ===
[[File:Toshiba T3100 Screen Close-Up.jpg|thumb|[[Toshiba T3100]] plasma screen close-up]]

In 1983, [[IBM]] introduced a {{convert|19|in|cm|adj=on}} orange-on-black monochrome display (Model 3290 Information Panel) which was able to show up to four simultaneous [[IBM 3270]] terminal sessions.<ref name=retropaq /> By the end of the decade, orange monochrome plasma displays were used in a number of high-end [[alternating current|AC]]-powered [[portable computer]]s, such as the [[Ericsson Portable PC]] (the first use of such a display in 1985),<ref name=infoworld26>[https://books.google.com/books?id=0y4EAAAAMBAJ&dq=Ericsson+Portable+PC&pg=PA26 News:New Products:The Ericsson Portable PC], InfoWorld, 22 Apr 1985, Page 26</ref> the [[Compaq Portable 386]] (1987) and the [[IBM P75]] (1990). Plasma displays had a better contrast ratio, viewability angle, and less motion blur than the LCDs that were available at the time, and were used until the introduction of active-matrix color LCD displays in 1992.<ref name=retropaq>{{cite web |title=The chronicles of gas-plasma |url=https://www.retropaq.com/the-miracle-of-gas-plasma/ |website=Retropaq.com |date=20 October 2020 |access-date=18 December 2020 |archive-date=2 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202193817/https://www.retropaq.com/the-miracle-of-gas-plasma/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Due to heavy competition from monochrome LCDs used in laptops and the high costs of plasma display technology, in 1987 IBM planned to shut down its factory in Kingston, New York, the largest plasma plant in the world, in favor of manufacturing [[mainframe computer]]s, which would have left development to Japanese companies.<ref name="news.cnet.com">[http://news.cnet.com/Getting-a-charge-out-of-plasma-TV/2100-1041_3-6191482.html Ogg, E., "Getting a charge out of plasma TV"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103073146/http://news.cnet.com/Getting-a-charge-out-of-plasma-TV/2100-1041_3-6191482.html |date=2013-11-03 }}, CNET News, June 18, 2007, retrieved 2008-11-24.</ref> Dr. [[Larry F. Weber]], a [[University of Illinois]] ECE PhD (in plasma display research) and staff scientist working at CERL (home of the [[PLATO System]]), co-founded Plasmaco with [[Stephen Globus]] and IBM plant manager James Kehoe, and bought the plant from IBM for US$50,000. Weber stayed in Urbana as CTO until 1990, then moved to upstate New York to work at Plasmaco.