Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to frits or solder glass compounds that include beads, and / or assemblies such as, for example, vacuum insulated glass (VIG) units or
plasma display panels (PDPs) including the same. In certain example embodiments, the beads may be hollow glass beads of any suitable shape (e.g., substantially spherical, substantially eye shaped, substantially oblong, substantially square shaped, etc.) with or without evacuated cavities. The inclusion of such beads in a
frit material may improve the thermal properties of the bulk fired
frit in certain example instances. Additionally, the inclusion of such beads in a
frit material may take the place of other more expensive materials in the frit, thereby reducing the costs associated with the fabrication of the assemblies.