| If you ask ten random people on the street what piece | | | | better at delivering blacker blacks and whiter whites, |
| of electronic home equipment they most want to buy | | | | which translates to sharper colors over a wider |
| this year, chances are that at least 7 of them will tell | | | | viewing area in normal lighted rooms. If your room is |
| you they would love a wide screen flat panel TV. Flat | | | | large enough that some people will be viewing the |
| panel TVs offer previously unheard of levels of | | | | screen at an angle, then plasma screen televisions are |
| sharpness and clarity. Add high quality surround sound | | | | your better options. |
| to the package, and a flat panel TV becomes a pretty | | | | Picture and Action Quality |
| difficult item to pass up. | | | | If you are watching a lot of sports and action movies, |
| When it comes to specifics, though, most folks are a | | | | then plasma might again be your better choice. LCD |
| bit less certain of exactly what kind of television they | | | | screens have a slower video response time. It is not |
| want. Even the most basic choice – plasma or LCD | | | | very noticeable in most scenes, but in fast action |
| – can be confusing to an everyday consumer. One | | | | scenes like sporting events or high speed car chases |
| television ad extols the beauties and benefits of the | | | | in movies, you will see the difference. The biggest |
| latest plasma technology while the next tells you how | | | | tradeoff for the picture quality is price – LCD |
| LCD televisions represent the wave of the future. Is | | | | screens are still cheaper than plasma screens until you |
| this a VHS or Betamax moment? | | | | hit about 42 inches screen width. |
| Not exactly, say most audio-video experts. Plasma | | | | Plasma Pros and Cons |
| and LCD televisions each have their own pros and | | | | Overall, plasma television screens have a lot of things |
| cons, making them better suited in specific situations. It | | | | going for them. They have a wide viewing angle, |
| all depends on size, viewing area, the viewing | | | | better contrast for darks and light colors and a faster |
| conditions, and price. For many individuals, when all is | | | | video response time, making them more suitable for |
| said and done, it comes down to picture quality. | | | | viewing sports and action movies. In addition, |
| However, these factors may influence your decision | | | | today’s top of the line plasma televisions have a |
| when trying to decide between plasma or an LCD | | | | very high shelf life – they’re rated to run for |
| television set. | | | | about 60,000 hours before losing picture quality. |
| Size – Bigger Is Not Always Better | | | | That’s about 7 years of watching television 24 |
| If you have to fit a flat panel television into a wall | | | | hours a day, 365 days a year. In a more typical |
| space that’s less than 37 inches across, then you | | | | viewing household where the television might be on for |
| may want to go with an LCD television since current | | | | 6 or so hours a day, the plasma television that you buy |
| plasma TV technology does not allow for sizes much | | | | today will still be going strong in 27 years. |
| smaller than that. You can buy an LCD flat panel | | | | LCD Pros and Cons |
| television as small as 10 inches across and as large as | | | | LCD televisions are brighter, so they’re better for |
| 65 inches. Plasma sets, on the other hand, start at | | | | viewing in bright rooms like waiting rooms, patios and |
| about 37 inches and go up to 103 inches. And if you go | | | | kitchens. They are available in much smaller sizes than |
| much larger than 32 inches with an LCD screen, | | | | plasma televisions – as small as 10 inches. Between |
| however, you are getting into pricey territory. | | | | 32 inches and 42 inches, LCD televisions are less |
| Lighting Level | | | | expensive than plasma televisions. Because they have |
| The viewing conditions will also determine which type | | | | slower video response times, they don’t do quite |
| of set looks best in your viewing room. If you can | | | | as good a job of showing sports action and fast |
| position the television so that you can view it head on, | | | | movie action scenes. |
| LCD delivers a beautifully bright, sharp picture. If the | | | | Armed with that information, check out the various |
| room is bright, LCD is also the better choice, thanks to | | | | television options that you have. Consider where you |
| special screen coatings and the brightness of the LCD | | | | will place your new television, what size space you |
| cells. If the television is going to be located in a room | | | | have to fill and how you will watch it to help you |
| bright sunny room like a patio or kitchen, then go for | | | | decide whether a plasma screen or an LCD screen is |
| the LCD. | | | | the better choice for you. |
| On the other hand, plasma screen television are much | | | | |