LCD or Plasma?

[starbuck]

which style tv would you choose?

[Herbie_Husker]

I know one thing those plasma tvs are a waste of money. The life on them is only something like 3-5 yrs.

[starbuck]

that isn't really true

[starbuck]

Which One To Buy?



Now it's time to get into the different benefits each type of flat-panel display offers so that you can make a smart purchase. Truth is, you can't go wrong either way. But there may be one or two factors listed below, based on your specific viewing habits, that will tip the scale toward one or the other.
Start With Size
Plasma displays tend to be a bit larger than LCDs, with the largest ones running between 65-71 diagonal inches. LCD panels currently top out at around 45 or 46 inches. Dimensions are almost sure to change in the coming year as manufacturers continue to roll out new models, but in general a plasma TV offers your largest size option.

Picture Quality
If you placed an LCD and a plasma display right next to each other, it would be hard to tell the difference in picture quality. Getting picky, you could say that LCD TVs have a slight resolution advantage over plasmas, particularly when viewed in a bright room (see below), but it is slight. Simply put, both look great.

Brightness & Contrast
Sitting in a completely darkened room, plasma TVs have a brightness and contrast advantage over LCD monitors. That's because with LCD panels, some of the light does not get fully blocked and appears to your eyes as a background glow instead of full black.

But in the real world where ambient light and other factors can affect the TV image, LCDs fare better. That's because plasmas tend to reflect more outside light, brightening blacks and dark colors, thereby reducing total contrast.

So just ask yourself whether you'll usually be watching TV or movies in the daytime or in the evenings, and you'll know which type wins this round. Still, both produce very high-quality images.

Burn-In
A few years ago, plasma screens sometimes had an issue with "burn-in," where images or text seemed to be lightly but permanently etched into the display panel. Recent significant developments in plasma technology have essentially eliminated the problem. LCD displays were never subject to localized image burn-in.

Lifespan
The lifespan of a TV is measured as a "half-life," or the amount of time it takes to lose half its original brightness (luminance). Every TV set, even standard CRT sets, lose brightness over time.

Manufacturers of plasma and LCD TVs generally specify a lifetime to half luminance of up to 60,000 hours, although some specific models may be lower. 60,000 hours gives you a useable life of more than 25 years if the TV is watched six hours per day. These numbers are for one light source only; on many models of both plasma and LCD, the bulb(s) can be replaced after it's dimmed, and performance restored.

Viewing Angle
Both plasma and LCD specifications often list a 160- to 170-degree viewing angle. The quality of a plasma TV image remains very high even when viewed from the side. However, the image of an LCD loses some contrast and brightness if you move away from its center. So this could be an important factor to keep in mind if you have a lot of furniture arranged around the sides of your entertainment center.

Panel Thickness
Plasma panels (screen and frame) are as thin as three inches deep, and even the largest ones don't project more than five inches from the wall. LCDs can be as thin as two inches deep, with the larger ones increasing to no more than three inches. Both types are dramatically slimmer than standard CRT sets (which can be as much as 22 inches deep or more) and can even be wall-mounted as an additional space-saving option.

Weight & Installation
Plasma displays are fairly heavy (an average 40" weighing about 70 lbs). LCD panels generally weigh about 10 to 15 percent less than plasmas, with a comparable 40" size weighing in at around 55 lbs.

Because plasmas tend to be heavier, they require more planning when mounting or positioning on a stand or in a cabinet. With either type of screen, anything larger than you feel comfortable moving or hanging on a wall is best left to professional installers.

Power Consumption
Older plasma displays used to need more power than similarly sized LCD panels under the same conditions. Recent advances in plasma technology have removed this condition, and today both types of screens use about the same amount of power.

[Monkeyhead]

Don't really feel like reading all that right now, but go with the LCD.

[one1one]

I'd go with the plasma

[oakland_raiders]

we just got a 60 inch lcd and it kicks ass..plus i do not think you can play video games on plasma tvs

[starbuck]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
Burn-In
A few years ago, plasma screens sometimes had an issue with "burn-in," where images or text seemed to be lightly but permanently etched into the display panel. Recent significant developments in plasma technology have essentially eliminated the problem. LCD displays were never subject to localized image burn-in.


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