| Plasma and LCD TV panels may look very similar, but | | | | LCDs also use less power than plasma screens, |
| the flat screen and thin profile is where the similarities | | | | generally saving around the 30% mark. LCDs are also |
| end. Plasma TV screens as the name suggests, uses | | | | generally lighter than similar sized plasmas, making |
| a web of tiny gas plasma cells charged by exact | | | | them easier to move around or mount on the wall. |
| electrical voltages to create a picture. LCD TV | | | | LCDs generally have a longer lifespan than plasma |
| screens (liquid crystal display) are like liquid crystal | | | | screens. This was true of earlier plasma models, that |
| pushed in the space between two close glass plates. | | | | would lose half of their brightness after around 20,000 |
| Images are created by varying the amount of | | | | hours of viewing. Later plasma TVs have upped that |
| electrical charge applied to the crystals. | | | | up to anything between 30,000 and 60,000 hours. |
| Apart from offering the best value for money, LCD | | | | LCDs, on the other hand, are guaranteed for 60,000 |
| has the edge over plasma in several other key areas. | | | | hours from the start. |
| LCDs tend to have higher resolution than plasmas of | | | | If you're in the market for a big screen television, the |
| similar size, which means more pixels on the screen. If | | | | way to go would appear to be a plasma television. At |
| you are a true high-definition referrer who is keen to | | | | the moment they are still the best for picture quality. |
| see every pixel of a high-definition image reproduced | | | | Really though it depends on your budget and with LCD |
| pixel-by-pixel then LCDs are always the way to go. | | | | TV 's being less expensive it's your preference, with |
| However, top-of-the line plasmas will also display good | | | | these small differences to consider, choose one that |
| pixel quality and content, so the choice isn't now as | | | | suits your individual needs. |
| easy as it once was. | | | | |