| You know you want to buy a flat-screen TV but you | | | | Screen life is the number of hours a TV provides |
| don't know if a plasma TV or an LCD TV would be | | | | before the picture begins to fade. Plasma TVs have a |
| your best choice. | | | | screen life of about 30,000 to 60,00 hours, depending |
| This article explains the differences between plasma | | | | on the make and model, while LCD TV's have a |
| versus LCD TVs, then shows you how to get the | | | | screen life of 60,000 hours or more. |
| best price for a plasma or LCD TV. | | | | Plasma TVs are also subject to "burn in." This occurs |
| Plasma TV | | | | when a TV displays a still image long enough for a |
| A plasma TV screen consists of millions of | | | | ghost of that image to be burned into the screen. LCD |
| multi-colored gas-filled cells. When electricity passes | | | | TVs do not have this problem. |
| through the cells they light up and produce a picture. | | | | HD TV |
| Plasma TV screens have a much higher resolution | | | | Both plasma and LCD TVs display HD (high definition) |
| than tube TV screens. In fact, the picture is so clear it's | | | | signals for a sharper, more three dimensional picture. |
| almost like watching a scene through a window. | | | | LCD TVs, however, have a slightly higher resolution |
| Screen sizes range from 42" to 65" wide and are 3" | | | | (more screen pixels) then plasma TVs. |
| to 4" thick. | | | | Video Games |
| LCD TV | | | | Plasma and LCD TVs are both great for video |
| LCD (light crystal display) TV screens are made up of | | | | gaming, however because of plasma TV's tendency |
| a thin layer of liquid crystals sandwiched between two | | | | toward screen burn in, an LCD TV is the better choice |
| glass plates. When an electricity is sent through the | | | | if you play a lot of video games. |
| crystals an array of tiny multi-colored pixels light up to | | | | Portability |
| create a picture. | | | | LCD TVs are thinner and lighter than plasma TVs, |
| LCD TV screens are thinner and lighter than plasma | | | | making them easier to move and easier to mount on a |
| screens. They are the most popular screens for | | | | wall. |
| computers, and are quickly gaining popularity as TV | | | | Plasma vs LCD TV prices |
| screens. | | | | When it comes to which type of TV gives you the |
| LCD TV screens are anywhere from 1/4" to 4" thick | | | | most bang for the buck, it depends on what you're |
| and 2" to 65" wide. | | | | looking for. |
| Plasma vs. LCD Features | | | | If you're looking for a large-screen TV - 42" or larger - |
| Picture Quality | | | | plasma TVs are currently cheaper than than |
| When it comes to which type of TV screen is sharper | | | | similar-sized LCD TVs. When I recently compared |
| and shows more detail, plasma TVs have a slight | | | | prices on 42" TVs, the cheapest plasma TV was |
| edge over LCD TVs, though LCD TVs are catching | | | | $999, while the cheapest LCD TV was $1,367. |
| up. | | | | When it comes to mid-size TVs, I couldn't find plasma |
| Plasma TVs are also slightly better when it comes to | | | | TVs smaller than 42." The cheapest 32" LCD TV I |
| viewing angle - how far you can sit to one side of a | | | | found was $619, while the cheapest 27" LCD TV was |
| TV screen before picture quality is affected. | | | | $550. |
| Screen Life | | | | |