Evolving TV

LCD TVs and plasma TVs are both thin and wall mountable, but you get more screen real estate for your money with a plasma TV. Plasma TVs can also achieve deeper black levels, making for more cinematic movie-watching. LCD televisions usually look brighter, however, and many can double as a computer monitor (see our separate report on LCD TV ). Most plasma TVs come in 42-inch or 50-inch sizes (measured diagonally), but smaller and larger models are available. On the other hand, LCD TVs generally measure 42 inches or less. In general, if you want a wall-mountable HDTV over 42-inches, plasma is your best bet. Another option is a rear-projection HDTV , but these are about 18-inches thick and can't mount on a wall.

The end looms for analog TV
Regardless of which technology you choose, all TVs have been affected by some recent events. Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have established a firm deadline of February 2009 for the end of analog broadcasting. That means that you'll need a television with an ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) compatible digital tuner in order to watch TV over the air with an antenna. Be aware that cable and satellite TV deliver their signals in a completely different way and are not affected by the change in over-the-air broadcasting.
As part of that ruling, Congress and the FCC are requiring that manufacturers include a digital tuner in new televisions. TVs equipped with a digital tuner need no additional equipment aside from an antenna to receive digital signals over the air. For cable subscribers, if the digital tuner is QAM-capable, you will also be able to receive non-premium, unscrambled HDTV and other digital content. (QAM is the transmission scheme cable companies use to distribute digital TV signals.) For premium programming, you will still need an external decoder, usually a cable box.
There is a loophole, however. True monitors -- displays with no built-in tuner at all -- are exempt from the ruling. This type of tuner-less plasma display works well for those who get all of their programming from cable or satellite TV (the cable or satellite box acts as the tuner) -- but they won't work for getting TV with an antenna, either now or after the switch to digital. If you subscribe to satellite or cable, however, a plasma monitor will work just fine.

While not vitally important in the past, you should make sure your new plasma television has an HDMI input. New high-definition DVD players (HD-DVD and Blu-ray) use this input, which supports High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP). This system is intended to prevent people from making copies of high-definition movies. Right now, not many people own HD-DVD or Blu-ray players, but they'll become more common in the future. In order to "future-proof" your TV, reviews say you should make sure your TV has an HDMI input even if you won't need it right away. Most plasma TVs and monitors come with an HDMI input.

Plasma TV vs. LCD TV
Plasma televisions and LCD TVs are both capable of delivering a relatively big picture within a thin case, but there are some differences between the two.
Plasma TVs are mainly available in 42-inch and 50-inch screen sizes, with some larger sizes now being introduced. If you want something smaller than 42-inches, look to LCD televisions, which come in a much wider range of sizes. In 42-inch and 50-inch sizes, plasma is usually (but not always) less expensive than LCD.
Although experts say both types of displays are getting closer, neither plasma nor LCD can yet equal the image you'd get from a conventional CRT-based HDTV. However, those TVs top out at about 34-inches, and they are both bulky and heavy. The advantage of plasma, of course, is a large, sleek screen that takes up very little space. But while they might be thin, plasma TVs are still quite heavy, often requiring professional installation (for wall mounts) and good venting to keep them from overheating. LCD TVs weigh less, but they're still cumbersome to mount on a wall.
Plasma TVs are known for their better ability to display dark colors as compared to LCD TVs. This makes them a good choice for movie watching where dark scenes are common, and it’s the reason why most reviewers say plasma is a better choice for a home theater. LCD TVs appear brighter, but they don't usually display details in shadowy areas as well. If your room is brightly lit, an LCD TV may be a better choice. Plasma TVs can sometimes look washed out in a bright room, and they often have problems with reflections. Reviewers also say that the best LCD TVs are beginning to catch up to plasma TVs in their ability to display deep blacks and good shadow detail.
Plasma TV screens have wider viewing angles than LCD flat panel televisions. That means you can sit at more of an angle and still get the best picture. With most TV technologies, including plasma TV, the picture stays the same from virtually any angle. With LCD TVs, however, sitting too far to one side will result in a loss of brightness. In addition, LCD televisions can sometimes have problems with moving images. That's because it takes longer for LCD pixels to switch color than for plasma pixels to change. However, according to reviews, that is becoming less of a problem in the latest LCD TVs.
Burn-in used to be an issue with plasma TVs. If you leave the same image on the screen too long, there is still a small risk of it being etched permanently into the screen, creating a lasting impression. Text "crawls" across the bottoms of news stations and network logos are particular problems. New technology, however, reduces the risk of burn-in and analysts at PC Magazine say that burn-in is no longer a major concern. LCD TVs have no burn-in risk.
The latest plasma televisions are estimated to last 25,000 to 35,000 hours before losing half of their brightness; the expected lifetime of LCD TVs and conventional TVs is about twice as long. However, if you use a plasma TV about eight hours a day every day, it should still last over ten years. By then, experts say, you'll probably be ready for a new TV anyway.
Altogether, for flat screens of 42-inches (measured diagonally) or larger, plasma is a good choice for many shoppers because it tends to offer a better price/size ratio, although that gap is closing. (Note, however, that 1080p plasma displays are currently far more expensive than their LCD counterparts.) On the other hand, LCD TVs are better for well-lit settings and are available in a wider range of sizes.
Virtually all plasma TVs today are HD (high definition), with screen resolutions of 1024 X 768 or 1024 X 1024 (for 42-inch TVs) or 1366 X 768 pixels (for 50-inch TVs). While that's still not quite enough to do 1080i HDTV full justice, all the models can easily handle 720p, which is the other commonly used HDTV standard. Full-resolution (1920 X 1080) plasma displays are also now becoming available.