Which is better. Plasma or LCD TV?
This is the decision I have to make for my new TV purchase. After reviewing a few sites on this topic, I now have a better understanding of both technologies and their limitations. I will just go over some of the important details.
Resolution
This is what we are all looking for when making that jump from CRT to HDTV. Where size is concerned, I found that LCD TVs offer true HD resolution (usually at 1280 x 768 pixels, sometimes more) even with small screen sizes of 15". This is an important factor if price is a concern as smaller screen size = lower price. For Plasma Tvs, you need to have at least a 42" set in order to enjoy that high definition.
Refresh rate
This is the rate which the screen refreshes. The faster this is, the more smoother movements would be. Heard that Plasma is better than LCD in this area. This is important when watching fast paced movies or sports. Images on an LCD TV screen appear blurred. But from what I read, current LCD TV sets are closing the gap with their Plasma counterparts.
Burn in or stuck pixels
Burn in normally happens when a still image is constantly displayed on the screen like in computer games. What happens is that the image is burnt into the screen and can affect the viewing of other programs. This occurs in Plasma sets and usually after a certain number of hours. Good idea to check on the burn in rate when purchasing a plasma set. LCD TVs’ do not have burn in problems but due to the number of pixels in a LCD screen, some can be dead pixels.
Other factors
Plasma TVs are heavy, consume more power, and also produce more heat than LCD TVs. I read that Plasma TVs produce brighter images with better contrast, but because they are covered with glass, they tend to reflect light in well light rooms, making LCD TVs a better choice when viewing in bright areas.
Based on the above points, I intend to look along the lines of a LCD TV as they come in smaller sizes, good resolution, less power consumption, easier installation and can be used as TV or computer monitor screen. Only problem is with refresh rates, which I doubt is noticeable. Those interested in reading more can go to cnet as there are some interesting comments there.
