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Two main types of
flat panels rule the high definition market at
the moment: plasmas and LCDs. Even though these
TVs are slim, attractive and capable of
spectacular pictures, most people are still
unsure of which type of flat screen TV they
should buy. This article will attempt to help
you in making the correct decision by
considering your viewing needs.
Traditionally, plasma TVs held the advantage
over LCD TVs when it comes to sheer picture
quality. That said, as LCD TVs improve as
technology advances, the gap now is marginal at
best. To decide on whether you should purchase a
plasma TV or LCD TV, you should analyze how
you're going to use the HDTV.
If you intend to spend a lot of time playing
console games on your new HDTV, you should
choose an LCD rather than a plasma TV. Although
not as serious a problem as it was before,
plasma TVs are still considerably susceptible to
screenburn and image retention which could be
easily caused by an extended gaming session.
Moreover, LCDs tend to be brighter and boast a
higher resolution than plasma TVs within the
same price bracket, meaning that the games would
look more detailed and vivid, contributing to a
more absorbing gaming experience.
The same case applies if you're going to use a
home theater PC (HTPC) with your HDTV. The
higher resolution of LCDs will ensure that
screen text are well-formed; and the increased
brightness level (compared to plasma TVs) is
necessary in mimicking a computer monitor.
Moreover, if you sit close to your HDTV you may
detect a lot of pixel noise on plasma TVs due to
the fashion the pictures are generated through
pulse width modulation.
However, if you watch a lot of fast action
sports, a plasma TV should be a strong contender
in your consideration. While much improved
compared to previous batches, LCDs continue to
suffer from motion ghosting as a result of the
sample-and-hold phenomenon which is inevitable
in the LCD technology. More advanced LCDs
powered with frame interpolation technology
(100Hz and above) are better in this regard, but
because the technology is still in its infancy,
it is usually limited to smaller screens (less
than 40-inch), and side effects like shimmer and
frame breaking are occasionally introduced.
I know I said in a previous paragraph that
there's minimal difference in the picture
quality of plasmas and LCDs nowadays, but as a
general rule of thumb, the blacks and shadow
detail on plasma TVs are better than those on
LCDs. So if you're an avid fan of movies with
lots of dark scenes (like Batman Begins and The
Prestige), you should seriously opt for a plasma
TV over an LCD TV.
By examining the way you're going to use the
HDTV, you're more likely to reach the right
decision on whether to purchase a plasma TV or
LCD TV. Good luck!
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