Flat panel TV’s: A flat panel TV is a television that can hang on a wall and takes up very little space in the room. This is where the market is going. Almost every HD television under a 60” sold is a flat panel TV. In most cases you will not even spend more money on a flat panel TV in today’s market. Just remember, like automobiles and every other product. You get what you pay for. All televisions are not created equal in picture quality or build quality. Do proper research or ask a trusted professional for his/her opinion before making this large and important purchase.

Plasma:  Plasma TV’s are based on the old Tube TV technology. It is a flat version of a tube television with gas that excites the pixels instead of a vacuum. Plasma televisions are known to have the best overall picture quality due to its accurate black levels. I would have to agree. Plasma’s good points are good picture, solid black levels and a very sharp picture. It is the best price point for flat panels in larger sizes. Plasmas negatives are they are slightly heavier due to the glass, there is glare so it is not best for a room with windows on the opposite wall and they use much more power.

LCD: LCD TV’s most known application is a computer monitor. It is the same principal just larger. They tend to have a soft picture as opposed to the sharp picture of a plasma TV. This can be good or bad and is an opinion not an advantage or a disadvantage. A sharper picture is technically a better picture but some prefer the softer image. They are slightly pricier in the larger sizes. LCD’s positive features are higher resolution in smaller sizes, they weigh less, they can be viewed in a very bright room with little trouble and they consume much less power.