Best Flat Panel TV - What Should I Look For When Choosing A Flat Panel TV For My Viewing Pleasure?

Why would anyone want a HDTV? The most obvious answer is that it is because of the picture quality of course. The picture quality is like no other which is the most important reason to pluck down your hard earned cash for one of these flat panel sets. What's interesting is that it's not the cost that concerns most people when choosing the best flat panel tv for them, but the dilemma of whether to purchase a plasma or LCD. If you're not familiar with either one it can be a daunting and confusing experience as you're determining which one will be your dream tv set.

Why is choosing between a flat panel plasma or LCD television so difficult? It really all boils down to the technology used to provide consumers with the best picture quality. In fact, you may be surprised to know that the  LCD and plasma tvs have similar features. For example, both produce beautiful crystal clear colorful images that look so real you could reach out and touch it, both sets come in similar packages, such as the flat screen case, LCDs are now being manufactured as large as the plasma screen tvs and to increase competition for your business, the large LCDs are commanding the same price as one would pay for a large plasma tv. In the past, the two most important reasons that would ordinarily influence consumers purchasing decisions, price and size, are now becoming a moot point.

Once you learn and understand the differences between LCD and plasma tvs, consumers will gain more confidence in making the right choice not only when it comes to the cost of owning a flat screen tv, but also how the technology for both sets can affect their viewing pleasure.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES?

LCD TVs

LCD tv screens and picture is typically much brighter than plasma tvs. They do not become dim when more of the screen area lights up. This does occur with plasma tvs because of power supply limitations. Because of the type of screen materials used in LCDs, it makes the screen flatter in texture which makes LCD tvs show better contrast in a brightly lit room. LCD tvs show better in an environment that is well lit which means watching tv with the lights on will get you a better picture. The lighter the room the better the picture you receive. This brightness feature of the LCD (has something to do with the contrast setting) makes it a better choice if you plan on placing it in a room with a large amount of light.

LCD TV WEAKNESSES

Motion lag in LCDs is the slight trailing or blurring that is visible when fast motion scenes are displayed on an LCD tv.  In the past, this was a problem, but since manufacturers have paid more attention to improving the response rate times on LCDs,  motion blur is barely noticeable to the human eye.

While LCDs are getting better with motion lag, the problem still persist with being able to view LCD tvs from the side. You almost have to view LCD tvs by sitting directly in front of the set. If you walk to the side of the LCD tv you will observe that the contrast goes bland and the screen colors become dull. If this is not an issue for you, the LCD is a great buy. The only thing you would have to do is choose one that has the picture quality you like.

PLASMA TVs

Plasma flat screen technology consists of thousands of individual pixel cells. Imagine that each pixel cell is like a single microscopic florescent light bulb that receive instruction from software located inside the television on a circuit board.

The rule of thumb is that plasma tvs have deeper, beautiful vivid colors, wider viewing angles and a better contrast ratio than the LCD tv. It's because the plasma screens are made of a highly reflective glass. Plasma tvs perform best in rooms that do not have a lot of light.  If you like watching tv with the lights out such as movie watching, then the plasma tv is the better choice. Don't get fooled into judging the quality of a picture by how well it shows in the store, because what you don't know is that it could change once you get get it home. 

PLASMA TV WEAKNESSES

Most people question the life span of a plasma tv. The plasma tv has about 60,000 hours which equals out to be about seven years especially if you're someone that experiences the tv often watching you as you sleep. If so, your plasma's light output will drop to half of what it was when you purchased it. However, this should not be a deal killer. You just have to be careful to turn off the tv when not in use and reduce the contrast setting to about 80 % instead of leaving it at full strength. Keep in mind that you can still continue to watch your plasma tv, it just won't be as bright as it was when you purchased it.

Another issue with plasma tvs is that they are prone to "image retention," or screen burn if an image is left on-screen for too long. Many of the newer plasma tvs have the technology built-in to them to prevent it or reduce the chance of it occurring. If you are not an avid tv watcher leaving your tv on for long periods of time like when playing video games,  if you remember to turn the tv off when it's not in use, then you won't have to worry about burn-in.

HOW TO PREVENT BURN-IN ON YOUR PLASMA TV

Burn-in, sometimes referred to permanent image retention or screen burn where an effect of an after-image appears on your plasma screen after a still picture is displayed for an extended period of time. If left unchecked, the after-image can become permanent. For the new plasma tvs, this may not be an issue. The best course of prevention is when you're setting up your plasma tv, reduce the contrast setting to about 80% (the human eye will not be able to detect the brightness level).

The second tip is to mix up what you're watching for the first 100 hours. For example, no non-stop video games or tv shows that utilize a constant image during their programs. If you see the start of burn in, change the channel and watch a different show or invest in a test DVD that has a test pattern that is a full white screen. This will help to alleviate the burn-in effect.

Plasma and LCD tvs are now comparable in price and features. LCDs instead of being confined to a smaller screen are now being manufactured up to 52 inches. The LCD tvs are usually more expensive than plasma tvs especially at the larger sizes, but keep in mind that the larger sizes may not out perform the smaller models despite their larger size and features. 

So, how do you choose the best flat panel tv? It's really a matter of personal preference, your viewing habits, and most importantly, the size of the room where your television will be located.  Here’s a short video describing the differences between the plasma and LCD tvs which may help you with your purchasing decision.