The Basics: Flat-Panel TVs & HDTVs

With their ultra-thin cabinets, exceptional versatility, and mind-blowing performance, big-screen plasma and LCD digital televisions offer the ultimate viewing experience. These widescreen flat-panel televisions are thin and light enough to mount on the wall, something a big-screen CRT or other projection television could only dream about. The picture of plasma and LCD screens offers exceptional resolution and detail, and these sets are usually packed with additional features to further enhance the image quality.

Almost all plasma and LCD televisions over 32 inches are HD-ready--that is, they can support high-definition programming supplied by an external HD receiver. Many have integrated HD tuners, so there is no need to add an HD set-top box to enjoy the benefits of high-definition content.

Flat-panel televisions are not just making waves in the big-screen department, as these technologically advanced monitors are also readily available in smaller sizes. As plasma monitors generally aren't made in sizes below 32 inches, virtually all flat-panel displays in this range are LCD models.

In addition to the excellent picture and functionality, these smaller flat-panel televisions can be wall-mounted and will fit into spaces traditional CRT sets cannot hope to go. Many of the larger models are HD-ready, and some even include integrated HD tuners to display high-definition content without the need for an external HD receiver. At the same time, these televisions can often pull double duty as computer monitors, which is no surprise, as LCD is the current technology of choice for viewing computer content.

So which format is better, plasma or LCD? This is a loaded question. A decision between the two often comes down to user preferences, and the differences between plasma and LCD are decreasing every year. Plasma televisions go up to screen sizes of 70 inches or more while LCD sets currently top out at around 45 to 50 inches, although as the technology matures, larger LCD televisions will appear on the marketplace. Plasmas are generally considered to have better image quality and black levels, although comparable-size LCD monitors usually have a higher resolution than their plasma counterparts. Unlike LCD, plasma monitors can suffer from burn-in due to a stationary image on the screen, such as a video game status bar or a news-channel ticker, but the risk can be lessened by a number of internal burn-in prevention functions. Plasma televisions often carry a lower price than comparable-size LCD monitors, but the cost of LCD is dropping faster than that of plasma.

It should be noted that while some sets may be called HDTV or HD-ready, they might not be able to fully display 720p or 1,080i signals, the two current broadcast HD standards. For example, an LCD television with a native resolution of 1,280X720 can handle 720p content with no conversion, but a 1,080i signal must be scaled down to fit on the screen. In addition, some sets (especially plasmas) are not technically HDTVs, but instead are EDTVs (enhanced definition TV) capable of a maximum on-screen display of 480p. True HD signals must be adapted, which costs some resolution, but the picture is still significantly better than anything that can be achieved on a standard analog set.

Both plasma and LCD monitors were prohibitively expensive to most shoppers just a few years ago, but prices have been falling quickly. With advances in technology and additional refinements in the manufacturing process, these high-end televisions are rapidly approaching the price range of a majority of consumers.

How to Shop

The universal rule when shopping for televisions is to buy as large a screen as you can afford, but the plethora of features available with large flat-panel televisions can make the price of similar-size sets vary by hundreds or even thousands of dollars. The best strategy is to determine the features you need, select an approximate dollar amount you want to spend, and research available sets.

When purchasing a plasma or LCD television (or any television, for that matter), it is essential that you try out candidate sets at an electronics store or other location. Demonstration units usually have the contrast set at maximum levels, so make sure to adjust the picture settings accordingly. It is a good idea to bring along a favorite DVD to play, as watching something you're familiar with will give you a better handle on the television's image quality.

If watching high-definition programming is high on your list, a plasma or LCD television with an integrated HD tuner is the way to go. Keep in mind that you may need to upgrade your cable or satellite service to receive HD content, or you will need to install an over-the-air HD antenna. If you are not ready for HD yet, an HD-ready set will allow you to upgrade in the future.

Important features to consider are connections such as DVI (digital visual interface) and HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface), which provide an uncompressed digital-to-digital link between a digital television and a progressive scan DVD player or external HD receiver. With a CableCARD slot and the corresponding card (supplied by the cable provider), a television can display certain cable content without the need for a cable set-top box.