I would like to weigh in on this debate. I own a Sony rear projection 43" t.v. I hate to tell you folks but it is about 6 years old ( just beyond my Circuit City extended warrenty (natch ) and the three red, blue, green lamp a.k.a. color guns, are going, going go-o-ING! I was told that the replacement lamps(guns) cost $328.per lamp. Add in 100 to 200 for a repairman to install them and we are talking about over $1100.! Hey! I only paid $1899 for it and I can get one just like it now-a-days for about the 1000! It is not worth repairing. I have a feeling that we got about the normal use out of it. Well, excuse me! I don't want to buy a new T.V. every five or six years.

The upside of owning this one was the PIP and variable audio out that I needed and used a LOT. I really got used to watching two different programs on one screen- or checking out a cd or dvd while watching a favorite program on the screen. The downside is the shortness of life of color guns(lamps) and the 43" screen is a bit small for splitting up into two picture. It does have the advantage of being able to change the size of the two pictures (split screen )

The biggest downside of the thing, though, was the characteristic of all rear projection screens- they reflect lights, bright objects, light colored - on and on. And the trouble is that its a big heavy t.v. You can't tilt it or do hardly anything else to negate the lousy images from window, doors, room lamps, and even the overhead ceiling skylight! My recommendation JUST DON'T BUY A REAR PROJECTION T.V. OF ANY SORT- even those fancy DLP's!

I have Samsung 23" LCD widescreen. I love it! It is too small for PIP so it doesn't have it (even though the manuel claims it does) but that LCD screen is the TOPS. I have it pointed down ward, right at a bedside lamp and there is NO reflection of the lamp or any other object in the room. NICE! If you study the LCD when it is "off" you can see why. Those of you who labtop computer know what I am talking about.

O-K. I know the PLASMA is a lot cheaper- especially in the larger screens but they are every bit as bad as rear projection for reflecting room objects. I kind of agree with the other gentlemen. I look for a day when you can't even buy a plasma screen. They are just not a good idea. And what does happen if you break one? I don't know, but I don't really want to find out either. I am of the understanding the the Liquid Crystal Displays are repairable. Samsung advertizes that they have lamp life of 60,000 hours. R.P's 5-6000. LCD's 50 to 60,000. Humm, duh, lets see now, which one do I want?

Lastly I don't know why that other guy is so hung up on Sony and Sharp. Go to each one of their websites and browse through the specs and features. You'll find out that NONE of the Sharp's have PIP. At least I couldn't find any. All of the Samsung LN-T's, and LN-S's (well, bigger than 23") have PIP. As best that I can tell all of the LN-S's have TWO SEPARATE TUNERS- also TWO antenna inputs. This means with a little finessing of splitters I can watch one of the lower 100 channels and one of any of the other channels coming out of the cable settop box. Two football games at once, anyone? I suggest before you buy you go to the Samsung website and compare with the others.

Hey it just the old guys opinion, I could be wrong.

Good Hunting