Plasma and LCD TVs have a lot of superficial similarities. They're both very flat and they both provide very sharp, clear images. But the technology which powers them is very different, and consumers should weigh the pros and cons carefully before deciding which one to buy.
LCDs
LCDs work by using liquid crystals contained between two panes of glass. The light from the TV shines behind them, and the crystals then filter the light through various colors to create the image.
Plasma TVs
Plasma TVs use neon-xenon gas, not dissimilar to the kind found in neon signs. The gas is contained as a liquid plasma, which is then charged with electricity and transformed into different colors to provide the image.
Why Buy LCDs?
LCD TVs run much cooler than plasma TVs, and don't cause problems at higher altitudes where the plasma can be affected. They also tend to be physically lighter, and the images they generate are brighter than plasma screens.
Why Buy Plasma TVs?
Plasma TVs are made in larger sizes than LCD TVs, at least as of this writing. Their images tend to be higher contrast as well--particularly with blacks, which are much deeper on plasma screens--and they can track motion onscreen much more accurately to boot.
In the Future
Both technologies are quite viable right now and provide many advantages over regular TVs. LCDs seem to be the wave of the future, however, and as technology improves will likely equal or surpass many of the advantages of plasma screen TVs.
Tags: many advantages, Plasma Plasma, than plasma
