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note: Currency counted in US$.
LCD TVs
Like flat-panel computer displays, these thin sets have a backlight and thousands of red, green, and blue pixels that open or close to let light through, creating colorful images.
Quick take: Trendy flat screen with decent picture quality, but inch for inch, more expensive than other types of TVs.
Screen sizes: 14 to 50-plus inches.
Typical selling prices: About $1,800 for a 26-inch wide-screen HD-ready set; $2,700 for a 32-inch. Prices could drop sharply this year.
Pros: Thin and light. Can be wall-mounted. The best (generally HD sets) are capable of displaying very good, bright images. Maintain good contrast in bright lighting. No risk of burn-in of static images.
Cons: Price goes up sharply as screens get bigger. Most sets can’t display deep black or distinguish subtle shades of gray and black. Fast-moving images may blur. Image may dim as you angle away from center of screen, especially up and down. Reliability not yet known.
Plasma TVs Plasma TVs
Flat-panel, big-screen TVs with thousands of red, green, and blue pixels that are activated by "plasma"; these work somewhat like fluorescent lights, creating very bright images.
Quick take: Big, bright screens with a real wow factor, but expensive.
Screen sizes: 32 to 60-plus inches.
Typical selling prices: About $3,000 to $4,000 for a 42-inch HD-ready set. Prices could drop sharply this year.
Pros: Thin and light enough to be wall-mounted. The best (generally HD sets) are capable of displaying excellent images with high brightness and contrast and crisp detail. No limit on viewing angle. Bigger sizes are cheaper than LCD TVs of comparable size.
Cons: Shiny surface can produce annoying reflections. Brightness dims over time. Use a lot of power and generate a lot of heat. Fixed items displayed for long periods can leave ghosted image. Some sets don’t include speakers or a tuner. Reliability not yet known.
Rear-projection (CRT-based) Rear-projection (CRT-based)
Jumbo sets that beam images onto a screen from three small CRTs inside.
Quick take: The lowest-cost big screens, but they're space hogs.
Screen sizes: 40 to 60-plus inches.
Typical selling prices: $1,000 to $2,000 for a 51-inch HD-ready set.
Pros: Low price, wide selection, plentiful features. Mature technology proven to have decent reliability.
Cons: Picture quality ranks lowest overall among all TV types. Big, bulky, and heavy--more than 200 pounds for largest. Image may dim as you angle away from center of screen. Shiny surface can produce annoying reflections. Fixed items displayed for long periods can leave ghosted image.
Rear-projection microdisplays Rear-projection microdisplays
Newer, pricier big-screen sets, most of which use LCD, DLP, or LCoS technology that allow for fairly slim cabinets.
Quick take: Relative slimness makes them an attractive big-screen alternative.
Screen sizes: 42 to 60-plus inches.
Typical selling prices: $2,500 to $3,500 for a 50-inch HD-ready set.
Pros: Thinner and lighter than CRT-based siblings. Cost less than comparably sized plasma sets. No risk of burn-in of static images.
Cons: Image on some sets may dim as you angle away from center of screen. May need to replace the lamp ($300 or more) during the life of the set. Not as good as picture-tube sets for displaying deep blacks. Some DLP models suffer from rainbow effect--annoying flashes of color visible to some viewers. Reliability not yet known.