What difference is between flat screen tv, plasma, hdtv, projection lcd?

Question

Try to buy a 40"+ flat panel TV, but see so many different terminology I am not familiar with, can someone explain to me? what is difference? what should I look for?
Thanks.

Answer 1

There are two basic types of flat-panel TV: LCD and Plasma. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, and you must consider what is most important to you. 40" is big for LCD, but is readily available in plasma. Here is a list of items for you to consider, but you really should look at both kinds of sets to see what you like better. If you go for plasma, Panasonic has the best reputation for quality.

Picture quality of plasma is brighter, better color, better blacks than LCD. (There is something about looking directly at glowing phosphors!)

Sharpness is the same for equivalent pixel counts. Some newer LCDs have 1080 x 1920 resolution, most plasmas still in the 720 x 1280 range.

Plasma is heavier and uses more power than flat panel LCD.

There are reports that plasmas are not as reliable or they don't last as long, but that is no longer true with the latest models. Plasma phosphors dim slowly over time (but not as fast as CRT phosphors); but direct view LCDs use flourescent lamps which also dim and eventually burn out (some are replaceable). Projection LCD sets have bulbs of limited life, but are replaceable and the lifetime is a few thousand hours of viewing.

Plasmas are subject to burn-in. A stationary image left on the screen for a long time could produce a permanent ghost image. The most risk is when viewing a lot of 4:3 ratio pictures (non-HD), which are displayed with vertical dark areas on the left and right to fill in the wide screen. There are ways to minimize this, however. many sets have a "stretch" mode which widens the picture to fill the whole screen. This could also be a problem with extended playing of video games if there is a background image that remains stationary.

Plasmas come in largers sizes, although large flat panel LCDs are coming out, but they are expensive. LCD projectors can be 70".

LCD contrast and brightness can be reduced when viewing from off-center (both flat and projector, but sets will vary).

Answer 2

Plasma - Uses electricity to excite pockets of gas to generate a colored pixel across the screen. LCD - Grid of blocks which each turn color, light shines thru. Projection: DLP - Light shines thru a color wheel onto a DMD chip (a chip with about a million mirrors that move) Which makes your picture up in the end. LCD Projection - 3 LCD chips (RED,BLUE,GREEN) Light shines thru those chips which in turn makes your picture. CRT Projection - CRT Tube projected onto screen. Old Technology The problem with LCD.. EXPENSIVE, but the BEST picture quality available. The problem with Plasma... Chance of burn in, generate alot of heat, and usually the first 2000 hours are the brightest of the TV, after that the picture brightness will gradually degrade over a period of 7-10 years. but they are cheaper than LCD's, and they will generate a more accurate color of black. The Problem with Projection... Big, Bulky, and somewhat heavy. But you will get a bigger picture for the money, they dont weight much at all (but they do weigh more than most LCD's and plasmas) And on some projection TV's you will have viewing angle problems. The problem with Projection: (all projection TV's require a new bulb around 2-3 years with normal use. Bulbs cost anywhere from $199-$399) DLP - Moving Parts... That means overall less reliability. 3LCD - None. CRT - Just really old technology. Picture is good ONLY if you watch the screen HEAD ON. Overall I would say get either a projection television (LCD or DLP) or a LCD. 1080i will be the highest resolution that your 360 will offer. No need for a 1080p television unless you have money for it. But 1080p will almost "future proof" your TV.

Answer 3

A flat screen TV is any TV with a flat screen! Dont bother getting a plasma TV. HDTV means High Definition Television, any TV with the HDTV means it is capable of displaying Hi def so everything will look sharp and crisp, Hi Def is also good if your playing video games. A Projection LCD is a projection TV that uses LiquidCrystalDisplay technology. If you wanna buy a new tv go with a LCD, that has HDTV.

Answer 4

slaps forehead on desk, repetitively...