Things To Know - Choosing a television technology

Just a short time ago, there wasn't much choice when it came to buying a television – you just went to the store, chose the appropriate size, took the "tube" home and plugged it in. Nowadays, there are several kinds of TVs to choose from, and each has its own benefits. Here's a basic overview of the major technologies:

Plasma
A plasma TV is a thin, high-resolution flat panel screen. Plasma displays are bright, have a wide color range, and produce deep, true blacks. How does a plasma TV work? Its screen uses a matrix of tiny cells that are charged by precise electrical voltages to create a picture. Plasmas come in a range of sizes (Panasonic even manufactures a 103" model, the world's biggest), have a wide viewing angle, and can either be wall-mounted or placed on a stand. LCD

LCD
Like plasma TVs, LCD TVs are flat panel displays that can be wall-mounted or displayed on a stand. LCD technology works by sending varying electrical currents through a liquid crystal solution that crystallizes to form the image you see on the screen. Although prices for very large screen LCDs (bigger than 40 inches) are falling, they still tend to be more expensive than their plasma counterparts. LCDs are a good solution for smaller rooms, like an office, a guest bedroom, or even a bathroom. In smaller sizes, LCD is fast becoming the definitive replacement technology for CRT.

Rear-projection
A rear-projection television refers to a TV in which images are projected and reflected onto the screen from behind. Like plasma and LCD TVs, rear-projection TVs support the most advanced levels of High Definition on the market today, and they have flat screens that can be manufactured in very large sizes. Rear-projection TVs tend to take up more space than flat panel monitors, but with high performance and affordable prices, they're a cost-effective alternative to plasma and LCD displays. A new light source technology called LIFI, used only in Panasonic rear-projection TVs, results in an extremely long lifespan and remarkably short start-up time.

Front-projection
A front-projection television provides a viewing experience closest to being in an actual movie theater. It's a two-piece system, using a projector and a separate screen. The projector can be placed on a shelf or a coffee table, or mounted to a wall or ceiling. Front-projection systems require external components such as speakers and a TV tuner, making the total system substantially more expensive.

CRT
CRT is the display technology used in standard 4:3 TVs, and it's hardly changed since its consumer debut in the 1930s. CRT stands for "cathode ray tube," which is where the nickname "the tube" came from. CRT TVs work by sending an electron beam through a vacuum tube toward a screen coated with phosphor; images are produced when the beam strikes the surface of the screen. CRTs are relatively cheap and offer good image quality, but they're big and bulky, especially when they have a large screen.

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