Anyone who has shopped for a new TV has heard of plasma and LCD screens. If you've researched ratings for flat screens or browsed new television reviews, you've been inundated with information. So, what is the difference between the different types available? What are the advantages and drawbacks for plasmas and LCDs?

The underlying concept is the same. Both create the picture by flashing hundreds of different colored pixels between twenty to thirty times each second to give the impression that the pictures are moving. It is how this process is conducted that varies between plasma and LCD TV's.

In plasma TVs the pictures are created with little bits of gas superheated with electricity. These plasma pixels actively throw off light and so can be brighter than LCDs, making them better for daytime viewing. And because the pixels can be shut off completely, the blacks are much more black, which makes the contrast of the pictures that much greater.

In an LCD display, a light is filtered through blue, red, and green crystals, one of which is in every pixel. These crystals can be activated in response to electricity. Since they don't shine on their own, they're less likely than plasma crystals to experience "burn in," or the permanent displaying of an image that has been shown for a while. (Modern plasma screens only experience burn in after a few weeks or months of showing the same image, though.)

The potential resolution is the same in plasma televisions as in those with the liquid crystal display, which means that the image can be every bit as sharp on either. Both kinds can also be found with the complete range of high-definition resolution options available in the stores. Prices are somewhat similar, although for the largest and smallest ones, LCDs give you more value for the money.

Choosing one over the other is a matter of compromise. If you plan on using the TV partly as a computer screen, it's better to go with an LCD. If you want the brightest picture available for use in a well-lit area, you need a plasma TV. For the biggest screen possible, get the LCD as they can be used to create rear projection TVs with huge screens. For professional video work, either can do the job well.

disadvantages of each, as well as the difference between a plasma vs LCD TV?"e"eThe concept behind plasma and LCD TVs are identical. An image is divided up into many smaller pieces called pixels. In a single second, the pixels are flashed on the screen twenty to thirty times a second creating the illusion of motion.