2 main types of flat screen panels rule the HD market at the moment: plasmas and LCDs. Although these screens are sleek, aesthetically appealing and capable of breathtaking pictures, most potential owners are still unsure of the type of flat panel TV they should get. This article will attempt to help you in choosing the right HDTV by looking at your viewing requirements.

In the past, plasmas were better than LCD TVs when it comes to sheer picture quality. That said, as LCD TVs get better as technology advances, the difference now is marginal at best. That's why to decide on whether you should get a plasma TV or LCD TV, you should look at how you're planning to use the flat screen TV.

If you plan to spend a lot of time playing console games on your new flat screen TV, you should choose an LCD rather than a plasma TV. Although not as serious a problem as it was before, plasmas are still considerably susceptible to screenburn and image retention that could be easily caused by a prolonged gaming session.

Also, LCDs are generally brighter and have a higher resolution than plasmas within the same price bracket, which make the games look more vivid and detailed, resulting in an immersive gaming experience.

You should also opt for an LCD if you're planning to use a home theater computer (HTPC) with your flat screen TV. The higher resolution of LCDs will make sure that the text on the screen are highly visible; and the enhanced brightness level (compared to plasmas) is necessary to mimic a computer monitor. Also, if you sit close to your flat screen TV you may notice pixel noise on plasmas due to the fashion the images are generated through pulse width modulation.

However, if you watch fast paced sport programs, a plasma TV should be a strong contender in your consideration. Although much improved compared to previous batches, LCDs still suffer from motion ghosting as a result of the sample-and-hold phenomenon which is inherent in the LCD technology. More advanced LCDs equipped with motion interpolation technology (100Hz and above) are better in this respect, but as the technology has not been perfected, it is usually restricted to smaller screens (less than 40-inch), and processing artifacts like shimmer and motion tearing are occasionally seen.

I know I mentioned in a previous paragraph that there's minimal difference in the picture quality of plasmas and LCDs these days, but as a general rule of thumb, the black level and gray gradation on plasmas are better than those on LCDs. So if you are a big fan of films with a lot of dark scenes (like Batman Begins and The Prestige), you should seriously opt for a plasma TV over an LCD TV.

By analyzing the way you're planning to use the flat screen TV, you can reach the correct decision on whether to buy a plasma TV or LCD TV. Happy hunting!

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