If you are in the market for a big-screen TV, you can find plasma TVs right now for up to $300 less than LCD TVs of about the same size.
The Wall Street Journal said
two big manufacturers of plasma screens are getting out of the business because buyers have turned to LCD screens.
The Journal explained the implication of this:
"For consumers, that means plenty of plasma-TV bargains. Those in the market for 50-inch televisions can now find plasma TVs for $200 to $300 less than comparable LCD TVs, according to DisplaySearch, a research firm in Austin, Texas. On average, a 50-inch plasma TV now costs about $1,200, compared with an average $1,500 for a 50-inch LCD TV. That's a big price comedown for plasma TVs, which as recently as five years ago cost on average 30 percent more than LCD TVs.
"At Best Buy Co., some 42-inch plasma TVs from Samsung Electronics Co. are going for $700, down from their original price of $800. Meanwhile, Amazon.com Inc. is selling a 42-inch Panasonic Corp. plasma TV for $850, down from its original price of $1,100.
"But consumers who decide to buy a plasma TV are going against the tide. In 2008, 30 million LCD TVs were sold in North America, compared with four million plasmas, according to DisplaySearch, a trend that has been continuing over the past few years. And that gap is expected to widen."
What's the difference between LCD display and plasma display? Crutchfield.com explained that the difference has to do with viewing angles, brightness and weight:
A plasma TV might be for you if:
- You like rich, warm colors and deep black levels.
- You'll be sitting off-axis when you watch TV or movies.
- You don't watch many TV shows or play video games with static images on the screen for more than a few hours at a time. The possibility of screen burn-in still exists for plasma TVs, though it's unlikely to happen with current models.
- You're able to control the amount of light in your viewing room -- plasma screens are more likely to reflect room lights, which can be distracting.
An LCD TV might be for you if:
- You watch a lot of TV shows or play lots of video games with static images on the screen for extended periods of time, multiple days a week.
- You do a lot of daytime viewing in a room with windows lacking blinds, curtains or drapes -- most LCD screens resist glare, although some high-performance models have screens that are nearly as reflective as plasmas.
- Low power consumption is a priority -- LCD TVs are usually more energy efficient than plasma models with the same screen size.
