This is a topic of conversation all over the world, from seats at the ball game, to fancy dinner parties with friends. The question never seems to get old when it comes to the great debate; Plasma or LCD? Why is it that people are so confused over this issue? Is it just the lack of knowledge surrounding the subject?

My guess is yes, we all need to know what the differences are before we make our buying decision, so here’s what you need to know…

What is a plasma television? Plasma TV’s create a picture from a gas (plasma) filled with xenon and neon atoms and millions of electrically charged atoms and electrons, that collide when you turn the power on. The energy the collision releases increases the energy level in the plasma and the neon and xenon release photons of light (similar to the way neon lights work). Plasma TVs offer large viewing areas (up to 50 inches) but are very thin. While they offer excellent picture quality, they are quite expensive and are fast becoming the popular choice for HDTV.

What is an LCD TV? Short for liquid crystal display, a type of display used in digital watches, many portable computers as well as televisions. LCD displays utilize two sheets of polarizing material with a liquid crystal solution between them. An electric current passed through the liquid causes the crystals to align so that light cannot pass through them. Each crystal, therefore, is like a shutter, either allowing light to pass through or blocking the light.

Plasma TVs have been around a little longer than LCD TVs, and their technology is a little further along. Plasma screens use a phosphor coating like tube TVs, so they have the natural color we’re used to with tube models. Plasmas have better contrast and black level performance than LCDs, and offer slightly wider viewing angles. People often describe plasma’s picture quality as richer or more “cinematic,” so it’s a great choice for a home theatre, or your main TV.

A plasma TV might be for you if:

• You want really rich, warm colors and deep blacks.
• You’ll be sitting off-axis when you watch TV or movies.
• You don’t watch a lot of TV shows or play lots of video games with static images on the screen for more than a few hours at a time.
• Your viewing room doesn’t have a lot of ambient light, or you can easily reduce the light by closing the blinds, for example.

If you’re looking at screen sizes under 40″, LCD is your only flat-panel choice. LCD looks great in a kitchen or any other room with bright lighting. LCD displays are better at resisting glare from sunlight or room lights, and they’re very bright (brighter even than plasmas). LCD is also one of the most rugged display types. Its total immunity to screen burn-in makes LCD an ideal choice if your viewing includes frequent computer or video game use. And if you leave your TV on for hours at a time tuned to a news or sports channel with a scrolling “ticker,” LCD would be a safer TV choice.

A flat-panel 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.
• Your TV room is relatively bright, or you do a lot of daytime viewing.
• There are many more 1080p LCD models than plasma — that’s the highest resolution currently available, so you’ll see a very sharp, detailed picture.
• LCD TVs are usually more energy efficient than plasma models of the same size.

Plasma Pros & Cons:

• Pros: screen’s phosphor coating creates lifelike colour that is closest to conventional tube TVs.
• Cons: vulnerable to “burn-in” although it’s less of an issue for newer models; screen tends to reflect room lights.

LCD Pros & cons:

• Pros: panels weigh less than plasma and use less energy; burn-in not an issue.
• Cons: picture slightly less natural than top plasmas.