LCD TVs
design: the truly flat TV. LCD flat-panel displays typically measure around 3" in depth, and are lightweight enough to be mounted on a wall (although they also look mighty sleek on the artsy stands designed to display them on tabletops). LCD is a transmissive technology (as opposed to reflective technologies like DLP and LCOS). Its light engine streams high-intensity white light (provided by a series of flourescent tubes woven behind the screen surface) through tiny cells filled with a liquid crystal material. Each pixel has three such cells — one each for red, green and blue components of the signal. When an electrical charge is applied to the liquid crystals, their molecular structure shifts, modulating the intensity of the light that passes through to the screen. LCD TVs are available many sizes, from 10" standard-definition models to widescreen HDTV showpieces of 37" or more.

Strengths
LCD technology produces an exceptionally bright picture that can easily be viewed even in very bright conditions. The images are characterized by outstanding sharpness and detail and rich, saturated colors. LCD TVs use relatively little electricity, run cooler and more quietly than most plasma displays, and are essentially immune to the "burn-in" problems that plague CRT-projection and plasma TVs. Slim, sleek and lightweight, they can be placed or mounted almost anywhere in the home, including places where you might not have considered placing a TV — and, in fact, can easily be transported from room to room (with the exception of the largest screen sizes) for additional flexibility. And no matter where you put them, the latest models allow uninhibited viewing from angles as severe as 170 degrees off-axis.

Considerations
Due to its transmissive technology and the unintended leakage of some light to the display, LCD's high brightess comes at the expense of deep blacks; hence, its typical contrast ratio cannot match those produced by direct-view or even DLP sets. Early iterations of the technology had relatively slow "refresh rates," causing slight but noticeable blurring or smearing of fast-moving images; however, the advent of advanced LCD variants like active-matrix TFT panels has greatly improved performance. Likewise, technological improvements continue to reduce the occurrence of the "screen-door effect" caused by the distance between the pixels in an LCD display, but it's still more apparent with LCD than with LCOS, DLP or plasma displays.

The Bottom Line
When it comes to flat-panel HDTV displays, the choice between LCD and plasma is a matter of personal taste. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, and each is relatively expensive but coming down in price. Consider the information, but most importantly, visit a Best Buy store to compare displays and decide which you prefer.

LCD TVs
design: the truly flat TV. LCD flat-panel displays typically measure around 3" in depth, and are lightweight enough to be mounted on a wall (although they also look mighty sleek on the artsy stands designed to display them on tabletops). LCD is a transmissive technology (as opposed to reflective technologies like DLP and LCOS). Its light engine streams high-intensity white light (provided by a series of flourescent tubes woven behind the screen surface) through tiny cells filled with a liquid crystal material. Each pixel has three such cells — one each for red, green and blue components of the signal. When an electrical charge is applied to the liquid crystals, their molecular structure shifts, modulating the intensity of the light that passes through to the screen. LCD TVs are available many sizes, from 10" standard-definition models to widescreen HDTV showpieces of 37" or more.

Strengths
LCD technology produces an exceptionally bright picture that can easily be viewed even in very bright conditions. The images are characterized by outstanding sharpness and detail and rich, saturated colors. LCD TVs use relatively little electricity, run cooler and more quietly than most plasma displays, and are essentially immune to the "burn-in" problems that plague CRT-projection and plasma TVs. Slim, sleek and lightweight, they can be placed or mounted almost anywhere in the home, including places where you might not have considered placing a TV — and, in fact, can easily be transported from room to room (with the exception of the largest screen sizes) for additional flexibility. And no matter where you put them, the latest models allow uninhibited viewing from angles as severe as 170 degrees off-axis.

Considerations
Due to its transmissive technology and the unintended leakage of some light to the display, LCD's high brightess comes at the expense of deep blacks; hence, its typical contrast ratio cannot match those produced by direct-view or even DLP sets. Early iterations of the technology had relatively slow "refresh rates," causing slight but noticeable blurring or smearing of fast-moving images; however, the advent of advanced LCD variants like active-matrix TFT panels has greatly improved performance. Likewise, technological improvements continue to reduce the occurrence of the "screen-door effect" caused by the distance between the pixels in an LCD display, but it's still more apparent with LCD than with LCOS, DLP or plasma displays.

The Bottom Line
When it comes to flat-panel HDTV displays, the choice between LCD and plasma is a matter of personal taste. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, and each is relatively expensive but coming down in price. Consider the information, but most importantly, visit a Best Buy store to compare displays and decide which you prefer.