| In order to understand the difference between LCD | | | | image 'burn-in', and LCD displays offered limited |
| and plasma, it helps to know a little about how they | | | | viewing angles, but these issues have now been dealt |
| work. Plasma technology involves trapping gas | | | | with by manufacturers. Ultimately, high-definition plasma |
| between two panels of glass, which are called a cell. | | | | screens still offer a marginally better picture than LCD |
| When an electrical current passes through the cell, the | | | | televisions - even those that are LED-backlit - but they |
| gas changes colour. A plasma screen is formed by | | | | are more expensive, heavier, use more power, and |
| putting lots of these cells together and managing the | | | | have a shorter lifespan. LCD televisions are certainly |
| current to create images. LCD technology also uses | | | | more popular, which is probably due to the price and |
| two panels, but with a liquid crystal polymer in between | | | | availability of HD models, but that doesn't make them |
| them instead of a gas. Bulbs or LEDs emit light from | | | | better value. Ultimately, it comes down to individual |
| behind the panels, and a current is passed through the | | | | preference. |
| crystals. The crystals then either change colour or | | | | The question of resolution is probably the key thing to |
| block the light, which creates the picture on the screen. | | | | consider when you buy a new television. High-definition |
| Plasma has traditionally been the better of the two | | | | models, with resolutions of 1920 x 1080, are excellent |
| technologies, as it is capable of more vibrant colours | | | | when it comes to displaying HD pictures in fine detail. |
| and deeper shadows. Plasma blacks are particularly | | | | However, the downside is that they make standard |
| good because the screen emits no light in these areas, | | | | definition material look worse, particularly on large |
| rather than blocking out light like LCD screens do. | | | | screens. If you're only going to watch regular freeview |
| However, LCD technology has caught up with plasma | | | | channels on your new television, you'll probably be |
| in recent years and the problems that plagued both | | | | better off with a medium-sized screen offering a low |
| technologies have been pretty successfully addressed | | | | or middling resolution. Again, it comes down to your |
| - so there's now very little difference between the | | | | preference. Plasma or LCD, high or low resolution - |
| two. For instance, plasma screens used to suffer | | | | neither is better, but one may be more suitable for you. |