Plasma or HDTV? Which is better?

[maveric]

My son told me that plasma TV's screens burn out in 5-6 years. He bought an HDTV so I suspect that he has some bias.
If you were shopping for a new TV and you had these two choices, which would you choose and why?

[supernova]

1. Actually, it should be plasma vs LCD

those are the two types of thin TVs. HDTV refers to a better concentration of screen pixels than what we have now. And all TVs will be HDTV or somelike like it. The analog TVs that we have now are going away in what.... 5-6 years? Can't remember.

And yes, as I understand, there are some things that you have to do to a plasma TV to maintain it.

LCD can give a brighter, more fluid picture but they aren't that big yet. Although, I have seen a 42" LCD recently.

[x-g.o.p.er]

2. Agree, and go LCD

I have an LCD. The picture quality is better than Plasma, and the screen won't burn out in 5-6 years.

[Wcross]

8. I know Sony has a 65" LCD, I own a 50" Sony LCD.

I think plasma vs LCD doesn't have anything to do with size capablity. The same size set in plasma would have costed me almost double what I paid for the LCD.

[trof]

3. I hear plasma uses LOTS of electricity.

I think.

[Renew Deal]

4. Non Plasma HDTV

That's what I would do. Go for quality over size, but try to get above 40".

[6000eliot]

5. DLP looks better than either one.

[sir_captain]

6. haha

Last time I checked, there is no such thing as a flat-panel DLP display. And even though I don't particularly care for plasma displays, choosing between them and any rear projection technology is a no-brainer.

[6000eliot]

10. Mine is rear projection

But it's very slim, and I chose it because it looked better than either plasma or LCD.

[Gatchaman]

7. I've got a grand Wega LCD projection set

and I love it! DVDs look incredible, and HD footage from my HDR-HC1 is jaw dropping. The only real long term problem is the projection bulb will burn out ($300).

I think a lot of the criticisms of plasmas are based on old information. I wouldn't be afraid to buy a name brand plasma set. I don't think I would want one of those $1299 no name EDTV pieces of shit that Best Buy sells though.

[ET Awful]

9. Ummm HDTV is simply High Definition Television, it comes in

conventional CRT screens, LCD, Plasma, DLP, etc.

You can't directly compare HDTV to Plasma because they are different things. HDTV is basically a format, Plasma is a type of screen.