However, determining which display is right for you is somewhat subjective. It is encouraged that you look at the same size display produced by both technologies to determine which you prefer. Television screens have gotten larger with each new generation since the inception of the first commercially marketed television in the 1930s. As screen sizes have increased, so too has television energy usage.

Modern flat panel display LCD and plasma televisions are no exception. Plasma and LCD televisions use more electricity than their cathode ray tube ancestors. According to a 2005 National Resources Defense Council report on television energy consumption, televisions in the United States used over forty six billion kilowatt hours of electricity in 2004. With the expected increase, in not only the number, but size of televisions in this country, energy use is expected to almost double by 2009, reaching seventy billion kilowatt hours per year.

There is currently no standard measure of the efficiency of televisions. Televisions are not currently required by law to wear the yellow Energy Guide labels that are found on other appliances that enable consumers to do a side by side comparison of the energy efficiency of comparable models. One method being considered is one that compares television energy use in watts per inch of display screen. It may be in use in the near future and will should allow to better understand the energy implications of their purchase.

Both plasma and LCD technology produce a stunningly clear picture, but there are subtle differences. LCD screens, because they are back light, use more cells than plasma to produce the same clear images. This makes them brighter than plasma screen televisions and is better suited for rooms with higher light levels. However, this greater number of cells also lets more of the back light show around the edge of each cell, making it hard for LCD screens to produce the same vivid blacks as plasma televisions. LCD’s produce dark grays rather than sharp blacks, while plasma televisions, being not as bright, are better suited for normal to low light level rooms.

LCD displays, like computer monitors, are ideally suited for static display of slow moving images. Early versions of LCD televisions had problems reproducing fast moving images like sporting events or action sequences in movies because of the on off nature of their liquid crystal cells. This slight delay associated with crystal realignment resulted in slightly blurry images or image trails. By increasing the speed or refresh rate of the cells, manufacturers have succeeded in eliminating much of this problem. When shopping for LCD’s, remember that the lower the refresh rate is, the better the image quality will be for fast moving scenes.

The first thing that you have to decide is where you are going to put the new television. The lighting in the room can make a difference on what style you would get.

If the TV is going to be in a dark room, then you should consider a plasma television, they work better in darker rooms with less direct light. If you have a room, a room with more light and more natural sunlight then an LCD TV would work better because the picture looks better in lighted rooms. Of course there is the DLP version of televisions which work good in either lights, and usually has a lower price point than the other two.

You basically have three choices when it comes to televisions these days. Now, you can go old fashioned and not worry about HD, but it makes watching television almost unbearable. Many people are so addicted to HD television that they are known as television snobs. But the only way to really get full benefit of the HD aspect of your television is to order HD programming from your cable or satellite provider. If you look around for a deal, you can usually find HD add-on programming for just a few more dollars a month.

When you see it you will know there is a huge difference between the high def and the standard broadcasts. It is similar to the differences between watching the old VHS tapes and the newer DVD standard. But when you are hooking this stuff up it’s important to have the right cables, you have to use the HDMI cable for all your connections to have the optimal HD look. If you are a big movie fan then you may want to get HBO in HD as it’s fun to see the movies in this standard but it costs more money.

If you truly want to see movies as they were meant to be seen, then you will want to invest in a Blu-ray player. The Blu-ray discs provide movies in high def and is an unbelievable experience. The difference of viewing between this and and regular DVD is like the difference between HDTV and standard broadcasts, an incredible increase.