When shopping for a new television you are bound to come across plasma and LCD televisions when you look at flat screen ratings and new television reviews. But are there certain differences and advantages in one over the other when talking about plasma vs LCD television screens?

The basic idea is identical. A picture is displayed in hundreds of thousands to millions of pieces called pixels, and flashed twenty to thirty times a second to create the perception of motion. The difference in plasma vs LCD TVs is the mechanisms they use to create their pictures.

The plasma television works when small amounts of gas are superheated with electricity to create a picture. The plasma pixels can show brighter than LCDs because they actively throw off light and in turn are better for seeing the screen during daytime hours. The contrast in the image ends up being greater because the pixels shut off completely causing the blacks to be blacker.

There are differences between plasma and LCD TVs. In LCD screens, light passes through pixels made up of red, green and blue crystals. As electricity flows through the pixels, they can become opaque. Because light shines through the pixels and they don't light up themselves, they are less likely to burn in, which may happen in plasma screens when the exact same picture is shown on the screen for extended periods of time. However, in modern plasma screens this will takes weeks to months of the same image on the screen for the picture to be burned in.

The resolution is not any different between plasma TVs and LCD TVs. So this means that both can offer the same level of detail. Additionally, they both offer high definition resolutions as well. Typically, the prices for these TVs are comparable. However for either very large screens or very small ones, an LCD tends to be the less expensive choice.

Choosing one over the other is a matter of compromise. If you plan on using the TV partly as a computer screen, it's better to go with an LCD. If you want the brightest picture available for use in a well-lit area, you need a plasma TV. For the biggest screen possible, get the LCD as they can be used to create rear projection TVs with huge screens. For professional video work, either can do the job well.

If you're in the market for a new television, you've undoubtedly researched flat screen TVs. You've surely came across the comparison of plasma vs LCD TV. However, have you looked into the advantages and disadvantages of each, as well as the flat screen TV ratings? Read the new television reviews, and you will discover it becomes a matter of compromise when you choose one or the other. If are looking to use the television as a computer monitor your best bet is the LCD. If you are looking for the brightest screen for an area brightly lit the plasma television is best.