How to buy a flat-panel HDTV

LCD or Plasma?

Both technologies have improved recently. But while today's plasma screens are less likely to suffer "burn-in" (ghosts of images such as the CNN ticker), it can still happen. And the old knock on LCDs - that fast-action sports programming and video games are blurrier than on plasmas - is still valid, despite the fact that manufacturers have doubled and quadrupled the speeds of image refresh (to 120Hz or 240Hz). So, basically, the old rules hold for now.

In short: Plasmas offer superior contrast - blacker blacks, brighter whites - and are usually a better value, especially for larger sets (50 inches and up). But LCDs have advantages too; they can be less reflective and brighter. They're also more available than plasma at smaller sizes. Consult the checklist at right.

NEXT: Step 3: Resolution