Aspiring Spirit

Believe it or not, there is a difference between LCD and plasma TVs, other than the name brand. Most people make the assumption that the terms are interchangeable, but in reality there is a different science and technology between the two types. To further that misconception, you can factor in how the LCD and plasma flat screen televisions are different than the typical cathode-ray tv sets still found in many households. If you want to get really confusing, not every flat screen television or flat screen monitor is actually plasma or LCD. Confusing isn’t it?

The main difference in LCD and plasma TVs is in how the picture is made. Plasma and LCD televisions both have exceptional quality. In the plasma, two sheets of glass are placed together and gas is pumped between the two. The particles are charged and give off green, red and blue phosphors. The phosphors make pixels which make up the picture. An LCD is two sheets of glass, but has liquid crystal instead. Rather than charging the particles, the crystal cells filter the colors.

So, which of the two is superior? That is a matter of judgment but plasma flat screen televisions do suffer from considerable heat if left on for too long and this can result in “screen burn.” A screen burn occurs when a static image is displayed on the screen for a long time and stays displayed even when you turn the channel. This can also occur with computer monitors.

Yes, the information can be a little bit intimidating and you may not even care about the inner workings of the LCD and plasma TVs. But at least you will have the knowledge and be able to tell the difference. Whatever technology you decide you like better, you can now say you made an informed decision based on the information available. If you have any other questions or still remain unclear on the difference, then you can always seek out a sales associate for more information. As well, you can go online to a plasma forum and find out what others have to say.