Selecting a television can be a complex process

If you don't know a burn-in from a black black, your TV is probably stuck in the last century.

It can take months of investigation to select a television, and shoppers will likely pick up some new vocabulary on the way: "refresh rate," "screen performance" and "black blacks."

There are two major types of flat screens: Plasma and LCD. Here are a few key differences:

Lighting

When first compared side by side, it was immediately apparent that the plasma screen offered a crisper picture. The image seemed slightly sharper, the blacks were blacker (a higher-contrast image) and thus the colors were more vivid. But the LCD picture seemed "brighter," and it was easier to see detail in highlights and shadows from almost anywhere in the room.

However, each of the two types had advantages. For example, where the plasma had a sharper image and brighter colors, room light and outside light reflecting off the highly polished screen made it difficult to see the picture from any angle. And where the LCD picture was not as sharp, we could see fine detail in shadows and highlights even in a brightly lighted room.

Action

Because the image on plasma screen refreshes more quickly than an LCD, action on a plasma screen is far more realistic. This can be important if you are a sports fan. On an LCD screen, a football flying through the air is usually followed by a ghost image. No ghost image on a plasma screen.

Plasma problems

In a controlled environment the plasma is sharper, provides more brilliant colors, offers greater detail and doesn't have ghost images. So what's the down side? A plasma television can be double or more an LCD's price.

But there are other problems: The screen's lasting quality is poor, with about a six-year life span with average use. The condition that shortens the life of a plasma screen is known as "burn-in." This is where a still picture can burn an image of itself into the screen.

Handling is another problem. Plasma screen televisions are much heavier than LCD units and are less portable and more difficult to move. The experts say that plasma TVs are more fragile and less sturdy as well. Finally, plasma TVs tend to get hot when in use, which requires careful planning for locating and mounting.