LCD versus Plasma – 42 inch LCD TV
42 inch LCD TV
By Anne Ahira
Many people want to upgrade their existing televisions to a larger size, and 42 seem to be a popular number. It is quite a bit larger than standard TV’s but not necessarily, what you would consider a big screen.
In recent years, the choices in technology have increased considerably. You now have a choice between LCD and Plasma televisions. In a side-by-side comparison, the LCD seems to win. However, what are the differences and which should you choose – 42 inch LCD TV or plasma?
Video Game or Computer
Believe it or not, some people get a kick out of using their 42 inch LCD TV as a computer screen! The question is can you do this with a plasma screen? The answer is no, due to burn in factor it is likely not a good idea.
Plasma screen televisions have a bad habit of burning an image that is displayed for long periods, into the screen. Depending on manufacturer, this can happen quickly or over extended use. LCD on the other hand does not have this problem.
If you have a video gamer in the house, your best bet will be to go with the 42 inch LCD TV instead of plasma for this very reason.
Repeated displays of the characters on the screen could leave you with a permanent image of Crash Bandicoot on your set!
Power Consumption
With all the news about energy consumption and going green energy, consumption has become top priority for consumers. A 42 inch LCD TV will consume about half what a plasma screen will. This is due to the LCD’s florescent lighting.
Picture Quality
A 42 inch LCD TV will have a slightly better picture resolution than plasma. The demand today is for a television that will produce high definition images. The lowest resolution of an LCD TV is easily 1366×768, high definition by any standard. Plasma on the other hand is 1024×768, not high def but close enough that it is hard to tell the difference.
In picture quality, the differences between a 42 inch LCD TV and plasma is too close to call. It will pretty much come down to other considerations, such as price, size and need.
Price
No comparison is complete without talking about price. Comparison shopping on Amazon brought these results:
- 42 inch LCD TV- LG 42LB5D- This unit was advertised at $999.00 for a brand new model and $899.00 for a refurbished one.
- 42 in Plasma- LG 42PG20- This model weighed in at $899.00
Prices will vary from one retailer to the next and according to brand. The one clear piece of information is this as technology has increased the price differential has decreased.
Choosing a new television leaves you a lot to think about. After you have weighed the pros and cons of each type of television, you will have to decide on manufacturer. That many times comes down to personal choice or brand loyalty. Overall, the 42 inch LCD TV has the advantage in most aspects. Happy hunting!
Also, check out my other guide on LG LCD TV and Cheap LCD TV
