Choose plasma over LCD for a large TV

If you're shopping for a new TV over 50 inches, you'll have 2 main options for display technology: plasma and LCD (there are other options like OLED, but they still demand a price premium). I suggest that you choose plasma, for these reasons:

• most home video experts recommend plasma over LCD for screens over 50 inches
  
• plasmas aren't going out of style; sales have been increasing, not decreasing lately
  
• plasmas aren't becoming obsolete; the technology has been improving, not stagnating over the years
• plasmas have better color reproduction than LCD
• plasmas produce darker blacks than LCD
• plasmas have a lifespan of 20 years, the same as LCD
• plasmas have wider viewing angles than LCD

Still, most sources say LCDs are very close in quality and improving with each new revision, so you're definitely not setting yourself up for buyer's remorse by choosing an LCD.

After comparing features and pricing, I recently helped someone buy a Samsung PN50B550 50” 1080p Plasma HDTV.

Image from Samsung

Sources

• CNET: Plasma vs. LCD: Which is right for you?
• EngadgetHD: LCD vs Plasma in 2009
• CNET: Four styles of HDTV
• Mahalo: LCD vs. Plasma TV