Harry Krause wrote:


I happen to have a recent vintage, SONY CRT HD monitor, 34" wide, and it
weighs 200 pounds, plus. It has what SONY calls an FD Trinitron Wega
picture tube. It happens to be the largest size screen that would fit
into the space I had, and when I bought it some months ago, I looked
very carefully at the plasma and LCD screens. To my eyes, the glass tube
monitor looked best. Our local "BestBuy" store has a huge selection of
big screen TVs of all types, and has viewing rooms, too. The plasmas
aren't bad, but they still do not outperform the glass tube models.


Here's what Consumer Reports says...

TV types: Weigh pros, cons, and prices

Today's market offers everything from familiar picture-tube TVs in new
shapes and sizes to jumbo rear-projection sets and flat-panel LCD
displays and plasma TVs that can be mounted on a wall. Each has pros and
cons, and there are vast differences in price. A growing number of the
TVs you'll find in stores are high-definition (HD) models. For more
details on these sets, see our HDTV report.

The main television choices available today a

Conventional picture-tube TVs Picture-tube TVs
The familiar sets with CRTs (cathode-ray tubes).
Quick take: Still tops for picture quality, these offer wide selection
and the best value.
Common screen sizes: 13 to 36 inches.
Typical selling prices: For HD-ready sets--about $800 for a 32-inch 4:3
set; $1,300 for a 34-inch wide-screen model. For standard-definition
analog sets--about $200 to $400 for a 27-inch set; $350 to $600 for a
32-inch model.
Pros: Least expensive type of TV, still the standard for best picture
quality. Mature technology with proven reliability and long life. No
limit on viewing angle.
Cons: Maximum screen size limited to 36 inches. Bulky, at 2 feet deep or
more. Heavy, with larger sets weighing 100 pounds or more.

LCD TVs LCD TVs
Like flat-panel computer displays, these thin sets have a backlight and
thousands of red, green, and blue pixels that open or close to let light
through, creating colorful images.
Quick take: Trendy flat screen with decent picture quality, but larger
screen sizes are more expensive than other types of TVs.
Common screen sizes: 14 to 37-plus inches.
Typical selling prices: About $1,000 to $1,500 for a 26-inch wide-screen
HD-ready set; $1,200 to $2,000 for a 32-inch. Prices could drop sharply
this year.
Pros: Thin and light. Can be wall-mounted. The best (generally HD sets)
are capable of displaying very good, bright images. Antireflective
screen minimizes glare from bright light. No risk of burn-in of static
images.
Cons: Price goes up sharply as screens get bigger. Most sets can't
display deep black or distinguish subtle shades of gray and black.
Fast-moving images may blur. Image may dim as you angle away from center
of screen, especially up and down. Long-term reliability not yet known,
but our initial data indicate low rate of repairs during first year of use.

Plasma TVs Plasma TVs
Flat-panel, big-screen TVs with thousands of red, green, and blue pixels
that are activated by "plasma"; these work somewhat like fluorescent
lights, creating very bright images.
Quick take: Big, bright screens with a real wow factor, but expensive.
Common screen sizes: 42 to 60 inches.
Typical selling prices: About $2,500 to $3,000 for a 42-inch HD-ready
set, $3,500 to $4,500 for a 50-incher.
Pros: Thin and light enough to be wall-mounted. The best (generally HD
sets) are capable of displaying excellent images with high brightness
and contrast and crisp detail. No limit on viewing angle. Bigger sizes
are cheaper than LCD TVs of comparable size.
Cons: Shiny surface can produce annoying reflections in bright lighting.
Brightness dims over time. Use a lot of power and generate a lot of
heat. Fixed items displayed for long periods can leave ghosted image.
Some sets don't include speakers or a tuner. Long-term reliability not
yet known, but our initial data indicate low rate of repairs during
first year of use.
Rear-projection (CRT-based) Rear-projection (CRT-based)
Jumbo sets that beam images onto a screen from three small CRTs
inside.br Quick take: The lowest-cost big screens, but they're space hogs.
Common screen sizes: 47 to 60 inches.
Typical selling prices: About $1,000 for a 51-inch integrated HD set.
Pros: Low price, wide selection, plentiful features. Mature technology
proven to have decent reliability.
Cons: Picture quality ranks lowest overall among all TV types. Big,
bulky, and heavy--more than 200 pounds for largest. Image may dim as you
angle away from center of screen. Shiny surface can produce annoying
reflections. Fixed items displayed for long periods can leave ghosted image.

Rear-projection microdisplays Rear-projection microdisplays
Newer, pricier big-screen sets, most of which use LCD, DLP, or LCoS
technology that allow for fairly slim cabinets.
Quick take: Relative slimness makes them an attractive big-screen
alternative.
Common screen sizes: 47 to 60 inches.
Typical selling prices: $2,200 to $3,000 for a 50-inch LCD- or DLP-based
integrated HDTV.
Pros: Thinner and lighter than CRT-based siblings. Cost less than
comparably sized plasma sets. No risk of burn-in of static images.
Cons: Image on some sets may dim as you angle away from center of
screen. May need to replace the lamp ($300 or more) during the life of
the set. Not as good as picture-tube sets for displaying deep blacks.
Some DLP models suffer from rainbow effect--annoying flashes of color
visible to some viewers. Reliability not yet known.

A front projector. Front projectors (available to subscribers).
A theaterlike experience on a giant screen but you must deal with a
complex setup.
Common screen sizes Screen, bought separately, comes in sizes up to 200
inches. Can use a wall. Projector has 9x12-inch or smaller footprint.
Typical price $1,100 and up for HD projector. Several hundred dollars
for screen.
Pros Picture size and characteristics are most like a theater screen's.
Cons Best viewed in dark room. TV tuner and speakers not included.
Screen affects picture quality and brightness. Most DLP units are
subject to “rainbow effect,” troubling to some viewers; LCD and LCoS
models often cannot render deep black. All three types require periodic
lamp replacement. No data on reliability. Professional installation can
be costly.