LCD and Plasma TV vs. CRT TV

Ah, the never-ending battle between the television formats. Usually, the competition is between plasma and LCD TVs. However, we would like to express the differences between LCD/ plasma TV formats vs. the conventional CRT TV. Which format is better? We have our favorite, but before we let you in on our opinion, we would like you to form your own. So, if you are looking for a CRT/ LCD/ plasma television, here are some things you should know.
How Do They Work?

--CRT TV—CRT stands for cathode ray tube. These are your standard televisions that contain cathode ray tubes to produce color and images. CRT TVs work by permitting a beam of electrons to flow from the negatively charged cathode (electron gun) at the back of the tube, to the positively charged front of the tube. When the beam arrives at the front, it hits a phosphor coating. This causes the phosphors to glow.

--Plasma TV— This type of television heavily relies on the fluorescent light bulb. The plasma display consists of cells. Inside each cell are two glass panels separated by a narrow gap. These gaps are injected with neon-xenon gas and sealed in plasma form. The gas is electrically charged when the plasma TV set is in use. The gas strikes red, green, and blue phosphors. This is what creates the TV image.

--LCD TV—LCD stands for liquid crystal display. A TV LCD consists of primarily two transparent, glass-like materials, which are polarized, and “glued” together. One of these plates is coated with a polymer that holds the individual liquid crystals. Electric current is then passed through individual crystals. This allows the crystals to pass or block light to create images. Unlike plasma TVs, an external light source is needed.

--LCD/ plasma TV Advantages Over CRT TVs
Hmmm… How do we say this nicely? I guess we can’t. LCD/ plasma TV formats are simply better than the traditional CRT format for many reasons:

--LCD/ plasma TV formats are flat, hence the name “flat panel.” This means they do not take up a lot of room. And, they can be hung from a wall or ceiling to save even more space. Flat panel TVs are typically only a few inches deep and are relatively lightweight. CRT TVs, on the other hand, are bulky and heavy.

--Most LCD/ plasma TV models come in wide screen (16:9 ratio) format. This design is favorable when watching DVDs, sporting, events and high-definition TV. Old CRT models only come in the standard 4:3 ratio.

--CRT screens curve. LCD/ plasma TV models are perfectly flat. The benefit to this is that distortion is eliminated.

--LCD/ plasma TVs do not suffer from “hot spots.” Hot spots are spots of uneven brightness.

--If you look closely at a CRT TV, you will notice lines on the screen. That is because conventional TVs use an electron beam to scan the picture tube from top. LCD/ plasma TVs do not have lines because they use pixels to generate color.

So, what do you think? Would you buy a conventional CRT TV or a LCD/ plasma TV. We think the choice is obvious! We would purchase a LCD/ plasma TV because of all of the advantages. Plus, LCD/ plasma TV look so cool in the living room. Now, for the next battle: LCD TV vs. plasma TV. Oh, will the war ever end?

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