I am trying to decide whether to buy an LCD or Plasma HDTV.

According to Consumer Reports:

Plasma TV Advantages:

• virtually unlimited viewing angle
• deeper blacks and better contrast
• no motion blur

LCD TV Advantages:

• lighter
• brighter images
• most have no reflections from screen
• no risk of burn-in
• use less power

Costco has a sale on Panasonic TV’s plus free shipping this weekend.  I am considering the Panasonic 42″ 720P Plasma which gets rave reviews.

The reasons I would like to buy this TV:

1. It is a good price.
2. Apparently it shows SDTV (standard definition) pretty well and has good sound.
3. It has great reviews.
4. Since it is from Costco if I don’t like it I can return it within 90 days.

The reasons I am hesistating are:

1. Its power consumption is 385 watts.  A comparable 42″ 1080p LCD TV uses 250 watts and a 46″ 1080p LCD TV uses 287 watts.  If you assume you watch TV 8 hours a day (the average for American families) then at $0.225 per kWh that works out to about $20 per month to run the Plasma TV and $13 per month to run the LCD TV.  Over a year that is about an $84 difference and in two years that is about $160 which is about the price difference between this Plasma TV and a comparable 42″ 1080p LCD TV.  And how can a tree hugger like me buy something that uses more power?
2. It is not 1080p and it seems like one not does want to buy technology that could quickly become obsolete.
3. I think I want a 46″.

I think I convinced myself not to buy Plasma.

Related posts:

1. Monitoring that electrical bill
2. Looks like I won’t be buying an LED or Plasma TV
3. Flickering Acer Monitor
4. Acer Problems Resolved via BBB
5. Best Buy Final Resolution

Categories: Hardware
6 Comments »