what is better HDTV or a Plasma Screen TV?

HDTV only refers to the quality of the picture, High Definition TeleVision. Plasma is one type of TV that is capable of displaying the High Definition signal. I assume you are asking the difference between LCD (Liquid crystal display) and Plasma, so I will explain which is better as best I can (hopefully it is what you wanted).

LCD is your best bet for a flat panel TV:

Plasmas can get burn in images if you leave the same image on the screen for long, particuarly flashing images. This is not as big an issue so much anymore, mainly with something like a video game, but LCD doesn't have this problem at all.

Plasmas have a glass front that is very reflective, especially with light in your room, and especially during dark scenes or TV or movies. LCD has a non-reflective screen.

Plasmas have a fixed pixel aspect ratio, which basically means you can see the pixels, or tiny squares, that make up the picture more easily. LCD does not.

Plasmas use more energy and run hotter than LCD's. They aren't as long lasting as LCD's, partly for this reason.

Unless you need a TV bigger than 52in, LCD is the way to go. The biggest LCD i have seen for sale is 52 inches. It will be more expensive than a plasma of the same size, but it is a better TV with a better picture.

Stick with a name brand, like sony. Dont go for the cheapest thing you can buy, because you will get what you pay for.

HDTV can come in several formats. You can actually have a plasma HDTV. You have to have (and pay for) HD service for HDTV sets to be worth their cost. HDTV sets come in plasma, LCD, rear projection, and DLP formats. They all have negatives and positives. If I were buying I would prefer a Sony LCD HDTV.

A plasma screen TV most always is an HDTV. HDTV refers to the lines of resolution available on the screen with HDTV being the best currently. Other types of units also deliver HDTV, LCD and DLP being among other options. Until recently there was a distinct advantage enjoyed in the picture quality of plasma but those advantages have been narrowed significantly. There are some tradeoffs with plasma as well, the most significant being cost, size and heat. Typically plasma units of the same size are more expensive than their counterparts, have more limited size limitations & run much hotter ( and consume much more electricity.) As for manufacturers, I personally would much prefer purchasing a unit from a known manufacturer with a track record for quality as well as parts and service availability. Personally a I own a Sony Rear projection LCD ( a 60" Grand Wega) and couldn't be happier.

A plasma TV is a type of HDTV. So, what you are asking doesn't make much sense?

There are three basic types of HDTV's:

1) Plasma – provides deep colors, high contrast ratio, soft image and perfect for movies. Range from 42"-60" screen size.

2) LCD – provides sharp image, low contrast ratio, vibrant colors, poor blacks and better for watching sports, computers, pictures. Due to the poor color reproduction, not ideal for watching movies. Start as small as a 5" screen and goes up beyond 60 inches. TVs larger beyond 50" tend to be rear projection TVs, which is not a flat panel and has a bigger footprint.

3) DLP – only comes in rear projection, but the best technology for large screen TVs (60" or larger). Great price point. Replace $300-500 lamp every 1-2 years. Narrow viewing angle. Phenomenal color and image reproduction.

So, you need to decide which technology you want first. Go to an electronic store and see what you like. They are all great technologies and everyone has their preference. There is no definitive answer to which one is best.

As for brand, there is a difference. You pick a bad brand, you are going to get poor quality, low reliability, fuzzy image and poor colors. The big dogs are Panasonic, Sony, LG, Samsung are going to be the best companies. Any one else will not provide the features and quality to make your purchase worth it.

If you are looking for a ranking of what is the best: LCD vs. DLP, here's the pros and cons:

1. DLP front projection provides the biggest bang for the buck. The only downside is possible viewer sensitivity to the "rainbow" effect which is greatly lessened with 4X+ [speed] color wheels. If brightness is a major consideration, stay with the older 480i/p configuration since the higher 1040+ Dark 3 chips greatly lower the final lumens output. Also be very careful when shutting down the projector and allow some 20 minutes for the fan to cool down the bulb and associated color wheel. Failure to properly cool down DLP's is the major reason for shortened lamp life. A typical bulb will cost between $300 – $400 and last some 4,000 hours.

2. LCD front projectors have been around for some time and the "screen door" effect has been greatly reduced, if not eliminated. Unfortunately, there's the issue of LCD panel fade since many LCD projectors still rely on 'organic' based panels which will fade over time, especially the blue panel. Look for the new "inorganic" LCD panels to correct this fading issue. Still the "blackness" background of LCD projectors do not come up to the better movie-like blacks generated by DLPs.

And finally, is there truly a best buy budget DLP projector? Check out at Amazon.com, the Infocus SP4805 for some $550 [refurbished] which produces a 350 lumens, 92" diagonal screen picture with the WOW effect. And the world-famous Faroudja deinterlacer and built-in speaker adds true value to this home-theater projector.

Good luck!

HDTV is not a tv. Its a feature of the tv.