Flat Panel
If it’s time for you to get with the age of The Jetsons, or if you’re tired of the French country armoire that houses your tube TV, then you probably want to consider a flat-panel display. Flat panels are the Lara Flynn Boyle of the TV world and come in two types. Smaller displays are typically made with LCD (liquid- crystal display) technology. Larger panels tend to use plasma technology, though there are some fairly large LCD sets. The important thing is that both technologies allow the TV to be four inches thick or less, for ease of mounting on a wall. The main advantage of a flat panel over a CRT should be obvious: It saves floor space. Flat panels also have excellent geometry and uniformity. The former means you won’t feel like you’re looking through a fishbowl, while the latter means that light output is even from one side of the screen to the other. Flat panels, particularly LCDs, can be bright, but may not have the deep, dark blacks and image depth of better tube displays. This is a small price to pay for convenience, especially as flat-panel prices drop and performance improves. Large screens—42 inches or larger—are a good choice if you sit at least five feet from the screen. If you sit closer, consider a smaller panel.
