Plasma TVs work with inert gases like xenon or neon, which are excited by electric pulses from specialized cells called pixels. This makes the gases glow. These glowing gases, in turn, produce the correct blend of red, blue and green light on the pixels. The pixels are illuminated by a fluorescent light bulb, which is driven by semiconductor software on the motherboard.

LCDs are actually thin film transistors (TFT), which contain liquid filled crystals between two plates of glass. LCDs work by blocking out unwanted light. When the signal hits the TFTs, they contort to a required angle, thus allowing only the requisite amount of light to pass through. A lamp behind the screen or a thin LCD bulb provides illumination to the TFT.

LCD TVs and plasma TVs have their individual strengths and weaknesses. Plasma TVs show better contrasts. Contrast means the ratio between the blackest black and the whitest white. A plasma TV can produce contrasts of even 3000 to 1, which is very high by LCD standards. LCD TVs can provide contrasts up to 900 to 1. However, in LCD technology, even a low contrast ratio can produce much better images.

Plasma TVs produce colors by addition of red, blue and green while LCD TVs produce colors by blocking unwanted light from the spectrum. Hence, plasma TVs produce colors by additive principle, while LCD TVs do the same by subtractive principle. That’s why plasma TVs are much better at producing colors than LCD TVs.

Plasma TVs also have wide viewing angles, as much as 160 degrees. Since LCD TVs produce images by an LCD lamp behind the screen, viewing angles aren’t wide. LCD TVs produce differently colored images when viewed at higher horizontal angles.

Though plasma technology wins over LCD technology in color, contrast and brightness, LCD wins hands down when it comes to the functionality. LCD TVs have greater longevity. Most LCD TVs can last up to twice the lifetime of a plasma TV. LCD TVs are also better suited to usage at higher altitudes or while traveling, because LCD technology does not use any gases, and is not subjected to air pressure.

LCD TVs are also energy efficient, as they require less voltage. This helps in reducing electricity bills.

Earlier LCD TVs were priced much higher than plasma TVs. But due to stiff competition, their prices have come down drastically. According to their current standing, LCD TVs cost only marginally more than plasma TVs.

LCD TV stands are available in all shapes and sizes. Stands may be metal, fiberglass, wood or any other conventional material and of various finishes, such as wood enamel, or metallic or even expensive lacquers.

Looks apart, the most important consideration when buying a stand is whether it will support the weight of your television. Most TVs have weight capacities printed in their manuals. Don’t be fooled by the size of the stand. A bigger stand does not mean it will bear the weight better. It all depends on what material the stand is made up of.

The second consideration is floor space. If your living room is too big, then you might consider a stand with a swivel. Swivels allow the TV to be turned in any direction around a vertical axis so that it can be seen from all angles of the room. There should be enough space from the wall if you plan on rotating the TV. Stands are also available with wheels and casters, which allow them to be shifted from one room to another. Such portable stands are ideal when there are many rooms in the house.

Design is also important. The look of the stand must complement the décor of the room. Wooden stands go best with traditional looks, while metal and fiberglass stands are better suited to contemporary decors.

LCD TV stands vary in price from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. If you are creative, you may contract a carpenter and get a stand custom-made according to your requirements.

The question always asked when buying a LCD TV is, why not go for a cheaper brand if it provides the same quality for a $1000 less? The purpose of a LCD TV is to produce high quality images. Newer brands (read cheaper brands) force themselves in the market by lowering their prices, but their quality is rarely up to snuff. They may not be able to compare with the images produced by, say, a Sharp or a Sony. There are many nuances in pictures like contrast ratios, intensities, etc., which cheaper TVs do not provide. However, cheaper sets compensate for their flaws in quality by sleeker designs and other peripheral features. If you are not too keen on image quality, but the price cut matters to you, then you may go for a cheaper TV.

Cheaper brands might also skimp on after-sales services and warranties. There are exceptions, though. Yet, a bigger brand with more experience at after-sales service may be more trustworthy.

The price of an LCD TV depends on the panel, which is the image display. The prices are drastically falling. Thirty to 32 inch panels now cost under $500. Even the prices of the most popular size, 42 inches has come down to $2500, which is significantly less than what it was last year. A complete 42-inch TV from a new brand would cost approximately $3000.

Cheap TVs are constantly being advertised extensively on online portals such as Costco and Best Buy. Sale of cheap TVs online is higher than that of bigger brands, illustrating the fact that people are opting for the technology itself rather than the quality it provides. It is expected that prices of TVs may slump more in successive years. But whatever the case, even the price of the cheapest LCD TV will remain higher than the price of other technology TVs.