The debate about Plasma TVs, LED TVs and LCD TVs is as old as the hills. Plasma and LCD have been at each others throats for quite some time now. New members have been added to the TV family, as well as Plasma and LCD. We now have LED back light TV.

We'll begin with comparisons of the two technologies. Let's start with Plasma TV. Plasma uses a large number of gas particles that are brought together to create an image. On the other hand, an LCD or liquid crystal display uses "glass sandwiches" of liquid crystal. The picture is created by regulating the amount of electrical charge to each individual crystal. Then the image is lit behind by a series of LEDs or fluorescent tubes.

LCD backlighting has gotten better over the years, but Plasma television has stayed one step ahead of even the best LCD TVs. Even with the largest sizes we've seen some excellent results from the best LCD TV 55 inch screens, but without debate Plasma TV is still better. Of the disadvantages of LCD, the motion blower is the biggest one. There's a lag when LCD pixels turn on and off. Even the best LCD TVs have a refresh rate of 5 milliseconds or less, but it can still lead to a lagging in motion effect. Plasma TV has the privilege of not having to worry about this, not to mention the black level issue.

What you'll see with Plasma television is more accurate skin tones and a more natural picture. Plasma televisions also have better movement in the picture.

Plasma's are very good at creating a film like picture. This doesn't mean you have to go the whole way to get a cinema experience. Currently 1080p has made an impact on Plasma TVs and the impact is growing. Many customers argue about the "burn in effect" though. Many of you might have seen the burn in effect at an video arcade center on an arcade game you can still see the words "game over" on a screen. But this does not mean it will last forever, and it will eventually fade away in a matter of weeks.

Even a cheap Plasma TV will give you a bright and detailed picture. They also have a slim design that allows them to be set on a stand or on a wall. Plasma televisions have a history of having rich colors, impressive contrast levels and rich motion.

A cheap Plasma TV is usually around £400 or less. They are generally not ideal for small spaces like a kitchen. Second, some Plasma television screens may reflect room lights. If you have a room with a lot of lamps and windows then you might want to go with something else.

Liquid crystal display sets are simply known as LCD HDTV. These TVs reduce glare as opposed to a Plasma TV, and also its colours are a bit more vibrant. LCD TVs are considered by some to be the de facto television because its makes up over 50% of all flat screen TV sales.

LED, which stands for Light-Emitting Diode, is kind of an advancement on LCD. Nearly all LCD TVs are LED TVs. The back-lighting is the only relevant issue. The LED back-lighting will make the TV more energy efficient and will make your whites whiter and your dark's blacker due to the contrast ratio. LED TVs are a little more vibrant and a little more bright then an LCD HDTV.

The slim and thin design of LED TVs is unbelievable. LCD TVs cannot hold a candle to LED TVs in regards to thinness. LEDs are usually less then half the depth. Also, LEDs use a lot less energy and will help you save some cash down the road. And the final benefit to having a LED TV is that you can view your LED TV from almost any angle in the room, and unlike Plasma and LCD the colour wont be darker...

So how do you know which TV is right for you? If you want a movie theater-like experience in a dim or darkened room, then you'll find Plasma's fluid motion and true to life colours appealing. If you are looking for a TV under 42 inches then LED TVs are right for you. They have brighter whites and deeper blacks.

Despite the current HD buzz there is still very little content available for 1080p - especially in comparison to the infinite amount of SD content like television programs and DVDs. The highest broadcast resolution is 1080p, which means 1920 by 1080 pixels. To buy a 1080p TV now may give you some comfort. However you may not be getting the best picture.

Another quality to look for would be 100 Hertz. This removes the jumpy picture from overseas shows and old movies. This is also called the refresh rate. To get the most out of HD disk you'd want something called 24P.

Still confused? The only person who can make a decision is you. Best thing to do is to view as many televisions as possible at once using the same footage. Try going to your nearest local best buy, walmart or any outlet store where they have the same video displayed upon dozens of televisions. Then after choosing the television you want to buy, go onto the net to search for the same make and model. You could save quite a lot of money this way!

- Brandon