Is LCD Set to Take Over the Television World?

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While some television fans might think that bigger is always better, new numbers are showing that television viewers are shelling out less for a plasma screen to watch their favourite programmes on.

And that decline has led to a demand for smaller screens. LCD screens are moving up in the market world, as customers embrace the fact that LCD's can be purchased in a variety of sizes and configurations.

In a report published online, it was noted that sales of plasma screen televisions declined in the last quarter of 2008. They noted that during the all-important Christmas season, more people were choosing to purchase smaller televisions for their homes. Experts have said that this could be because many people are choosing to purchase a second, smaller television for other rooms in their homes - as their main sitting room could already host one of the popular, large screen plasma's.

As well, it has been noted that customers are reporting increased satisfaction with LCD screens in terms of picture and sound quality, which has been evolving to rival plasma status.

To some, plasma and LCD televisions are very similar, meaning many choose based on size and what's available. However, there are some notable differences between the two, including how bright and sharp the images are. One plus is that LCD screens can be used in a high altitude, which is good for customers who may experience altitude changes in their homes.

However, it should be noted that experts believe the popularity of the plasma screen television won't disappear, as many prefer the look of sports and movies on such screens. However, many customers are choosing the LCD as an affordable, low-key option compared to plasma screens. In fact, recently many experts have said that LCD screens are friendlier to the environment. LCD screens use less power and produce less brightness, meaning they use less energy and damage the environment less.

It has also been noted that plasma screen televisions actually use 50 per cent more energy than LCD screens, making the decision to switch televisions easier for some who are concerned about their carbon footprint.

For those concerned about price, consumer groups are reporting that the difference in price between LCD and plasma screens is shrinking, as both technologies adopt similar technologies and practices. So, when it comes to watching your favourite programmes on good quality television, viewers have plenty of options. And with services like Sky+ HD available, you can watch shows in stunning quality on both HD ready LCD and plasma televisions whenever you like.