LCD TV vs. DLP TV vs. plasma TV

I am leaning toward an LCD rear-projection TV because I don't want to deal with the rainbow effect of DLP rear-projection sets or the burn-in issues with plasma flat panels. I hate the fact that I have to replace a bulb every few years, but it's only a couple hundred bucks, so I guess I can stomach it. Have any strong opinions about one technology over another? Thanks.

First, you need to decide whether you want a microdisplay (also known as a rear-projection set) or a flat panel, such as a plasma or LCD TV. There are three basic types of microdisplays: LCD (liquid-crystal display), DLP (digital light processing), and LCoS (liquid crystal on silicon).

Microdisplays are thinner and lighter than the CRT rear-projection sets that are still kicking around, but for the most part, you still can't hang a microdisplay on the wall. By contrast, you can easily hang a plasma or LCD TV on the wall, but they are not widely available in very large sizes, and they cost significantly more, inch for inch. Each type of microdisplay has its pros and cons, but they all use a lamp that needs to be replaced every few years, so that shouldn't be a factor.

The rainbow effect you mention has been an issue specifically with DLP rear-projection sets, which use a color wheel to create red, green, and blue. Some viewers can see streaks of color on DLP TVs, especially when moving their eyes across the screen. Newer and faster color wheels, however, have significantly reduced the rainbow effect, and most people never see it at all. Furthermore, DLP has some performance advantages over competing technologies, including the deepest black levels of any projection technology (though LCD is coming on strong) and a 1,280x720-native-resolution chip that shows every pixel of 720p HDTV, resulting in a very sharp picture with high-definition sources.

As far as plasma TVs go, that danger of burn-in has been greatly exaggerated. Burn-in occurs when a relatively static image such as a stock ticker, a network logo, or a letterbox bar gets etched permanently onto the screen. The potential for burn-in is greatest during the first 100 or so hours of use, during which time you should keep contrast rather low (less than 50 percent) and avoid showing static images or letterbox bars on the screen for hours at a time. After this initial phase, plasma should be as durable as any television technology. Many panels also have burn-in-reduction features, such as screensavers and pixel orbiting. Under normal viewing conditions, you should have nothing to worry about. The picture quality of plasma TVs varies considerably depending on the make and model, so if you do opt for a flat panel over a microdisplay, be sure to read our hands-on product reviews before choosing.

For more on the pros and cons of different TV types, take a look at our feature "Fat or flat: 4 styles of HDTV," which is part of CNET's HDTV World. And best of luck.

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