If budget really isn't a problem, and you can afford to wait a while, a new technology called SED is on its way. The result of a collaboration between Toshiba and Canon, Surface emitter Electron Display sets use electron emmission technology just like a CRT (so the picture quality is every bit as good), but since the electron emmission is from the surface rather than a gun, SED sets will have a flat screen form factor, something like 4cm or so. These will be the new standard for light, slim, flat screen displays. The picture quality will blow LCD and plasma away (real blacks, very short recovery time for pixels so no blur in fast images), and will use less power than LCD or plasma, too. And they'll be 1920 x 1080. Sorry to complicate your choice even more, but if you can wait these sets really sound like they'll be worth it. From what I've read production has already started, and sets will be available end of this year or early part of next. Pricing should be comparable to plasma, and the first models will be in the 40-50 inch range. If you need something right away, I personally like plasma. CRT is too small and heavy, LCD doesn't have true blacks (neither does plasma but it's better than LCD), and RP sets have too small a viewing angle. As for ED vs. HD, if you can afford it I'd go HD. I compared the Panasonic sets and, while the ED picture looked good, I saw "jaggies" around the text that wasn't there on the HD, and the HD sets seemed to have better depth. Personally I'm waiting, only because I can't currently afford a good plasma HD, especially when SED is less than a year away.

i have a 1999 philips magnavox big screen model #9p6034 c102 was watching tv and then it made a static sound and then no noise, i have tryed to turn off & on tv and put volunm up & down but nothing. the picture is working fine, just cant hear anything. please help!!!! it's driving me nut's not hearing anything thanks and the chassis model number is ptv835

Really depends on the lighting condtions, beyond that, a matter or personal preferences. Plasma's, to my eyes gives a sharper, more 3d quality image on HD broadcasts. However, plasma screens are pretty reflective and if they face windows, forget about it without closing the shades. For a dedicated home theater, plasma would be my first choice, also because you can get larger plasma screens. The largest LCD screen currently is the sharp at 45". LCD's are great for very bright rooms, zero concern for reflections, as the picture stays very bright and clear. THe old rule about being so many feet from a large screen no longer applies with the newer HD sets. Matter of fact, you want the largest plasma/lcd you can afford as you want to be closer for any HD broadcasts, because their is less concern about the old "screen door" effect. However, for standard definition broadcast, you still want to be a bit further away so you don't see the lesser picture quality. Panasonic makes a great 42" and 50" plasma that has been extremely popular with consumers. Sharp has a new 45" lcd that is the largest (currently) lcd, though they do have a 57" and 65" coming very soon. However, those larger sizes are gonna be very expensive. Basically, you need to visit multiple showrooms. You will find that some showrooms, a particular model looks extremely good, next to another brand that looks bad. My opinion (my opinion only) is that depending on which model they want to push that day, they are going to make sure it looks better than the others. That's why I suggest looking at multiple stores. I will include a link to a GREAT website for all things video/audio and if you ask a question, there are a ton of very helpful people. But first, make sure you do a search to see if someone has asked the question before. Regarding HIGH DEF, remember there are still very few channels that broadcast in high def, but it is the future, though not the very near future as far as I can tell. Also, the standard for the new DVD hasn't been decided yet, but they are selling dvd players that are high def now I believe. However, it will take awhile for the studios to ramp up to selling content that is actually high definition. That said, a good dvd player should upscale the image nicely enough to look spectacular on your brand new HD plasma or LCD. Here is a link that might be useful: AVS Forum

Hi Steve, I do love the TV (great sound, picture as nice as my analogue TV downstairs with only regular cable ... both could use digital cable for a clearer picture, wonderful remote, very pretty TV but so SHINY the black that I can see my reflection... wish my TV stand was wider and taller) but I do not like the pedestal look on my Night Stand (2.5" on each side hangs and to me is distracting in the pretty bedroom) and I am seriously thinking of taking it back (but upset that the sneaky salesman has on the slip that LCD's are not returnable when he made me sign the screen without reading anything and then the person came to bring it to my car and I was very sick and when I asked to see the slip before signing, he said it was everything we discussed) and buying the 26" white Sharp LCD that swivels that was only $30 less for so much less screen with only the added swivel feature... but is in white and will not overpower the bedroom I feel. I just would have to order it from Target.com and have to pay about $26 in shipping to me and then back (UPS $26 around the sales guy said who I spoke to online at Target.com today) if I do not like the off-white color that has some gray in it. It has wonderful reviews but the Toshiba had better reviews and the reviewers are right about the sound quality on the Toshiba... it is very nice and I love the TV but it is TOO black for my bedroom and too big to me. I was sick all day and now not sure what to do. It is a beautiful TV but really stands out in my white room and I wish I could just put it in the family room an buy a white TV for my bedroom that is smaller despite the smaller picture. But my TV in my family room is only about 7 years old (Black Hitachi.. 27" that cost me $199 and looks nice to me.. heavy but not as heavy as my 14.5 year old 25" Samsung TV was). Maybe I can negotiate a deal on the extended and the 26"... I sure wish PC Richards would have the Sharp TV in white. Maybe I can ask if the can order it that way for me?