If you're ready to invest in one of the fabulous new flat screen televisions that everyone is talking about these days, there are some things you should know. There are several different types of flat screen technology, and it's important you understand the pros and cons before you spend thousands of dollars on a TV.

Most people buy electronics as a long term investment, hoping their TV will last them for many years to come. By understanding the basics of flat screens you are much more likely to make a wise decision.

Plasma versus LCD

The two major types of options when it comes to buying a flat screen TV is plasma or LCD (liquid crystal display). Plasma televisions are more expensive than LCD televisions, but the vast difference in price seems to be getting smaller. However, if you're looking for a massive flat screen TV, plasma is often your only option. The larger the LCD, the more money you're going to spend.

If you're looking for a smaller flat screen TV, the quality between plasma and LCD is pretty similar. However, the larger the screen, the more obvious the difference. LCD televisions are unable to display true black and the color often comes up looking black. This means a lower quality picture the larger it gets. Luckily, technological advancements means that this is becoming less noticeable.

Dimming is a problem with both plasma and LCD, but LCD has the advantage here. Plasma TVs last an average of 20,000 viewing hours before dimming, whereas LCD is closer to 50,000. Keep in mind that different brand names have different specs.

Burn-in is a problem that many plasma TVs suffer from. This means that if a picture is shown on the screen for long enough it burns into the screen and remains there. This can be very frustrating for someone who has spent thousands of dollars on their dream TV. Be sure to check with different manufactures though, advancements are being made.

Before you make your decision, be sure to check online reviews on each specific model that you're interested in. Make sure you do your research and you'll end up with a TV you can be proud of.