Is there another competing technology war going on

[dkennedy]

Is there another competing technology war going on?

August 21, 2006

By Matt Burns, HD Beat Magazine

Sometimes we get all caught up in the HD DVD/Blu-ray format war that we forget that there is another competing technology war going on right under our nose:

LCDs and Plasmas.

Gone are the days where LCDs are the small flat-panels and plasmas are the big ones, now a person can choose from the same size panel for about the same price.

Worse yet, they offer the consumer nearly the same life span, picture quality, inputs, and now, price.

People have long favored LCDs as plasmas had a rough start, but now that they have matured quickly thanks to their high sales, they are very much improved.

Is this technology war more important then the other one about Blu lasers and high-def? What would/have you chosen for your flat-panel of choice?

[ebo]

This is not a format war. This is a reporter at a loss for something to write about, trying to stir up controversy where none exists. So what if you buy LCD and plasma "wins?" You won't be locked out of all the new programs. Your LCD will work fine until you decide to replace it.

If you want a new format war to worry about, I nominate HDMI vs. HDMI. Yes, you read that correctly. I keep reading about incompatibilities among various HDMI implementations where some sources refuse to work with some destinations, such as a cable STB and an A/V receiver with HDMI inputs.

So, what did I choose? A front-screen projector. Bigger picture than I could get with any direct-view device, and I didn't need help carrying it into the house. It happens to be LCD. It's not perfect and it won't be my last, but it's plenty good enough for now.