Know Your Definitions

Flat panel: An LCD or plasma TV 3 to 4 inches thick that can be wall-mounted or placed on a stand (not to be confused with a flat-screen CRT, which has a flat face).

Last update: January 24, 2006 - 6:34 AM

Flat panel: An LCD or plasma TV 3 to 4 inches thick that can be wall-mounted or placed on a stand (not to be confused with a flat-screen CRT, which has a flat face).

High-definition television (HDTV): The highest-quality digital TV, with more lifelike images than regular analog TV and better sound.

HD-ready: A TV without a built-in high-definition tuner that can still deliver a high-definition picture if hooked up to an HDTV receiver, such as an HD cable box or HD satellite.

Enhanced-definition (EDTV or SD, standard-definition): EDTV is a digital TV set that cannot display a high-definition signal because it has only about 480 lines of resolution. To display HD, it takes at least 720.

Plasma flat panel screens are usually larger than LCD, typically 37 to 65 inches diagonal. Prices range from $3,000 to $10,000 for most sets.

LCD (liquid crystal display) is a flat panel TV that's offered in smaller sizes (15 inches and up) than plasma and at more reasonable prices in the smaller sizes. Some models under $300 make good bedroom or office TV sets.

DLP (digital light processing) uses a digital mirror to produce its picture. It's a lower-priced choice for those who want a big-screen TV for less money than a plasma set.

JOHN EWOLDT

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