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So you’ve saved a bit of extra scratch, you’ve heard about all TV going digital next year, and the old tube’s starting to look more and more cumbersome each time you go over to your buddy’s place. It might be time to make the switch to a flatscreen, friend. No? You’re sticking with your 32-inch CRT TV that weighs a ton? Fine by me. But first, just ask yourself one question:

Do I feel comfortable having the gang over to watch the big game?

I’m not talking about your ability to provide snacks and beer; you pride yourself on your microbrew knowledge and have extensive experience with fine goat cheeses, I know. C’mon, that’s not what I meant.

Are you proud of your television? Is the fact that Paul Pierce’s face is a shapeless blur on your TV okay with you? Well, it’s not okay with your friends. On the surface, of course, they’re kind. They act like they’re happy to be with you. They politely react to a lopsided score in a game (when they can’t even read the fuzzy numbers). They cheer players whose last names are illegible on the backs of their jerseys.

But really? Those same friends have moved on. Their eyes have grown accustomed to perceiving the individual tears streaming down Kobe’s face after an agonizing loss. They yearn to see the sweat beading off of KG’s head onto Michella Tafoya’s weave. And you? I bet you still say “Hey, Conan looks pretty young!” Nope. You’re living a lie. Check him out in HD: Conan O’Brien’s face is a cracked, wrinkly white wall of crumbling adobe. In HD, facades crumble. Dreams shatter.

Going HD is like taking the red pill. It’s expensive, and it’s not easy, but it’s the truth and it’s worth the effort. Plus, the Matrix looks f*cking awesome in high definition!

Now that you’ve decided to take the plunge, you have to decide between LCD and Plasma. Either one is a good choice, but some are better suited for certain types of owners.

Gamers
We of the flatscreen-buying generation have grown up with video games as a fairly integral part of daily life. They were “kids’ stuff” back in the 80s and 90s because, well, we were kids then! But we’ve since grown up, and the games have grown up with us. Today’s cutting edge games sport budgets that rival some movies and feature incredibly detailed graphics engines; to get the most out them, a high definition flatscreen TV is a must have.

LCDs are the definitive gamer’s choice. They thrive in room with high ambient lighting (let’s face it - sometimes you just wanna take the day off work and lie around playing video games in the afternoon) and, most importantly, there’s no danger of burnt-in images. The best LCD TVs have contrast levels and refresh rates with plasma TVs, so that’s no longer a reason for a heavy gamer to go plasma.

Plasmas, although the problem has lessened with tech improvements, still suffer from the dreaded burn-in. I won’t go into the technical reasons - mostly because I don’t understand them! - but static images displayed on a screen will sometimes become burnt-in on plasma TVs. Because so many games have static images (think inventory displays and life gauges), plasma gamers are at a high risk for burn-in.

Film Buffs
If you’re strictly a night time movie watcher, go with a plasma screen. Dark rooms make for incredible pictures on plasma televisions and can really make for a “home cinema” atmosphere. Of course, burn-in issues still apply so don’t pause the movie and go off and run errands. Plus, watching movies in the daytime means you’ll probably have to take extra steps to shut the blinds and reduce ambient lighting.

LCDs work well enough for movies, but there is a slightly perceptible drop-off in colors and contrasts. The LCD does have the potential for higher resolutions, though, and there’s no downside to using it in a brightly lit room. Consider yourself warned that the viewing angles are a bit worse than on the plasma, so if you plan on having a huge crowd watching from the periphery, you should probably go with the plasma.

Regular Guys
What about those of you who just wanna watch Jeopardy and the occasional ballgame? Maybe play some Xbox 360 or PS3? You’re just a basic user who wants a nice looking TV without much hassle, and you’re confused cause neither of the previous two categories fit you. It’s tough to go wrong with a high-def flatscreen, so check out some models in store and see which looks better. Just keep the basic specs in mind:

LCD flatscreens are slightly more expensive, generally, and they do better in brightly lit rooms. If you plan on playing games on a semi-regular basis, go for this one.

Plasmas have richer, warmer colors and deeper blacks, with a better viewing angle.

The bigger the TV, the further you should sit back to optimize the viewing quality. If you plan on going over 40 inches (and you really should), make sure to place it about 8-12 feet back from where you’ll be sitting.

Don’t sweat the decision too much. Just make sure you like the picture, it fits your needs, and it’s got HDMI connectors in the back. Good luck!

***Picture Thanks to revolutionarygirl***