Plasma [vs LCD] Propaganda

Today, I received several pieces of propaganda with this morning's newspaper. Naturally I was outraged by perhaps the least significant: Panasonic's 'discussion' on LCD vs. Plasma. You can check out their balanced approach to the subject at: www.whychooseplasma.com.au

First up, the conclusion is that if you want a 'small' [81cm or less] TV for 'personal' viewing, then LCD is cool. Bigger than that, Panasonic recommends plasma. Did you already guess that from their URL?

I've been following the LCD vs. Plasma debate since they were both on the scene. The last TV I bought was 10 years ago... and 3 PCs later [including a change of monitor], I've been waiting, waiting, waiting for the cost of an LCD or plasma represent a bang for buck upgrade over a 51cm CRT screen [We actually watch Jodie's [yes I know - our] 68cm TV of a similar vintage now].

So back to Panasonic. Here are the problems I have with the propaganda, in BEr.g's guide to [somewhat] credible argument.

Don't debunk myths about your view while propagating myths about others. I think they have over stated the advantage plasma has in 'reproducing fast moving images' and 'producing blacker blacks'.

Don't defend a fault with a definition of the fault. Burn in 'will only happen under the highly rare condition that a high contrast image is continuously displayed for a very long time'. Indeed. That's exactly the problem.

You won't win over your audience by assuming they are idiots. 'Remember, you watch TV at home not in a store'.

Don't use surveys when it can't possibly contribute to your argument. I don't care at all what 70% of Australians think about the colour reproduction of the two technologies. I don't watch TV with their eyes, brain and nervous system!

My main issue with plasma is that screens have always been much lower resolution. Finally however, there is a 1080p model. It's HUGE though [165cm] and priced to kill.

So rather than rant about LCD, I'd like to hear from all of you [well, those of you prepared to write a well reasoned argument]. I would like to get a 1080p capable TV, but keep in mind...

• most video I currently watch is in the order of 512x384, 624x352 or 720x480 and somewhat compressed
• Swansea doesn't have standard let alone high definition digital TV
  
• I have regular DVDs too

However

• Swansea should get SD and HD TV later this year!
• We have the capability of watching movies on blu-ray discs [if we had any]
• I would like to hook a PC up to it as well [so many applications]

What should I be looking and waiting for?