A plasma TV is a dream for many. The idea of having a picture-perfect image hanging off your wall is something that was hardly a fantasy just a few years ago. Owning a plasma TV, however, has both benefits and downsides depending on who you ask and what you expect out of it, so it's important that you do your research before you decide to invest in one.

ADVANTAGES

• Quality. It doesn't get any better than a plasma TV. With HDTV signals and 16.77 million colors being the standard, a plasma TV is way above any regular television set in the market. A cheaper plasma TV may offer EDTV (Enhanced Definition TVs) signals, but even those are superior to the run-of-the mill TV.

• Design. A plasma TV is slim, lightweight, and able to fit almost anywhere. They are also fashionable and come in a variety of colors so that they can blend with any decor.

• Image. Plasma TVs offer uniform screen brightness, near zero distortion, no dull spots, and no glare.

• Computer compatibility. A plasma TV can connect to a computer to be used as a replacement monitor, or to play videos, Power Point presentations, and even games.

• Size. The largest plasma TV currently available is over 80 inches (2 m) across, although such size is still not openly available in the market. 50 inch (127 cm) screens, however, are standard in plasma TVs. Because a plasma TV weighs up to 10 times less than a regular tv, size is not longer an issue when it comes to installation and placement.

DISADVANTAGES

• Price. Even though prices have dropped considerably over the past few years, a plasma TV is still much more expensive than any regular TV available in the market.

• Frailty. Plasma TVs are considerably more fragile than many other electronics. The screen is particularly sensitive to touch and cannot be repaired once burnt. It also has a shorter lifespan than regular TV tubes, with few plasma TVs surviving longer than 7-10 years. This also means that a plasma TV should be handled as little as possible, avoiding unnecessary moves or transportation.