LED is whats the new thing now for TVs, but the LCDs prices keep dropping.
LED
is LCD, it just uses LEDs for lighting instead of a CFL. Benefit? Dynamic contrast on LCD works by adjusting the brightness of the CFL panel...which adjusts the brightness of the entire screen (and allows fake-ass contrast ratios). LED allows a more "local" dimming, so looks much better overall. Also, less power, if you care about those things.
Also, LED isn't "the new thing for TVs." It's a nicer technology, but look up LaserVue, FED, SED, and OLED for the "new thing" in TVs.
42" and 50" Panasonic. Both were/are great. Anyone figure out the average life span on a plasma?
Life span DOES NOT FUCKING MATTER. I always laugh when someone says "LCDS last longer than PLASMAS." Yes, they do, BUT, most shit has an average lifespan of over 100,000 hours, and is probably significantly higher nowadays. 100,000 hours = 4,167 days = 11 years of STRAIGHT USE. Nobody leaves their TV on that long, and nobody keeps the same damn TV for 10 years AND uses it that long. FUCK lifespan ratings. It's more "bigger number!" marketing.
ANYTHING ABOVE 60HZ IS A MOTHERFUCKING MARKETING PLOY, DUMBASSES
Movies are filmed at 24/1.001 (~23.97) frames per second. SD content is at ~60 frames per second, because it's telecined (3 progressive, 2 interlaced) from the original 23.97FPS. THERE IS NO FUCKING REASON FOR 120-240HZ. I'm sure in the future we will one day have videos at higher frame rates, but if the source is ~24FPS, you aren't going to see any benefit to having a display running 120-240hz.
Do you know how a 240hz TV was demoed? They created a cluster of four Playstation 3s all running Gran Turismo. They *slightly* offset the frames on each one since they each run the game 60FPS, so when combined, they had a true 240FPS. People said it looked as smooth as real life...but the fact is -- you aren't going to watch a movie and say OMG THIS 240HZ MAKES THIS MOVIE SO MUCH SMOOTHER. TVs aren't smart enough to magically create new frames and smooth the picture.