4. Lifespan
With a claim of 50,000+ hours viewing, LCD has been the leader compared with a typical lifespan of 30,000 hours for plasma. But now Hitachi's new plasma range is offering up to 60,000 hours of quality viewing – that is to say, before resting-in-peace at half its original brightness.
Verdict: Comparison seems almost irrelevant when you consider that at a realistic five hours of TV a day, either technology could be serving you for up to 30 years!. Lifespan could only be an issue if you're planning on starting an interactive museum some-time down the track.
Burn-in
Plasma technology has been stung by claims of "burn-in" (when an image which stays on the screen for a long period causes pixels to prematurely age and fade, leaving a "ghost" of the image behind.) Network logos (e.g. TV2 or TV3 logos), computer games with static images (e.g. rev counters) or letter-boxed movies are some of the major causes of burn-in. Yes, there are precautions to bear in mind, but the extent of your worry will depend on the brand and model you choose. Speaking categorically, newer plasma technologies have come a very long way in overcoming burn-in. Some estimates suggest it would take over 200 continuous viewing hours for the CNN ticker to burn-into a modern plasma. Add to that, plasmas such as Hitachi's ALiS range have a number of built-in features to help reduce the effects of burn-in should it occur.
Verdict: LCDs simply don't suffer from burn-in.
Power consumption
In light of rising electricity prices, it is only fair to mention that LCDs tend to consume less power than plasma screens. Some estimates have suggested up to 30 percent less. In terms of viewing hours, however, it would be a very, very long while before the electricity costs of running your plasma amounted to anything significant.
Verdict: All power to Plasma. Use less power with LCD.
Price
There are huge variations in the price of both technologies. Generally those prices reflect the quality. Because you'll be enjoying this set for many years, don't be tempted to buy a cheapie. You'll have a long time to regret it.