There are three types of screen technology.

CRT (cathode-ray tubes)

This is the original TV technology, in which three round tubes (red, blue, and green) receive traditional analog signals (see "How You See It," below). They require a square frame to house them.
Pros: Less expensive than newer, higher-tech options.
Cons: They’re big, bulky, heavy sets.

LCD (liquid-crystal display)

Images are projected using liquid-crystal pixels that open and close like tiny camera shutters.
Pros: Thin, light sets with bright images; generally less expensive than plasma TVs.
Cons: The technology isn't widely available in screens larger than 32 inches.

Plasma

Thin, flat screens that run electricity through gas, which then lights up a special coating to display images.
Pros: Crisp, detailed pictures and screen sizes up to 60-plus inches.
Cons: If a static picture, like a network logo, stays on the screen for several hours, it may cause a ghostlike image to burn permanently into the screen.

How You See It

Your picture is only as good as the signals your television set receives and is capable of displaying. There are two types of technology. Before you buy, ask your dealer which your set features.

Analog: The traditional TV technology that is delivered through your basic cable box.
Digital: A newer technology used to transmit images, it will eventually replace analog completely (many current CRT TVs are capable of being upgraded to view digital images). There are two types of digital television: Enhanced-definition (ED) images are crisper than traditional analog ones, but not as sharp as the images of high-definition (HD) television, the most advanced format. Sets that are labeled EDTV- or HDTV-capable can receive digital signals but can pick them up only with an external box (typically costing about $250 but sometimes available for rental from cable providers). An integrated EDTV or HDTV has a built-in tuner to receive the signals.