Sizing Up A Really Big TV

(CBS)  A few months ago I reviewed a Dell 42-inch plasma display which, in my opinion, is a really big TV. But it's not as big as they get. For that matter, neither is the 61-inch JVC HD-ILA Rear Projection TV that's in my home right now, but it sure is big.

It's also really nice. The high definition programs come in crystal clear and even regular (standard definition) shows look OK, though not nearly as good as the ones that are broadcast in "hi-def." At a street price of about $2,200 to $2,500 it's probably one of the most economical ways to get a very large screen high-def TV.

Plasma and rear projection are two of several technologies being used in today's high definition TVs. Other technologies include Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), standard high definition cathode ray tube (CRT) and front-screen projectors for home theaters.

What LCD, plasma and rear screen have in common is a flat screen and the capability of producing a stunning picture in a large format. LCDs, which cost more to build per square inch, are used mainly in smaller models, typically 32 inches or lower.

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Click here to listen to Larry Magid's podcast interview of Dan McCarron, product manager of JVC's new line of rear projection televisions.

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The advantage of plasma is that the screens tend to be thinner. The Dell, which is 4 inches thick, can be mounted on a wall, though relatively few people actually do wall mount their plasma TVs. Rear projection TVs are thicker. The JVC, for example, is 18.5 inches thick but unless space is tight, thickness may not matter – from the front, all the viewer sees is a flat screen TV.

When it comes to size, what really matters is the size of the picture, measured diagonally. While not everyone wants the largest screen possible, there is certainly a market for large screens. For one thing, they help to create a theater-like atmosphere and, for another, they can be quite impressive to your visitors. I must admit that there is something pleasant about watching a TV show or a movie on a large screen even if it's just you sitting on the couch.

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