The two newest technologies in the world of televisions are plasma and LCD. Plasma, the most recent technology, has been quickly coming down in price in the last couple of years, and is now relatively affordable. LCD, or liquid crystal display, TVs have only recently taken off, and are currently more expensive than plasma. LCD technology, however, has existed for quite some time; it has been used in laptop computer screens for over a decade. Not until recently have larger versions of the LCD screen been produced. As larger LCD screen become available, along with decreasing prices, LCD becomes a much stronger plasma competitor.

LCDs will soon be able to compete head to head with plasmas on size, in October 2004 Sharp unveiled an LCD AQUOS that is 65” wide. Sharp’s executives say that such a quantum leap in screen size—well beyond the 45” size that many thought was the limit for LCDs—shows that LCD technology still has plenty of room to evolve and grow.