Here is the reality: If you are using your TV as a computer monitor often, you would need to go with an LCD. Plain and simple. LCD technology allows for a higher resolution still image with smoother edges on text. Which also makes it better for gaming on the eyes and reliability. If you are going for movie image quality, brightness, and more vibrant look... PLASMA is THE number one! You will have the best picture without comparison from a plasma television set. I am arround different make and model TVs ALL day (I work at the biggest service center on the west coast) and i've seen it all. Plasma is the absolute best picture for TV programming. If you want a TV that will work forever and last a lifetime, you would buy a DLP or LCD projection. COOL running TVs that normally need a lamp replacement every 2000-8000 hours depending on make and model. JVC and Sony SXRD makes the best most vibrant picture quality while their lamp life is the lowest. But you can get a new one from my favorite lamp supplier "discount-merchant" dot com for cheap. Samsung by far makes the most reliable projection TVs except for the new LED based sets that have problems. I personally have a 50 Pioneer Elite plasma 2006 series in my living room and a Sony 52" XBR3 in my bedroom. My recommendation is a Sony XBR2 or XBR3 LCD TV. It is much more expensive than Sony's low end and much more expensive than the cheapo LCD brands you see out there, as well as some of the major manufacturers low end TVs. The reason being the contrast ratio.. Plain and simple.. the XBR2 and XBR3 sony TVs are much brighter than any other TV. The blacks are blacker and the whites are whiter. GET AN EXTENDED WARRANTY! LCDs are longer lasting than plasmas but if you are buying the top of the line LCD TV, extended warranty will be necessary because your investment must last you at least 3 years which most LCDs tend to fail after a couple. IT still isn't as bright as a plasma even though the contrast ratio says it is. Plasma technology has just a more vibrant picture, period. Plasma technology runs BRIGHTER but also hotter. This is the reason for their unreliability. They overheat and blow X-Sustain boards and Y-Sustain boards.. but the Plasma screen isn't what normally goes bad on them. FYI... Panasonic in 2007 has completely diminished the Plasma "Burn In" issue in their new sets, and its only going to get better.