Suggestion:

Here's a comparison list that may help you decide……..

Plasma advantages:

1. Deeper, richer colors.
2. No blurring on very fast action (good for sports and game boxes).
3. Very wide viewing angle.
4. Generally less expensive than an equivalent LCD set.

Plasma disadvantages:

1. On older or cheaper models, risk of “burn-in” on the screen with non-moving images.
2. Very heavy compared to equivalent LCD set.
3. Draws about 50 to 75% more electrical power than an equivalent LCD set.
4. Reflective screen a problem in lighted rooms.

LCD advantages:

1. Brilliant colors on the latest models, about as good as plasma.
2. Draws significantly less electrical power.
3. Weighs about 25 to 50% less than an equivalent plasma set.
4. No burn-in hazard.
5. Minimal reflection in lighted rooms.

LCD disadvantages:

1. Slight blurring on very fast action (even with 120 or 240 hz refresh rate)
2. Narrow viewing angle
3. Older or less expensive models use a fluorescent backlight lamp that may burn out.

LED advantages:
1. Same as LCD, except fluorescent backlight is replaced by a bank of light emitting diodes that won’t burn out like the fluorescent lamp.
2. On “full matrix” LED models, improved contrast in specific areas of the screen.
3. On “edge-lit” LED models, a very thin cabinet.
4. Uses less power than a conventional LCD set.

LED disadvantages:
1. Higher cost for essentially the same picture quality as a very good conventional LCD set.

Read online: Are Plasma HDTV's bad? Vs LCD?

Suggestion:

plasma is better than LCD in terms of picture like
refresh rates with plasma's having 600hz out the box
for smooth crisp HD picture during fast action. Also
plasma has far superior contrasts than LCD and plasma
costs less, go for a panasonic plasma which is number 1.
As for 1080i vs 720p, 720p wins, HD goes like this from
worst to best 1080i, 720p, 1080p.

Read online: plasma vs LCD and is there a major difference between 720 and 1080i, ill be many using tv for xbox?

Some plasmas seem to be sharper .. why not take Plasma over LCD ?

-Amnon

Suggestion:

A plasma screen has better contrast, better color imaging, and a faster response time (the time it takes for a pixel to appear in full brightness at the right color after the signal is applied – plasma is instantaneous) than an LCD. But, the matte plastic LCD screen gets brighter and doesn't reflect light like the smooth glass plasma screen does. So, if you're using the TV in any location that's brighter than a dark dedicated home theater room, you will get a lot of glare and reflection on the plasma screen that you don't get on the LCD. Also, if you just sit directly in front of the plasma screen, the light from the screen shining on you will be reflected off the screen and it could be bothersome.

If you have any kind of ambient light whatsoever in the room you're going to be watching TV in – and especially if it's a fairly bright room – you'll be much more satisfied with the LDC screen than the plasma.

Read online: ** PLASMA vs LCD – what would you take ?? **?

Here some references (still i am not sure which one is better)
Regza 42HL167:

http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/toshiba-regza-42hl167/4505-6482_7-32306263.html?tag=rnav

Samsung PN42A450:
http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/samsung-pn42a450/4505-6482_7-32815317.html?tag=rnav#cnetReview

Suggestion:

The TV you have listed are the older model I would recommend you LG 42LD550 42-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV much better TV at less price
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0039RSYQS?ie=UTF8&tag=bestdeals-y-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0039RSYQS

Read online: Toshiba Regza 42HL167 vs Samsung PN42A450?

http://www.flatpaneltvinfo.com/Plasma_vs_LCD_vs_LED-LCD.php

Suggestion:

LCD stands for liquid crystal display and is a crystal which changes colour when a current is passed through it and is light up by a back light. Plasma as the name suggests is a plasma which emits light when exited by electricity. Plasma is considered to be the best though I have used both and plasma gets very hot and is expensive to run. I prefer LCD as the picture is superb and much cheaper to run.

Read online: what's the difference between LCD & Plasma, and which is better?

Suggestion:

Ideally an LCD TV is best for your application. LED TVs are just LCD TVs with a different kind of backlight (leds and not flourescent lamps), so they can create richer colours and deeper blacks. There are too many issues with plasma, screen burn in for example and low lifespan.

A good LCD TV with good contrast ratio (eg SAMSUNG, SONY, PHILIPS, PANASONIC) would be your best bet imo.

Good luck.

Read online: Plasma vs LCD or LED which would be best?

Suggestion:

Plasma- screen size – 42"-65", viewing angle – Excellent, picture contrast - Very Good to Excellent, video motion – Excellent, color gamut – Excellent, power cosumption – Good

Pros: excellent contrast and black levels, effortless motion, rich colors
Cons: vulnerable to "burn-in" although it's less of an issue for newer models; screen tends to reflect room lights

LCD with standard fluorescent backlight- screen size – 19"-70", viewing angle – Good to Very Good, picture contrast – Good to Excellent, video motion – Good to Excellent, color gamut – Very Good, power consumption – Very Good

Pros: panels weigh less than plasma and use less energy; burn-in not an issue
Cons: picture slightly less natural and "filmlike" than top plasmas

LCD with LED backlight- screen size – 32"-60", viewing angle – Good to Very Good, picture contrast – Very Good to Excellent, video motion – Good to Excellent, color gamut – Excellent, power consumption – Excellent

Pros: panels use the least energy and weigh less than plasma; burn-in not an issue
Cons: picture slightly less natural and "filmlike" than top plasmas

Read online: Plasma Vs LCD vs led vs oled?

Suggestion:

Here's a site that you can look at prices for 1548 tvs of all types
http://tech.pronto.com/mpm/pa-tft-televisions/aq-_STYLE_flat_panel-_HN_television/c-v1_1_10_67/psz-0/?OVADGRPID=4001361900&OVADID=9069430512&OVCAMPGID=2373131012&OVKEY=tft+television&OVKWID=116184413512&OVMTC=advanced&OVNDID=ND1&OVRAW=tft+tv&adid=1189130092-3846128-0_ys&creativeid=%7Bcreative%7D&loadingComplete=true&ref=%7Bkeyword%7D&site=%7Bplacement%7D

Read online: TFT vs LCD vs Plasma TV?

Thanks

Suggestion:

Pros of Plasma
- Better contrast ratio, better motion tracking, better ability to render deep blacks, they are available in larger size.

Cons of Plasma
- more susceptible to burn-in but has been solved at some extend with the new TV
- more heat and power consuption
- heavier weight
For Plasma I recommend Panasonic or Samsung

http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fie%3DUTF8%26redirect%3Dtrue%26ref_%3Dsr%5Fnr%5Fp%5Fn%5Ffeature%5Fthree%5Fbr%5F1%26bbn%3D979929011%26qid%3D1257710394%26rnid%3D724226011%26rh%3Dn%253A172282%252Cn%253A%2521493964%252Cn%253A1266092011%252Cn%253A172659%252Cn%253A979929011%252Cp%5Fn%5Ffeature%5Fthree%5Fbrowse-bin%253A724228011&tag=bestdeals-y-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957

Pros of LCD
- no burn-in
- cooler running
- more functional at high altitudes
- longer display life
- less power consumption than Plasma.

Cons of LCD
- Lower contrast ratio
- rendering deep blacks compare to Plasma are not so good
- not good at tracking motion but still trying 120Hz or 240Hz refresh rates
For LCD I recommend Samsung or LG
http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fie%3DUTF8%26node%3D724227011%252C979929011%26ref_%3Dce%5F500%5Fftlc1&tag=bestdeals-y-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957

Read online: Plasma Vs LCD.. whats better?

The first model that I looked at is a Samsung. It is a 42" plasma screen, with 720p resolution and a 600 Hz refresh rate. Here is a link to it on Best Buy's website: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Samsung+-+42%22+Class+/+720p+/+600Hz+/+Plasma+HDTV/9791253.p?skuId=9791253&productCategoryId=abcat0101001&id=1218175547625#tabbed-customerreviews . It is originally $599 but it's on sale for $499.

The other model I was looking at was an LG. It is a 32" TV with 1080p resolution and a 120 Hz refresh rate. It is an LCD screen instead of plasma, though. Here is a link to it: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/LG+-+32%22+Class+/+1080p+/+120Hz+/+LCD+HDTV/9811773.p?id=1218177896216&skuId=9811773#tabbed-customerreviews . This set was originally $799 but it's on sale for $609.

Which TV should I purchase? I'm leaning towards the Samsung Plasma because the screen is ten inches larger, it has a much higher refresh rate, and it's over a hundred dollars cheaper. My parents don't play video games or anything. They have a DVD/VCR combination box in their living room already, and that's the only thing they'll do with it. They have standard cable from Comcast but the signals aren't in hi-def and they don't get any specifically hi-def channels either, so I don't think the resolution issue should matter. Which one should I buy?

Suggestion:

Go for Samsung Plasma…

Read online: LCD vs. Plasma TV Which should I choose?

What Is Plasma TV