I am a Consumer Reports junkie, and they rated my 42 inch a Best Buy two years ago. I love it. My buddy, a retired TV director, recently purchased the Panasonic 50 Plasma (TH50PZ) and it is even better.

The downside, compared to LCD's.....the plasmas are HEAVY. I had a woodworker build a cherry frame for mine. It looks great, but I am dreading ever having to change an AV cable. It will be a chore. The LCD's are a lot lighter.

Either way, LCD or Plasma, hooked up properly (HD cable box, Blu-Ray DVD, etc.), you will be amazed at the quality of the picture. I am not one to hype anything, but the picture I get is AMAZING.