The search for a better view………………

Let me preface this with a little info that I should include before I start rambling on and on.
The TV I am looking to buy will be for DAILY viewing, and also used a monitor for my Mac Mini. The purchase will be made within the next 6 months, and the MINIMUM screen size will be 37” The people who will be viewing this screen (my wife and two children) will be seated roughly 8-10” from the screen. Content will be piped in via a DirecTV HD receiver, a progressive scan DVD player, a Mac Mini and an Xbox (version1) and a Nintendo Wii.

There are two competing technologies I am eyeing, the first is LCD, and the second is Plasma. Each has its merits, and likewise, each has its flaws.

From what I have been able to garner from various sites on the internet LCD sounds like the ideal candidate. This is based on a few factors (please correct me if I am wrong here).

Number one is power consumption. LCD consumes far less power than a Plasma display. Another thing is noise, Plasma displays incorporate a power supply that uses cooling fans, and fans make noise (come listen to my PC!). I have also been under the impression that Plasma TV’s are finicky in relationship to operating environment. If someone can elaborate more on this I’d appreciate it.

But…..The downsides to LCD from what I have read aren’t much better. For one thing the rendering of the color blacks on an LCD is less than perfect. For instance images that have gradients from black to grey can become pixilated giving you a nasty image. Also I know that LCD’s have a much slower response time than Plasma, so you are prone once again to pixilation during action sequences or complex scenes.

I have come to the conclusion that when I do make my purchase that I will have to choose between the lesser of two evils. Plasma is cheaper for larger screen sizes (I can get a good 42” Plasma for less than a good 37” LCD)

I’m also interested in feedback regarding contrast ratios of the two technologies. I know that Plasma has a huge advantage in this area, but will I see the difference in normal viewing conditions (such as a normally lit living room)?

Also, should I be waiting for the emergence of SED televisions? This new technology offers a lifespan far surpassing LCD (and totally annihilating Plasma), it also promises to be cheaper…but this has yet to make it to market.

And lastly, if there is anyone who has already made this same purchasing nightmare and lived to tell about it, PLEASE contact me! I want to know how you made out, and what you ended up buying.