From ConsumerReport's March '04 issue.

Direct view (CRT):13 to 36 in., Less than $100 to $3,000

Still the standard for top picture quality.
Pluses:Mature, proven technology. Least expensive type of TV, with best video quality.
Minuses:Maximum screen size limited. Larger sets are big, bulky, and heavy (more than 200 pounds)

LCD:14 to 46 in., $500 to $11,000

A bright, smooth image is created by a white backlight and thousands of pixels that open and close like shutters.

Pluses:Thin and light. Can be wall-mounted. Sleek look. No risk of burn-in of static images. Some can double as a computer display.
Minuses:Maximum screen size limited--for now, at least. Larger models can be costly. Image may dim as you angle away from center of screen. Have less contrast than direct-view sets. Slow pixel response may make fast-moving images appear fuzzy.

Plasma:32 to 63 in., $3,000 to $25,000

With plasma technology, an image is created by a huge array of tiny fluorescent lights.

Pluses:Screens can be very large. Thin and wall-mountable. Sleek look. High brightness and contrast.
Minuses:Power-hungry. Generate lots of heat. Some lack speakers and tuner. Burn-in of static images a concern. Fairly heavy. Wall-mounting can be costly.

Rear projection (CRT-based):38 to 61 in, $1,000 to $6,000

Three CRT tubes (red, green, blue) with three lenses project the images. The lenses are aligned so that a single color image appears on the screen

Pluses:Lowest price for big-screen TV, with wide selection and plentiful features.
Minuses:Big, bulky, and heavy. CRTs need periodic realignment. Image may dim as you angle away from center of screen.

Rear projection (LCD- & DLP-based):40 to 70 in, $2,800 to $7,000

LCD works by transmitting light through three-chip color, much like a photographic slide.
DLP works by using fast color wheels, which are used to separate the internal lamp's light into color.

Pluses:Thinner and lighter than CRT-based siblings. No risk of burn-in. Higher resolution than CRT-based units.
Minuses:Pricey, especially for bigger screens. LCD-based: black parts of image not truly black. Image may dim as you angle away from center of screen. Backlight bulb may need periodic replacement.