When you first lay eyes on a plasma flat screen TV it seems almost wondrous. The reason for this feeling of awe for most people is the wonder of how something so thin can operate as a television set when older models seemed so big. Consumers are still invariably familiar with the classic cathode ray television set which, of course, was boxed shaped and filled with components. The plasma screen television set does not use a bulky cathode ray which eliminates the need for a square compartment to house so many components. The technology that replaces the cathode ray in a plasma television creates a much clearer and crisper visual feed. Plasma televisions can be found fairly inexpensive these days as more manufacturers are gearing up for the digital transition in 2009.  The cost is definitely worth while if you are still using an older CRT.