As the technology fades, plasma TVs see huge discounts

The exodus toward flat-screen TVs continues, and that's been driving prices down across the board.

But if you're looking for the real deals, plasma is where it's at for now, according to a story in the Wall Street Journal.

What's going on? Put simply, plasma is a technology on its way out. Pioneer and Vizio have already announced this year that they're exiting the market, as manufacturers continue to pour their resources into LCD technology. LCD, used widely across the consumer electronics industry in not just televisions but also computer monitors, laptops, and even cameras and cell phones, has boundless momentum. Plasma, with its higher power requirements, larger size and weight, and finicky reliability, has remained TV-centric since its invention, despite some key benefits that have given the technology something of a cult following.

Meanwhile, there are still plenty of plasmas on the market, and not just close-out models. And diligent shoppers can find exceptional deals on plasma sets: Roughly 20 percent cheaper vs. LCD sets of the same size.

The WSJ story linked above note that a 50-inch LCD will run you $1,500 on average, while a 50-inch plasma runs about $1,200. Although prices vary widely from brand to brand and depend a lot on the features you select, in general the trend follows across the industry. Drop into any big-box electronics store and you're sure to see big discounts on all the plasma sets for sale.

Naturally there's a catch: As plasma vanishes from the market, you'll have an increasing amount of trouble finding someone who can service the set if it breaks. You'll also be stuck buying a very large set if you want a plasma: The technology starts at 42 inches diagonally, and you'll probably need a friend to help you move the thing, too.

Not everyone's giving up on plasma, though: Panasonic, which has long been the extreme market share leader in the plasma category, continues to invest in the technology and just constructed a new $3 billion plant to build the screens. What, didn't they get the memo?