Direct-view CRT:
CRT (cathode-ray tube) direct view televisions are the integrated (TV tuner/display/speakers) sets we have known for the past 50 years. CRT TV sets are available today which have HDTV capability but the old tube TV technology is rapidly being replaced by thinner and larger display technologies.

Rear-projection:
A rear-projection television usually ranges from 40 inches to 82 inches in screen size. Inside a rear-projection TV is a lamp, lens and a mirror that reflects an image that is projected from the projector to the display screen. This is done so that the actual television depth does not need to be as deep as a 2 piece rear projection set. The picture looks dimmer if you're viewing from the side. The lamp needs to be replaced periodically (much more often than a LCD light source). RPTVs (rear-projection TVs) take up more floor space than direct-view TVs and are not nearly as thin as LCD or Plasma displays.

Flat-screen versus flat-panel
Don't get caught by this word game: flat-panel is very different from flat-screen. Flat-screen can refer to a traditional direct-view CRT, complete with the big, bulky picture tube, except that the screen doesn't have the slight curve that older models did. Flat-panel means the very popular, skinny, wall-mountable TVs, like plasma and LCD displays.

Plasma TV:
A plasma TV: is a high definition (HDTV) alternative to the standard cathode ray televisions sold today. A plasma TV provides sharp images and vibrant colors, especially when used in conjunction with high definition broadcasts. Quite often a plasma TV is designed in a 16:9 ratio for wide screen movie formats, as opposed to the box-like 4:3 ratio of standard televisions.

LCD, LCD TV, Liquid Crystal Display:
LCD is a solid-state display technology used in televisions. Light passes through a panel of “liquid crystals” and either produces an image directly on a flat panel television or is projected onto a large screen – one type of rear projection television. LCD televisions tend to be very light weight and provide very good picture quality. Their primary drawback is they tend not to be as bright as some other technologies such as plasma.

Front-projection:
A front projection TV is a two piece unit that projects the image from the front of the TV onto a screen. It is like the technology that is used in movie theaters.