QUOTE(funnyTONE @ Jan 3 2010, 02:48 PM)
Plasma technology is going nowhere. These days, LCD and LED TV is the new thing. In the long run, I'm sure Pana doesn't want to be known for old school technology. Even Pioneer stopped making Kuro series. Furthermore, I read somewhere California is making a regulation to ban certain plasma series that consume too much energy compared to energy saving LCD.
Google up 5Lumens/Watt and 10 Lumens/Watt. This is how plasma if it survives to see that technology can reduce power consumption and make the panels brighter.
I think 2009 was the year where plasma demonstrated killer contrast ratios and lower power consumption possibilities. However, Pioneer pulled out due to not being able to compete.
LED backlit LCDs are they way for delivering better blacks as well for LCDs to battle back.
Remember NeoPDPs were only ~ 3L/Watt and the energy consumptions have already dropped.
2011, if plasma is around is when we will start seeing 5L/W tech starting to come out. Let's see.
If not, I'm sure some new technology will be out to compete.