Plasma or LCD?

Samsung LCD, (from Sears).
I had a Sony LCD, the Samsung is way better. Your eyes will need to adjust to the picture though, I think I spent the first week in tears. Don't skimp on the cables, get a quality HDMI.

Someone at Best Buy said that Samsung and Sony are made in the same Factory?

We have a Samsung and Sony LCD both are have very nice pictures. The Sony is a LCD projection and the Samsung is a LCD Flat screen. These TV's are so cheap anymore it's crazy.