Wayne,
If you have cable or satellite your old TV will work ok, you just won't get the High Def picture. If you only have an antenna, then you will need a converter box. Just look at the NASCAR races they showed this year that were broadcast in Hi Definition.
Right now I would go with the LCD. One reason is the plasma TVs use a lot of juice and tend to get hot. I have heard but don't know for sure that they will start to lose color clarity after a few years too, but that is only what I have heard, I don't know if it is so or not.
Ron
