SAN FRANCICSO -- Consumer Reports has been testing television sets for more than 40 years, so who better to consult with when looking for a new TV set.

The magazine's testers have just assessed plasma TVs and found that televisions have come a long, long way.

Back in 1960, portable TV sets were the latest in television technology and Consumer Reports testers were there -- evaluating the benefits of a smaller TV. And the tests didn't stop there.

Forty years later, plasma TVs are the hot, new thing. Consumer Reports just finished testing them.

"We tested 10 plasma TVs, ranging in price from $3,000 dollars to more than $10,000," said Gerard Catapano from Consumer Reports.

So what does that much money get you in a television? Well, for one thing, a great big picture -- these screens are 42 to 43 inches and their thin profile is a real space saver. The sets are less than six inches thick and the plasma technology means you'll get a brighter picture.

But Catapano warns there are some drawbacks. For one, they use a lot more power than a conventional set. Another problem is that images can become burned in to plasma screens.

"You will see an increase in your electric bill," Catapano said. "Burn-in can also happen. Burn-in happens when a static image is left on a television screen for a long time, say when you're watching a television program that has its logo on the bottom."

Of course, the biggest drawback for most people is paying thousands of dollars for a TV. The good news, Consumer Reports says, is that you can expect prices of plasma TVs to drop significantly in the next few years.