PITTSBURGH -- Are you determined to hang a high-definition television on your wall this holiday season?

Many technology experts predict the prices of plasma models will be dropping.

"Your best value right now for the flat-screen TV is definitely your plasma, because of the way the prices are coming down," said Gary Pietropola, of Laketon TV.

One possible reason for the plasma price-drop is that liquid crystal display (LCD) televisions are becoming more popular.

Consumer Reports gives its "best buy" plasma rating to Vizio and Panasonic, calling them the top bargains for your money. The magazine likes Sony and Toshiba for LCD models.

HDTV repairs can take a long time, whether you're paying the bill or whether it's covered by a warranty.

The type most likely to require repairs is the rear-projection set, which cannot be hung on a wall.

According to Consumer Reports, RCA's DLP has the highest repair rate among that kind of TV, followed by Toshiba's and Hitachi's LCD.

Most of the problems come from something called a color wheel," according to Pietropola.

"You've got to be very careful on the brands you buy for the rear-projection TVs," Pietropola said. "That way, you'll know which one has the wheel and which one doesn't have the wheel."

Repair rates for flat-panel HDTVs are far lower.

Dell has the highest percentage of problems for LCD sets, followed by Hitachi and Philips, according to Consumer Reports.

And Philips required the most repairs for plasma sets, followed by Samsung and Pioneer, according to Consumer Reports.

One more tip: Always measure the area where you want to put the television before you go to the store to make a purchase. Even a large TV can look small in the store, compared to the really huge ones.