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have a 42" panasonic plasma that lasted 3 years, wait awhile and report back

I have the 1080P version of your new Plasma.

I like the plasma picture; albeit is an energy hog and produces a lot of heat.

I personally can see the difference between 720 and 1080, and the receiver box from my satellite provider (Dish, the 722 DVR) upgrades the signal to 1080i.

And yes, the image is WONDERFUL!!!

Enjoy your new viewing!!!

I finally broke down and bought the X Series 42" 720P Panasonic Viera Plasma, model TC-P42X1.

Paid $597 delivered price from Amazon. I could have saved a few more dollars by going with another supplier on Amazon, but I went with Amazon themselves.

Could't pass up the price for less than $600, although my gut feeling tells me that this TV will be $550 by Christmas '09.

Picture is fantastic. Even standard definition TV looks great because the 480i standard television picture is increased to only 720 pixels instead of 1080 pixels.

Saw the same sized Viera 1080P plasma side-by-side with the 720P at Best Buy, and couldn't tell the difference (except for the price tag).

Power consumption is rated at 286 watts (485 watts for the 1080P), 155 watts average power consumption, and .3 watts standbye power draw. The 27-inch tube TV that this plasma replaces is rated at 120 watts.

Watched Planet Earth on Discovery HD. Wanted to get my snorkel gear and dive into the picture when they were showing the Great Barrier Reef.

This TV also has an SD card slot for viewing digital photos.

Outstanding bang for the buck.

Edit:
There is very little heat coming from the back of the TV, even after watching a full day's worth of football.
The Comcast HD cable box also upgrades the signal to 1080i.

Originally Posted by edward301

I am a Samsung person, have 5 now. One is a 61" dlp with the led light
engine, great tv. The others are LCD, one is 3 1/2 years old no problems
and it is used all the time. My last Sumsung is a 40" 1080P and the
picture is better that anyones eyesight, the refresh rate is fast, problem
is refresh rate is only good when you are playing video games.

You want a 15,000 to 1 contrast ratio for blacker blacks.

I do have 2 Sony Wega tv's that are 5 years old, and still plugging
away, but its Samsung only for me nowadays.

A guy at a Best Buy gave me a quote that stuck in my head.

"Samsung is the new Sony."

If you remember the glory days of Trinitron by Sony, this has a lot of meaning for you.

Plasma used to be what you had to get to really have a sharp, "film like" picture. That was two to three years ago.

Today, Plasma uses too much power, and you can get a more durable set with a picture just as sharp with the LED backlight LCD sets and use a lot less power.

I am a Samsung person, have 5 now. One is a 61" dlp with the led light
engine, great tv. The others are LCD, one is 3 1/2 years old no problems
and it is used all the time. My last Sumsung is a 40" 1080P and the
picture is better that anyones eyesight, the refresh rate is fast, problem
is refresh rate is only good when you are playing video games.

You want a 15,000 to 1 contrast ratio for blacker blacks.

I do have 2 Sony Wega tv's that are 5 years old, and still plugging
away, but its Samsung only for me nowadays.

Originally Posted by coolerfixer

Looking to get a new flat screen. I know there are plasma and LCD. What are the pro's and con's? I heard something about one is repairable and the other isn't. Any opinions or good/bad stories? Is there any real value in spending more for the top brands? Thanks for any insight.

Plasma is no longer worth the price.

Get an LCD with LED backlight. Samsung is the hot setup.

I have a 42" Panasonic Viera Plasma 1080P, it is about 24 mos old. I bought it with reward points from the CC I use for all my HVAC product purchases. I can tell you that the 1080 is WELL worth it; I would advise not to scrimp on resolution. Both satellite companies have tuners that upgrade to 1080i, it is a noticable difference.

As far as the LED flatscreens; it is a GREAT technology. Go to a BestBuy store, they have them all on display.

What is around the corner is 3-D TV. Yes, by this time next year there will be 3-D flatscreen TV's available. They will be pricey at first, but the price will come down.

If I had it to do again, I would buy an LCD or a LED... The Plasma has really great color and depth; but IMO the LCD's and LED's have gained to the point the plasma's are not that much better.

I personally think the trillions of $$$ of money the FED has pumped into the economy will soon result in price and wage inflation. And that idiot in the white house is about to start a trade war. Either price/wage inflation or a trade war will make everything that is made offshore cost more.

Many economists think the depression of the 1930's could have been over in a few years if some idiot had not started a trade war. (If anyone does not understand why, Google the 'VonMises School of Economics' at Auburn AL.)

Gary, you've waited long enough now that there is a new technology available. LED TV's. I don't own one, but the high def picture is even better than LCD or Plasma. Price is kind of ridiculous at this point.

Originally Posted by gary_g

I am still holding out on the purchase but I am considering a 42 inch Panasonic Viera, 720P. It was rated #2 by Consumer Reports.

Best price as of 1/3/09 is $689 delivered and installed by Amazon.com (comes with "white glove" delivery service).

Price of the 1080P Viera is currently $900 w/free shipping.

How low can they go?

8 months later, and I still haven't bought a flat screen TV yet.

I continue to hold out on this purchase. It's more of a "want" than a "need".

The next-generation plasma TV's are out now, with 600 Hz processor speed.

That 42-inch 720p Panasonic Viera is now $585 delivered from Amazon.

How much lower will it go, with Christmas right around the corner?

I need to sh%t, or get off the pot.

Dude go DLP!
They are sooooooo cheap right now
I got a 65 inch mitsubishi 1080 for $1400.00 less then a year ago
you can buy bulbs for about $170.00 all day long on ebay and the the picture looks just as good (sometimes better) then every TV out there.

Even if you get one of the junky TVs in a few weeks you will be so used to the picture that you wont remember any other.

The HD does make a difference but with my provider if you pay the 10 bucks a month for a DVR box you get the HD included

adventually all broadcast will be HD but they are just now phasing out analong signal so it will be here soon
Until then go rent some nice DVDs or get a playstation 3 to go with that TV so you can watch Blue Rays

Another Idea is go rent to own
rent a few differnet TVs for a few weeks until you find which one you like and then just pay it off
Most rental centers offer this service if you tell them up front that thats what you are doing.
You may pay as much as $300 dollars more but you get the chance to "test drive" several TVs with out all the hassle of handeling and returns.
Just specify that the final TV is to be new in the box and full warranty

Send pics of the new toy whatever you decide

Originally Posted by gary_g

This is exactly what bothers me about this purchase. I have several tube TV's that are over 15 years old and never had a single problem. Now I'm going to fork over $700 to $1000 for something that may last a few years? Makes me think about either buying the extended warranty (usually a waste of money) or sticking with the 27-inch tube until flat screen TV prices hit rock bottom.

I would stay away from the extended warranty, which is usually only good for 2 years. the problems I have are in the 3rd year. Oh and by the way, I can buy a new 42 inch plasma now for what it takes to get the other fixed.

I think LCD's probably are a better choice unless one is VERY careful with the screen. I have a Plasma, but I am the only one that uses it. Plasma's are sensitive to 'burn in' (image retention).

I knew someone years ago that had a rear projection TV. They watched FoxNews all day... the lower left emblem was burned into the screen. This WILL happen with a plasma. On the other hand, the picture on a Plasma is crisper and the colors more vivid... due to the blacker blacks a Plasma can deliver.

As noted in a previous post; Samsung's seem to be the good buy this week... Last year Sony Bravia's were the good buy... Wonder who will be the good buy next year.

I have a Panasonic Viera 42" 1080 Plasma, the '700' model (last year's model). I am happy with it, it works well for me.

Originally Posted by coolerfixer

Looking to get a new flat screen. I know there are plasma and LCD. What are the pro's and con's? I heard something about one is repairable and the other isn't. Any opinions or good/bad stories? Is there any real value in spending more for the top brands? Thanks for any insight.

I have an LCD which I really like. The differences from what I've read are the Plasma's show the blacks a little better. LCD's on the other hand show less glare in a room with a window. I did my research through consumer reports which gives you all of the pro's and con's of both.

Originally Posted by acmanko

my 42 inch panasonic plasma lasted 3 years, just like my 48 inch rear projection Phillips. now I have a 32 inch sony LCD. they are making crap now days. buy what costs the least , so youll have money for a new one in 3 years.

This is exactly what bothers me about this purchase. I have several tube TV's that are over 15 years old and never had a single problem. Now I'm going to fork over $700 to $1000 for something that may last a few years? Makes me think about either buying the extended warranty (usually a waste of money) or sticking with the 27-inch tube until flat screen TV prices hit rock bottom.

Originally Posted by gary_g

Here is Consumer Reports 2009 Buying Guide best picks. These are in the order that they appear in the publication. Some 720's performed better than some 1080's, and some "lesser" brands performed better than "name" brands. The sets were rated on High-Def picture quality, Standard-Def picture quality, DVD picture quality, sound quality, viewing angle (LCD's only), and ease-of-use of the remote control.

I haven't bought one yet. I'm still on the fence.


LCD TVs

52 inches
Samsung LN52A650
LG 52LG50
Toshiba Regza 52XF55OU
NuVision NVU52DCM
Sharp Aquous LC-52SE94U

46 and 47 inches
Samsung LN46A550
Vizio VO47LF
Sony Bravia KDL-46S4100
Toshiba Regza 46RV53OU
JVC LT-47P789

40 and 42 inches
Samsung LN40A550
Toshiba Regza 42XV54OU
LG 42LG70
Olevia 242TFHD
LG 42LG50
Sony Bravia KDL-40V4100
Vizio VO42L FHDTV10A
Sharp Aquos LC-C4254U
Sylvania LC420SS8
Vizio VX42L
Sanyo DP42848


Plasma TV's

58 inches and larger
Samsung PN58A550
LG 60PG60

50 inches
Samsung PN50A550
Panasonic TH-50PZ800U
Samsung PN50A450
Panasonic TH-50PZ85U
Insignia NS-PDP50
Vizio JV50P
Panasonic TH-50PZ85OU
LG 50PG20
Insignia NS-PDP50HD-09
Sanyo DP50747

46 inches
Panasonic TH-46PZ80U

42 inches
Panasonic TH-42PZ800U
Panasonic TH-42PX80U
LG 42PG20
Samsung PN42A450
Vizio VP422HDTV10A

Looks like Consumer Reports still likes Samsung. I bought a Samsung 50" DLP about 3 years ago based on recommendations from Consumer Reports and I have been very pleased with the purchase.

my 42 inch panasonic plasma lasted 3 years, just like my 48 inch rear projection Phillips. now I have a 32 inch sony LCD. they are making crap now days. buy what costs the least , so youll have money for a new one in 3 years.

I would get the 1080P. You will be glad you did. Think of it as an investment in 'fun'. Both satellite TV co's have receivers that upgrade to 1080i (all satellite signals are 720P). And DVD players that 'upconvert' a 480p DVD to 1080i are common and cheap. IMO BluRay is not really ready for primetime yet...costs too much. It does not take long to get spoiled with HD, and it is well worth it IMO.

I am still holding out on the purchase but I am considering a 42 inch Panasonic Viera, 720P. It was rated #2 by Consumer Reports.

Best price as of 1/3/09 is $689 delivered and installed by Amazon.com (comes with "white glove" delivery service).

Price of the 1080P Viera is currently $900 w/free shipping.

How low can they go?

Originally Posted by doc havoc

I read somewhere that a 42" plasma tv will consume about the same amount of power as a 1970's refrigerator/freezer.

If I remember, my Panasonic is rated at 480 Watts (it is not printed on the back). I have a lot of electronic stuff in my office; I literally had to add a 5" vent to the corner of the office to keep it all cooled.

As I remember, I did start noticing the office was a little warm the summer after the Plasma was added to the area.

I read somewhere that a 42" plasma tv will consume about the same amount of power as a 1970's refrigerator/freezer.