Anyone own a 1080p plasma or LCD TV?

[bull]

My wife and I are thinking about getting a 50" plasma TV and now that the 1080p sets are out the 720p sets seem to be getting cheaper but according to the latest Consumer Reports it seems there's not that much difference between the two to the naked eye. If you own a 1080p set would you agree with that? I saw a few of them side by side in the store and I couldn't tell a whole lot of difference.

Also, do you prefer LCD or plasma? I tend to like plasma myself except for the glare and I don't like how the LCD sets look when you're sitting off to the side. The difference between plasma and LCD seems to be similar to the difference between matte and glossy pictures. In many respects they are identical and yet they both have their strengths and weaknesses. What's your opinion?

[TK73]

42" plasma.

I was looking at 42" 720 and 1080's in the store, I could tell a difference... 1080 mucho sharper.  Went with the 720 as that was my budget at the time and when I go bigger in a few years I'll do a 1080.

Plasma is recommended for darker rooms, LCD has brighter projection for lighter rooms (what I read).

Somebody (near Seattle) on this board just got a 42" 1080...

[Ponch ®]

Go with the 1080p. The reason that you can't tell the difference between the 720 and the 1080 at the store is that most HD channels are still broadcasting in 720p. The 720p will be just fine for now, but in year or two, when channels switch to 1080 and you get a BlueRay or HD DVD player, you're going to want the 1080 anyway.

I just bought a 42" Westinghouse 1080p about 2 months ago for $1100 @ Best Buy...

[Moparsky67]

My  , 
          Unless you just need or have to hang a flat panel (plasma or LCD) on a wall, I might suggest you check into a rear projection type DLP or JVC's version of DLP D-ILA or HD-ILA.
You will get larger screen size for your money. You did not mention your budget in your post,
but I just looked at a web vendor's web site at a 58" JVD HD-ILA, that's 1080P & is only
10.7 " deep for $2300 --sounds like a great deal. 
         Remember the closer you buy to the leading edge of the latest & greatest new  technology, you are also on the bleeding edge money wise. You get to help offset R & D expenses I guess. Here is a neat site for electronics (and no I do not work for them -- a buddy refered them to me). They have extensive details for their products. 

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/category/desc/96

[Forza]

If you get a Plasma, don't set it on it's back on the trip home! I'd have to say I like LCD's a little more than Plasma's. Mainly for the fact I still play my Xbox and Plasmas arent too friendly will non moving graphics like most games have. Hell even station logo's burn into the screen, they will fade over time but they are a pain in the ass when you watch a DVD. I bought a 50' Plasma last may and I think I'll get an LCD the next time I go in the market for a new TV.

[2Gunz]

The TV is only as good as its source material.

And with that...


Something that I have noticed in a few places that sell tv's.

The cheap TV's end up with a coax source.

The middle of the walk Tv's get S-video or component.

And the expensive TV's get HDMI.

So basically the Cheap TV could look as good or better than the high dollar ones.

But it has no chance because its being sent an inferior source.




I would go down to Costco and check this out.......

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11227805&whse=BC&Ne=5000001+4000000&eCat=BC|79|2341&N=4001374%204294908496&Mo=6&No=0&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&topnav=

I have haves little brother a 42" 1080p and its pretty damn nice.

And it has 3 HDMI inputs.


Anyway alot of TV buying is what YOU think looks good.

So get what ya like.

Good luck.

[bull]

Wouldn't they want the more expensive sets to look better?

[ramit]

We just bought a 50" panasonic 1080p plasma tv.  After researching it, I decided to go with the plasma over the LCD.  I think the plasma's have come along way in the last few years.  From what I have read, the image burn problem that they were notorious for is almost a non-issue nowadays.  My wife works for Best Buy and everyone that she works with suggested the plasma over the LCD.

[last426]

Wouldn't they want the more expensive sets to look better?

TV salespeople are famous for making the brand with the best spiff the best looking -- they do it all the time. I get 1080 broadcast here and it is far superior to 720, no comparison really.  Kim

[Ponch ®]

Wouldn't they want the more expensive sets to look better?

TV salespeople are famous for making the brand with the best spiff the best looking -- they do it all the time. I get 1080 broadcast here and it is far superior to 720, no comparison really.  Kim

1080i or 1080p?

[bull]

Great. So now we've entered a new era with TV sets (previously monopolized only by the computer industry) where you're forced to buy a new model every three years because the old models become outdated and basically unusable as the broadcast technology presses forward. So I guess by about 2011 the new 1450p sets will hit the stores and 1080p will be worthless.

There are days I wish I were Amish.

[Troy]

I've been looking as well since our big screen TV was stolen... last March. I am having difficulty paying $1,600-2,400 for something that I need about once a month. I did most of my research on 42" screens and the Samsung 720p and 1080p models seemed like good deals. All of the reviews I read raved about the picture quality - which I care more about than the size of the screen. The prices are reasonable and I believe Costco has them on sale fairly often. In larger models the DLP screens are supposed to be the best but they have a limited viewing angle. One thing I learned rather quickly is that, like computers, there are only a couple of manufacturers making the screens. This means that most brands only change the outer package and the "features" (menus, controls, and inputs/outputs). The main differences are software. The higher priced sets have better color controls so that probably helps to "tune" the set to your environment and preferences. I just learned about the "glare" issues with plasma last weekend but I'm not sure how much it affects me - all tube TVs I've had since I was born have suffered from glare but, generally, if I'm watching anything it's dark.

I don't care so much about buying the 1080p set vs 720p or 1080i but I'm really irked about HD DVD vs BlueRay. First of all, you need an $80 HDMI cable to hook anything up. Then, some movies are made in one format, others are made in the opposite format, and a few are made in both. Regular TV and regular DVDs don't look so great on an HDTV set. I really only watch football games and movies so I wish they'd settle on a DVD standard (yes, I know about upconverters). I found one player that works with both formats but it's $1,300.

Troy

[bull]

Few questions about your post, Troy:

What is 1080i vs. 1080p?
What is DLP, some sort of projection model?
What is BlueRay?

This is really starting to shape up into a big pain in the arse.

[Ponch ®]

I don't care so much about buying the 1080p set vs 720p or 1080i but I'm really irked about HD DVD vs BlueRay. First of all, you need an $80 HDMI cable to hook anything up. Then, some movies are made in one format, others are made in the opposite format, and a few are made in both. Regular TV and regular DVDs don't look so great on an HDTV set. I really only watch football games and movies so I wish they'd settle on a DVD standard (yes, I know about upconverters). I found one player that works with both formats but it's $1,300.

Troy

Yeah...I wish they'd settle the HD vs. Blu Ray deal once and for all. Its like Beta vs. VHS all over again....not that I can even remember that though.

I got an upconvert DVD player from Costco..it was $70 with an HDMI cable included.

[Silver R/T]

Plasmas overheat too much and break often. I'd go LCD

[DukesofHoward]

I bought a 42" Toshiba plasma (1080p) around Christmas 2004 and have not had a problem with it (knock on wood, I probably just jinxed it!).

Got a Sony PS3 and have watched some BluRay DVDs and it is amazing.

[Musicman]

You know... if you just take a little time and initiative, you can go on-line, do a little research, and learn the facts concerning both LCD and Plasma screen TV's... then you can make your own educated decision as to which you would rather own.

[bull]

You know... if you just take a little time and initiative, you can go on-line, do a little research, and learn the facts concerning both LCD and Plasma screen TV's... then you can make your own educated decision as to which you would rather own.

You know, come to think of it we could all do that with every thread on this website but that kind of defeats the purpose of having a forum designed to discuss various topics, don't you think?

[Musicman]

No offense intended lad.. just seems to me that opinions are like a**holes, everybody has one. So posting something like this here will most likely lead you to more confusion rather than help. If you want my opinion I'll gladly give it to you... I did some research, went to the store and it was Plasma... hands down. Mostly because with plasma you get blacker blacks, and with plasma moving objects don't blurr as much as they do with LCD. I think whites are brighter on an LCD, but you'll never notice once you have it home.
I was just trying to encourage you to do a little reasearch on your own. At least that way when you do walk into the store, you'll know when your being fed a bunch of crap by some salesman.

[ramit]

 

[bull]

No offense intended lad.. just seems to me that opinions are like a**holes, everybody has one. So posting something like this here will most likely lead you to more confusion rather than help. If you want my opinion I'll gladly give it to you... I did some research, went to the store and it was Plasma... hands down. Mostly because with plasma you get blacker blacks, and with plasma moving objects don't blurr as much as they do with LCD. I think whites are brighter on an LCD, but you'll never notice once you have it home.
I was just trying to encourage you to do a little reasearch on your own. At least that way when you do walk into the store, you'll know when your being fed a bunch of crap by some salesman.

It is confusing but I don't think my thought process or method of gathering information is the problem. It's confusing because the industry has created yet another convoluted product line and the consumer is forced to wade through it all in what appears to be futile endeavor to spend his/her money wisely. That is why I like to gather "man-on-the-street" information, so I will be armed with some lucid questions when I do decide to talk to a salesman who, as you say, will most likely try to feed me a bunch of crap. This is one among several ways this "lad" likes to "do a little reasearch" on his own.

I appreciate your concern for my method of gathering information but I've been me for forty years and I know how I work.

[Musicman]

 

[Charger-Bodie]

My wife and I are thinking about getting a 50" plasma TV and now that the 1080p sets are out the 720p sets seem to be getting cheaper but according to the latest Consumer Reports it seems there's not that much difference between the two to the naked eye. If you own a 1080p set would you agree with that? I saw a few of them side by side in the store and I couldn't tell a whole lot of difference.

Also, do you prefer LCD or plasma? I tend to like plasma myself except for the glare and I don't like how the LCD sets look when you're sitting off to the side. The difference between plasma and LCD seems to be similar to the difference between matte and glossy pictures. In many respects they are identical and yet they both have their strengths and weaknesses. What's your opinion?

forget the big TV !! use the money for charger parts!!

[bull]

My wife and I are thinking about getting a 50" plasma TV and now that the 1080p sets are out the 720p sets seem to be getting cheaper but according to the latest Consumer Reports it seems there's not that much difference between the two to the naked eye. If you own a 1080p set would you agree with that? I saw a few of them side by side in the store and I couldn't tell a whole lot of difference.

Also, do you prefer LCD or plasma? I tend to like plasma myself except for the glare and I don't like how the LCD sets look when you're sitting off to the side. The difference between plasma and LCD seems to be similar to the difference between matte and glossy pictures. In many respects they are identical and yet they both have their strengths and weaknesses. What's your opinion?

forget the big TV !! use the money for charger parts!!

I know, I know. Actually only 1/3 of the money (hopefully around $400) will be purged from the Charger account for this purchase if it happens. It's supposed to be mine and my wife's Christmas present to each other.

[Musicman]

Your not alone... Same thing happened to me... had to use some of the Charger money for the Plasma screen to keep momma happy.