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Poll: Plasma or LCD

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Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
Originally posted by: saahmed

Sorry, I meant to say a cheap HDTV plasma. They are very expensive. What else did I say that is wrong? They dont last nearly as long as other types of tv's, namely, LCD rear projection, the technology had not been refined enough yet. The plasma TV we have at my store has been there for about 4 months, and itd already starting to show fading at the edges, though it is constantly on.
Click to expand...
What else did you say wrong?
Hanging on the wall, get an LCD. Wrong. Plasma is smaller and thinner.

Plus, the OP said his mom wanted about a 36" TV. How many 36" plasmas have you seen?

Get the LCD. They are unbeatable at that size.
Click to expand...

Ok... did you read anything or did you just want to make senseless comments.

I said LCD rear projection is the way to go for large TV's. I said if it is for hanging on the wall get either an LCD or plasma. I recommended LCD. It doesnt matter that plasma is lighter and thinner because both will still hang on the wall.

Also, I never once recommended plasma. So why does it matter that there are no 36" plasmas. I recommended an LCD tv. They are simply cheaper and have a longer lifespan. And their picture quality is great.
 
Why limit yourself to plasma or LCD? Under 40 inches, why not look at an old-school tube HDTV? If you really don't want a direct-view HDTV, I'd say the LCD is your best option, because I haven't seen any plasmas under 46", and LCDs are better for price.
 
Get a 37in LCD. If you live near a MicroCenter, it looks like the 37" Syntax Olevia will be on sale for 999 on December 26 from 8am-10am. I've been VERY happy with my Syntax Olevia 30".
 
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: saahmed
I would recommend LCD rear projection. But if it must be hung on the wall, definitely get LCD. It will last much longer. The plasmas have awesome colors and brightness. But, you most likely will not find a plasma HDTV. Most plasmas are only EDTV, which is the same quality as a progressive scan DVD. Also, the plasma we have for sale at my store is blurry around the edges of objects. The LCD's have very good picture quality and will last long as well, and they are much cheaper. But, make sure it says HDTV on it, though none of them have the built in tuner.
Click to expand...

And we're off with another ATOT misinformation thread!!!

wahoo!

that being said from a display technology plasma is indeed superior if done well in terms of color depth, black level and yes even longevity. I find it difficult to believe one would be hard pressed to find a plasma HDTV.

the one thing LCD has going for it is price however.

That's the thing about plasmas, if enough people repeat lies others eventually believe them to be true.
Click to expand...


Actually I think you may be your own target there. AFAIK there are no 36" or smaller 720P HDTV plasmas, and 1080P HDTV plasmas are few and far between even in the 50" + range ( There's a lot that claim to be 1080p through shady excuses but aren't ).

LCDs have much smaller pixels so it's less of a problem for them, and there's a lot of 1080P ones that are less than 36", which also accounts for the sharper edges the OP mentioned.

About the only thing you could really take exception to is the lifespan, which in all fairness can't really be compared in practical conditions for either plasmas or LCDs.
 
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: saahmed
I would recommend LCD rear projection. But if it must be hung on the wall, definitely get LCD. It will last much longer. The plasmas have awesome colors and brightness. But, you most likely will not find a plasma HDTV. Most plasmas are only EDTV, which is the same quality as a progressive scan DVD. Also, the plasma we have for sale at my store is blurry around the edges of objects. The LCD's have very good picture quality and will last long as well, and they are much cheaper. But, make sure it says HDTV on it, though none of them have the built in tuner.
Click to expand...

And we're off with another ATOT misinformation thread!!!

wahoo!

that being said from a display technology plasma is indeed superior if done well in terms of color depth, black level and yes even longevity. I find it difficult to believe one would be hard pressed to find a plasma HDTV.

the one thing LCD has going for it is price however.

That's the thing about plasmas, if enough people repeat lies others eventually believe them to be true.
Click to expand...


Actually I think you may be your own target there. AFAIK there are no 36" or smaller 720P HDTV plasmas, and 1080P HDTV plasmas are few and far between even in the 50" + range ( There's a lot that claim to be 1080p through shady excuses but aren't ).

LCDs have much smaller pixels so it's less of a problem for them, and there's a lot of 1080P ones that are less than 36", which also accounts for the sharper edges the OP mentioned.

About the only thing you could really take exception to is the lifespan, which in all fairness can't really be compared in practical conditions for either plasmas or LCDs.
 
If your looking for ~36" Id recommend a Plasma.... Panasonic makes a 37" - TH37PX50U

First off life wise, their very similar. Panasonic plasma's are rated at over 60,000 hours for their brightness halflife. LCDs backlights are rated typically at 80-100k. Both of thoose are 20+ years at 6-8 hours a day.

Plasma also has better black levels as someone else said, especially the panasonics.

If you go smaller, LCD is really your only choice.
 
I would go with Plasma. They have better colors, better display from angles I think but cost more. If you watch alot of 4:3 aspect ratio tv, then maybe LCD is better since you don't want the plasma screen to get burn in.
 
These threads are always painful to read.:roll: Somebody PM Apex, please.

What is the price range your mom is looking at?
Is 36" the minimum, would she want bigger?
What are your mom's viewing habits? Does she watch DVD's, HDTV, video games, or news programming.
What will be the viewing distance? (distance from screen to eyes)


LCD technology has its advantages - picture quality sure as hell isn't one of them.
 
Originally posted by: jammur21
Get a 37in LCD. If you live near a MicroCenter, it looks like the 37" Syntax Olevia will be on sale for 999 on December 26 from 8am-10am. I've been VERY happy with my Syntax Olevia 30".
Click to expand...
Yeah, I got that e-mail notice also, but it doesn't mention the brand and I couldn't find full specs (brightness contrast ratio, inputs &outputs, etc.).

This is what they did say:

37-inch LCD HDTV - only $999.99
» Includes OTA and ATSC HDTV tuner
» 16:9 aspect ratio
» 1366 x 768 panel resolution
12/26/05 only / Price after $300 & $200 mail-in rebates / Models may vary / Limited Quantities

And it's 8am -10pm, though quantities ARE limited, probably extremely so.


If anyone else can dig up more info on the Micro Center offer, POST!

Oh, OP, MC is also offering a 26 incher:

26-inch LCD-TV - only $499.99
» 1366 x 768 resolution
» 1600:1 contrast ratio
» 16:9 aspect ratio
» (2) 10w speakers
» NTSC TV tuner
12/26/05 only / Price after $100 and $200 mail-in rebates / Models may vary / Limited Quantities

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All prices after rebates / Offers available in-store only / Prices good at all our store locations except Dallas

Hurry! Some quantities are limited. Shop early for best selection. Quantities are limited by manufacturer's availability or while supplies last. All products are not available at all stores. We reserve the right to limit quantities. No rain checks, except in Michigan. Not responsible for pricing, graphic or typographical errors. Rebate offers do not refund sales tax paid by customer.

 
Originally posted by: Perknose
Originally posted by: jammur21
Get a 37in LCD. If you live near a MicroCenter, it looks like the 37" Syntax Olevia will be on sale for 999 on December 26 from 8am-10am. I've been VERY happy with my Syntax Olevia 30".
Click to expand...
Yeah, I got that e-mail notice also, but it doesn't mention the brand and I couldn't find full specs (brightness contrast ratio, inputs &outputs, etc.).
Click to expand...

Email looks ALOT like Syntax 37

Syntax 26


 
Originally posted by: jammur21
Originally posted by: Perknose
Originally posted by: jammur21
Get a 37in LCD. If you live near a MicroCenter, it looks like the 37" Syntax Olevia will be on sale for 999 on December 26 from 8am-10am. I've been VERY happy with my Syntax Olevia 30".
Click to expand...
Yeah, I got that e-mail notice also, but it doesn't mention the brand and I couldn't find full specs (brightness contrast ratio, inputs &outputs, etc.).
Click to expand...

Email looks ALOT like Syntax 37

Syntax 26
Click to expand...

Yep that is the 37inch SYNTAX LT37HVS. That is the one I have in the living room. very good for the price I must say.

 
I really like the Sharp Aquos 45" LCD. They have one at a store nearby and it's amazing looking. Price is the big hangup, but the TV itself has some things that need changing like you can't run a PC into it at full res. But for normal TV watching, it's great.

I'm trying to last until OLED comes along, LCD and plasma will be doomed once they start cranking them out. I saw a prototype 37" one side by side with a plasma and LCD, and it blew them both away, not even a fair fight.

My biggest TV now is only a 26" and it's almost 24 years old. Mitsubishi really used to make great TVs before they went big TV only years ago. I have a 19" Mitsubishi that is almost 23 years old. The volume control is going bad, and I want to get rid of it soon, but I hate the distorted pic I see on most cheap widescreen TVs enough to make me keep it until the end..
 
I'm going early to get the 37" LCD from Microcenter in Fairfax, VA. I kinda hesitated on BF, but now we really do need a second TV.
 
This thread is hard to read, don't take most of these yahoos advice.

"Plasma does not burn in...once in awhile when u turn the TV on, you'll be able to see a logo you were watching last night for a couple of seconds before it disappears, but it's *never* perm."
While I favor Plasma technology, they can have permanent burn in. While normal TV viewers will probably never have to worry about it, I'm sure having a static image on there for two weeks will cause permanent burn in.

"They don?t last nearly as long as other types of tv's, namely, LCD rear projection, the technology had not been refined enough yet."
Bull, have you ever factored in the bulb life of an LCD projection TV. The bulbs are only rated for around 2,000 hours half lives now with a steep $300+ price per bulb. Almost all current plasmas now are rated with a half-life of 60,000 hours. Let me do the math genius. Five hours of viewing a day.
Plasma = 32 years worth of viewing with an initial cost of say $2,600 for a great HDTV
LCD Projection = 1.095 years of viewing per bulb to get 32 years worth that would use 29 bulbs at say a very generous $150 = $4,350 worth of bulbs + the initial $1,800 for the TV.
Any third grader could obviously see that and LCD projection doesn't last as long and value doesn't exist. The same could also be said about DLP. Sure while you don't have to worry about burn in with these TVs changing a bulb every 2,000 hours seems to have a definite disadvantage.

Now to the matter of plasma or an actual LCD display. Two years ago I may have said LCD hands down since Plasma technology was lacking (short life, burn in) but now it really seems to have the advantage. Picture quality is absolutely stunning on these devices, even an EDTV if money is a factor and it is only being used for casual TV viewing. As far as I know all EDTV will accept the HD signal they just won't display it in 780 or 1080 lines, for parents they probably will never see the difference. LCDs though in the small application you are speaking about may be the best idea. And the smaller the LCD screen the better they seem to look. Most ghosting problems are gone now with current models and you don't have to worry about burn in.

Sorry I can't make a definite decision for you, and I hope I don't offend anyone too much but it needed to be said. Just because the guy at Best Buy told you something it doesn't make you an expert, in fact it's probably the wrong information.
 
I used to be a big plasma fan, but then I bought a 26" Samsung LCD for my bedroom. I'm in love with it now. Just waiting for its big brother to come down in price a little.

This set has DNIe (ehh... it's not that noticeable), and an extremely high contrast ratio (3000:1) compared to most LCD TVs (most of the ones at CC & BB are 500:1). A typical higher quality plasma has a 5000:1 contract ratio (or higher) for comparison.

The speakers arent bad either. It easily fills the room with full sound (at low volume) and does a very good job synthesizing surround sound.

 
Originally posted by: TheAdvocate
I used to be a big plasma fan, but then I bought a 26" Samsung LCD for my bedroom. I'm in love with it now. Just waiting for its big brother to come down in price a little.

This set has DNIe (ehh... it's not that noticeable), and an extremely high contrast ratio (3000:1) compared to most LCD TVs (most of the ones at CC & BB are 500:1). A typical higher quality plasma has a 5000:1 contract ratio (or higher) for comparison.

The speakers arent bad either. It easily fills the room with full sound (at low volume) and does a very good job synthesizing surround sound.
Click to expand...

How much did you pay for your 26"? I think that would be the perfect size for our small computer room which currently has a 13" tube TV.

That 40" is beautiful but $$$$
 
Originally posted by: RossMAN
Originally posted by: TheAdvocate
I used to be a big plasma fan, but then I bought a 26" Samsung LCD for my bedroom. I'm in love with it now. Just waiting for its big brother to come down in price a little.

This set has DNIe (ehh... it's not that noticeable), and an extremely high contrast ratio (3000:1) compared to most LCD TVs (most of the ones at CC & BB are 500:1). A typical higher quality plasma has a 5000:1 contract ratio (or higher) for comparison.

The speakers arent bad either. It easily fills the room with full sound (at low volume) and does a very good job synthesizing surround sound.
Click to expand...

How much did you pay for your 26"? I think that would be the perfect size for our small computer room which currently has a 13" tube TV.

That 40" is beautiful but $$$$
Click to expand...

$900, and no, I havent seen that deal again since I got it. It goes for about $1,000-$1,500 now. You may want to try the 23" model too - which is plenty big for a typical 12x10 room. You can get that one for about $750. Worth every penny, IMHO.
 
a lot of your LCD's are coming with an ambient light in them which will make the picture look brighter. In my store we sell a lot of tv's but don't carry plasma because of maintenance factors. A Plasma and a LCD Tv will have pictures taht are pretty close in quality. When it comes to them breaking and needing repairs, LCD's are much cheaper to take care of.
 
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