TV out - Plasma vs LCD

[Shaitan00]

I've been struggling lately to determine what I should buy, a plasma 42/46" or LCD 42/46" TV, I've been reading a lot of reviews and the typical ups/downs mentioned are the same, but I am really curious to get some real-world feedback...

Typically this is what I do with my TV:
80% - The majority of my time is spent watching shows/movies using my TV-Out (currently s-video) of my laptop to my TV
15% - Time spent watching standard TV (cable/satellite)
5% - Time spent playing video games or performing computer based operations (browsing, reading emails, etc...)
0% - Time spent watching rented movies/shows

Some more numbers, 90% of my TV watching happens at night when it is dark, aside from checking the weather in the morning before I go to work (type thing).

For the PLASMA I was looking at the Panasonic TH42PZ85/TH46PZ85 - it looks like the best plasma for the $ with some suitable PC-compatibility.
For the LCD I am still not sure who is the best contender, I hear a lot of good things about Sony but they are extremely expensive... still looking into this..

From what I've heard, Plasma TVs have problem generating clear text/images when connected to a computer, similar to today when I connect my PC (via s-video) to my CRT there is no way I can read the actual text (forget browsing or taking my emails) - I am very curious to know what then newer plasma TV's handle PC connections and if they are as bad as the old CRTs are as good as LCDs?

Of course the rest is just general advice, with the information I've provided and your own personal opinion what do you recommend? Why do so many people buy LCDs when it is clear Plasma generates better colors? Does Plasma really heat up that much? Does it really consume that much power?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,

 

[A5]

Well, most 1080p plasmas won't accept 1920x1080 over VGA while almost all 1080p LCDs will. I haven't seen many laptops with HDMI or DVI connections (and I don't know what you have), so this is important. For the price range you seem to be shopping, you can look at the Samsung A550 series which is supposed to be pretty good.

 

[Elcs]

For basics at the end, my old Panasonic 42" Plasma generated a lot more heat than my 47" LCD. So much so, it is noticable. I am turning my radiator on in the winter nights instead of opening my window a bit to equalise the temperature.

PQ - 1920x1080 (PC game, Fallout 3) on my LCD (1080p) beats 1920x1080 (PC game, Fallout 3) on my Plasma (1080i) - Equal settings, both over DVI->HDMI cable.

I agree that Plasma looks better (colours, motion) but I went LCD this time as it was price/perfomance (special deal on this specific LCD). I also do not have two problems that I have/potentially could have with Plasma (heat and image retention)

Additional information: My TV is used for about 95% PC usage of which about 60% of that is browsing, chatting, emails etc. After 2 years of use, say on average 4-5 hours per day, I had no issue with image retention on my Plasma. I do however feel it is a relevant point.

Above information is personal opinion based upon personal experience, not scientific fact or huge experience with hundreds of sets etc. It is a joe-public opinion

 

[Shaitan00]

A5: How do you know which LCD's would accept 1920x1080 (HD) over VGA?
My laptop is a pretty old one, has VGA/S-Video, currently I download my stuff, slap it on my Laptop, and S-Video to my TV (CRT) to watch - but of course given that I am looking to buy an HD TV if I download HD content I want to be able to view it as HD on my TV via the Tv-out (however I end up doing it).

Elcs: Why did you run Fallout 3 in 1080i and not 1080p as with your LCD?

 

[sivart]

VGA out to the TV would carry the HD signal...s-video, not so much ...or not at all.

 

[Elcs]

Originally posted by: Shaitan00
A5: How do you know which LCD's would accept 1920x1080 (HD) over VGA?
My laptop is a pretty old one, has VGA/S-Video, currently I download my stuff, slap it on my Laptop, and S-Video to my TV (CRT) to watch - but of course given that I am looking to buy an HD TV if I download HD content I want to be able to view it as HD on my TV via the Tv-out (however I end up doing it).

Elcs: Why did you run Fallout 3 in 1080i and not 1080p as with your LCD?

My Plasma was a 1080i panel, my LCD is a 1080p panel.

Both sets allowed me to use 1920x1080 via HDMI input but the Plasma was restricted to 30Hz and the LCD 60Hz refresh rates respectively.

The LCD produced the superior image (1920x1080x60Hz LCD Vs. 1920x1080x30Hz Plasma)

 

[Shaitan00]

sivart: The same for both Plasma and LCD equally? Meaning one can do it just as well as the other, and there is nothing I need to check for it? As long as they have VGA?

So then - what is the point of having DVI (if it was offered - mind you I've not yet come across a TV with DVI input - I am sure they exist somewhere).

I always thought VGA for standard and DVI was HD.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: Elcs

Originally posted by: Shaitan00
A5: How do you know which LCD's would accept 1920x1080 (HD) over VGA?
My laptop is a pretty old one, has VGA/S-Video, currently I download my stuff, slap it on my Laptop, and S-Video to my TV (CRT) to watch - but of course given that I am looking to buy an HD TV if I download HD content I want to be able to view it as HD on my TV via the Tv-out (however I end up doing it).

Elcs: Why did you run Fallout 3 in 1080i and not 1080p as with your LCD?

My Plasma was a 1080i panel, my LCD is a 1080p panel.

Both sets allowed me to use 1920x1080 via HDMI input but the Plasma was restricted to 30Hz and the LCD 60Hz refresh rates respectively.

The LCD produced the superior image (1920x1080x60Hz LCD Vs. 1920x1080x30Hz Plasma)

Hitachi?

 

[Elcs]

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: Elcs

Originally posted by: Shaitan00
A5: How do you know which LCD's would accept 1920x1080 (HD) over VGA?
My laptop is a pretty old one, has VGA/S-Video, currently I download my stuff, slap it on my Laptop, and S-Video to my TV (CRT) to watch - but of course given that I am looking to buy an HD TV if I download HD content I want to be able to view it as HD on my TV via the Tv-out (however I end up doing it).

Elcs: Why did you run Fallout 3 in 1080i and not 1080p as with your LCD?

My Plasma was a 1080i panel, my LCD is a 1080p panel.

Both sets allowed me to use 1920x1080 via HDMI input but the Plasma was restricted to 30Hz and the LCD 60Hz refresh rates respectively.

The LCD produced the superior image (1920x1080x60Hz LCD Vs. 1920x1080x30Hz Plasma)

Hitachi?

As stated in my first post, Panasonic. I purchased that set 2 years ago now and that model was probably quite into its life cycle by the time I bought one.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Originally posted by: Elcs

Originally posted by: Shaitan00
A5: How do you know which LCD's would accept 1920x1080 (HD) over VGA?
My laptop is a pretty old one, has VGA/S-Video, currently I download my stuff, slap it on my Laptop, and S-Video to my TV (CRT) to watch - but of course given that I am looking to buy an HD TV if I download HD content I want to be able to view it as HD on my TV via the Tv-out (however I end up doing it).

Elcs: Why did you run Fallout 3 in 1080i and not 1080p as with your LCD?

My Plasma was a 1080i panel, my LCD is a 1080p panel.

Both sets allowed me to use 1920x1080 via HDMI input but the Plasma was restricted to 30Hz and the LCD 60Hz refresh rates respectively.

The LCD produced the superior image (1920x1080x60Hz LCD Vs. 1920x1080x30Hz Plasma)

that's not exactly apples to apples.

 

[thomsbrain]

First of all, with modern models of either plasma or LCD, you will NOT being using the "TV out" on your laptop. You will use the standard 15-pin VGA output, the one you would use to connect to a computer monitor. Nearly all TVs have VGA inputs on the back for this exact purpose. As long as your laptop supports HD-format resolution, you should see each and every pixel, rather than the muddy mushy approximation you get out out of the S-video output. Your laptop just sees the new television as a big computer monitor, not a "television." It has to be this way if you want to view anything with higher quality than what you have already.

The "TV-out" S-video connection is NOT an HD connection, and will never be able to output resolution higher than the 480 vertical lines your current TV displays. That's why your desktop and text look like complete shit when use it. And that's why you won't be using it on your new TV.

Both TV options should look great, but plasma would be more susceptible to image retention issues.

 

[Elcs]

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo

Originally posted by: Elcs

Originally posted by: Shaitan00
A5: How do you know which LCD's would accept 1920x1080 (HD) over VGA?
My laptop is a pretty old one, has VGA/S-Video, currently I download my stuff, slap it on my Laptop, and S-Video to my TV (CRT) to watch - but of course given that I am looking to buy an HD TV if I download HD content I want to be able to view it as HD on my TV via the Tv-out (however I end up doing it).

Elcs: Why did you run Fallout 3 in 1080i and not 1080p as with your LCD?

My Plasma was a 1080i panel, my LCD is a 1080p panel.

Both sets allowed me to use 1920x1080 via HDMI input but the Plasma was restricted to 30Hz and the LCD 60Hz refresh rates respectively.

The LCD produced the superior image (1920x1080x60Hz LCD Vs. 1920x1080x30Hz Plasma)

that's not exactly apples to apples.

That is true but it is still a personal opinion from an average consumer (as far as TV's go).