Help me find a 42" Plasma HDTV, will ya?

[shilala]

I've settled on a 42" plasma HDTV. Thanks to everyone here for helping me sort out the right tv for my livingroom.
Now, does anyone have any suggestions on brand/model?
Bonus points if you have it and like it. A cookie if someone you know has it and you like it.
I'm looking for best bang for the buck, plenty of inputs. I want to run my htpc through it.
Thanks!!!

 

[Jassi]

Try costco, they had a good model a few months ago. Don't know anyone that bought it though.

 

[Caesar]

Originally posted by: shilala
I've settled on a 42" plasma HDTV. Thanks to everyone here for helping me sort out the right tv for my livingroom.
Now, does anyone have any suggestions on brand/model?
Bonus points if you have it and like it. A cookie if someone you know has it and you like it.
I'm looking for best bang for the buck, plenty of inputs. I want to run my htpc through it.
Thanks!!!

Panasonic plasma EDTV. Its on sale on OnSale for $18xx. Saw it in Costco once and liked the pic quality. but its not HDTV though.

 

[shilala]

Originally posted by: CaesaR

Originally posted by: shilala
I've settled on a 42" plasma HDTV. Thanks to everyone here for helping me sort out the right tv for my livingroom.
Now, does anyone have any suggestions on brand/model?
Bonus points if you have it and like it. A cookie if someone you know has it and you like it.
I'm looking for best bang for the buck, plenty of inputs. I want to run my htpc through it.
Thanks!!!

Panasonic plasma EDTV. Its on sale on OnSale for $18xx. Saw it in Costco once and liked the pic quality. but its not HDTV though.

Must...be...HDTV.
I looked at some EDTV's. I can't fathom why anyone would pay about 20% less for about 60% less definition.

 

[MrChad]

Dell has a 42" HDTV plasma for $2999. There might be some coupons out there.

Not sure on the quality, though.

EDIT: Here's an entire thread on it

 

[Rufio]

panasonic edtv 42" under $2000. we have one and it's pimp.

waht is your budget?

 

[Rereg]

I recently was looking for a new hdtv and my boss who had recently bought a high-end 43" pioneer plasma tv told me to go ahead and spend some more money to get a nice plasma. From what I've read however, if you are viewing from over 8 ft away, a good 42" plasma edtv would look as good as a plasma hdtv. I've read that the Panasonic TH-42PWD7UY which you can buy under $2000 is a nice 42" plasma edtv. I came close to getting one of those, before I bought a used 42" buslink vpm421w5 plasma hdtv from someone wanting to upgrade theirs to a larger size. Good luck in your pursuit, they are being priced cheaper all the time.

 

[malbojah]

you got a semi-ok?? You better let her buy it then so she can't throw this back in your face

 

[EvilYoda]

wheeeee, Pioneer Elite baby

Maybe find a good deal on a PRO920HD, as they'll have a lot of fast changes this year with their plasmas after what they showed at CES.

But that's...the high side of things.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: shilala

Originally posted by: CaesaR

Originally posted by: shilala
I've settled on a 42" plasma HDTV. Thanks to everyone here for helping me sort out the right tv for my livingroom.
Now, does anyone have any suggestions on brand/model?
Bonus points if you have it and like it. A cookie if someone you know has it and you like it.
I'm looking for best bang for the buck, plenty of inputs. I want to run my htpc through it.
Thanks!!!

Panasonic plasma EDTV. Its on sale on OnSale for $18xx. Saw it in Costco once and liked the pic quality. but its not HDTV though.

Must...be...HDTV.
I looked at some EDTV's. I can't fathom why anyone would pay about 20% less for about 60% less definition.

yea edtv is a waste of money..if you are paying so much..why go half assed really..unless u don't know any better.

 

[Apex]

Few questions:

1. Viewing distance?
2. Budget?
3. Source material (ie. 20% HD, 40% DVD, 40% SD cable)?
4. How's your ambient light control?

No one's going to be able to give you really solid suggestions for your specific situation without this information.

 

[MAME]

I think DLP is worth the savings and has a better picture

 

[shilala]

Originally posted by: Apex
Few questions:

1. Viewing distance?
2. Budget?
3. Source material (ie. 20% HD, 40% DVD, 40% SD cable)?
4. How's your ambient light control?

No one's going to be able to give you really solid suggestions for your specific situation without this information.

1. Viewing distance? 6-8 feet
2. Budget? $2,000-$3,000. Of course I'd love to spend less.
3. Source material (ie. 20% HD, 40% DVD, 40% SD cable)? Adelphia is my cable provider. They offer digital cable and HD programming. I currently have my regular cable and broadband with them now. I can upgrade my service whenever I'm ready.
The tv will be primarily for gaming/htpc/dvd's
4. How's your ambient light control? For shyt. I have no control of it and an 8 foot bay window lies on the wall directly across from the tv's location. The window is north facing so the sun never shines directly in, but we rely on the window to flood the house with light. Plugging it up is not an option.

 

[Tremulant]

We have the Panasonic TH-42PX25U/P and we're happy. The only problem that I have with the set is that it's too dark sometimes. We didn't pay that much for it either, iirc, it cost around $3500 after shipping.

We've also had a problem with sound, but that's because the room that it's in an open area and the acoustics are terrible (when you're 15-20 feet away, you hear it better than when you're 8 ft away on the couch). It was like that with our old tv too, so it's not the TV's fault.

Edit: Our room where the tv is.. the wall to the right of the tv has a big window (has blinds) with a semi-circle window above it (no blinds) and the wall across from it is a big sliding glass door. To the left of the tv, there is no wall, there's the kitchen and nook. So we rely on those windows for light, so the best time for us to watch tv is at night. The only person who watches tv there in the day is my little brother (even though he can watch the same programming in his room, he just likes the bigger tv..)

 

[flot]

Originally posted by: shilala
Must...be...HDTV.
I looked at some EDTV's. I can't fathom why anyone would pay about 20% less for about 60% less definition.

From normal viewing distances, you probably won't be able to see a difference. I can sit 5' away from my 1600x1200 monitor and it might as well be displaying 1024x768 because I damn sure can't see the pixels.

You can buy a high quality HDTV plasma now for ~$3500, or you can buy an EDTV plasma now for $1750, and in a year, put that one in your bedroom and pay another $1750 for a new HDTV plasma for your living room.

Which is smarter?

 

[woowoo]

I bought two of the panny 42' HDTV models for my work
they were about 7K each
We are very happy with them

 

[shilala]

Originally posted by: flot

Originally posted by: shilala
Must...be...HDTV.
I looked at some EDTV's. I can't fathom why anyone would pay about 20% less for about 60% less definition.

From normal viewing distances, you probably won't be able to see a difference. I can sit 5' away from my 1600x1200 monitor and it might as well be displaying 1024x768 because I damn sure can't see the pixels.

You can buy a high quality HDTV plasma now for ~$3500, or you can buy an EDTV plasma now for $1750, and in a year, put that one in your bedroom and pay another $1750 for a new HDTV plasma for your living room.

Which is smarter?

I like that idea.
Here's a link to a Samsung at Sears that I like.">http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product....l=ELEC&pid=05775034000&tab=spe#tablink</a>
It should run about $2250. I'm guessing that if I really ound on the Sears guy I can get it down to $2,000. I'd be willing to give up that much for it.
Better options?

 

[Rufio]

We got the Panasonic Plasma Display - 42EDTV TH-42PWD7UY for $1998.90 shipped from http://electronics-depot.com/

It is the best 42" EDTV out there!!

 

[DingDingDao]

I have a Panasonic TH42PX20U and I love it. Love it. Great color (I think the reds push a bit), but the Panny plasmas have the best blacks in the business, bar none. Check http://www.avsforum.com for everything you could possibly want to know and a lot more.

 

[woowoo]

You really need to consider the pannys....

 

[shilala]

I looked at a couple Panasonics and quickly discounted them because of the high glare glass on them. It'd be a major problem. I could hardly even see what the actual picture looked like because of the glare, and that was just in the store lights.
I'm leaning heavily towards the Dell W4200HD.
It looks very capable.
With coupons the price should be decent and the extended exchange warranty takes out the fear.
I've failed to find a better deal on a better tv, feature-wise, and this looks like the safest and best bang for the buck.

 

[sygyzy]

Panasonic EDTV 7UY Consumer

 

[purbeast0]

what part of he wants HDTV and not EDTV don't you guys understand?!?

honestly I would go with a DLP. it all comes down to personal preferences and tastes, but when i was shopping for one the picture on the DLP's were the best IMO.

my personal order is DLP > LCD > Plasma.

 

[bjc112]

Originally posted by: purbeast0
what part of he wants HDTV and not EDTV don't you guys understand?!?

honestly I would go with a DLP. it all comes down to personal preferences and tastes, but when i was shopping for one the picture on the DLP's were the best IMO.

my personal order is DLP > LCD > Plasma.

Aside from burn in ( which is really over played ) I like

Plasma -> DLP -> LCD

 

[shilala]

Originally posted by: purbeast0
what part of he wants HDTV and not EDTV don't you guys understand?!?

honestly I would go with a DLP. it all comes down to personal preferences and tastes, but when i was shopping for one the picture on the DLP's were the best IMO.

my personal order is DLP > LCD > Plasma.

Quite frankly, I like DLP far more than Plasma. If I had a great big dark room to sit it in, it'd be a done deal. Problem is, I don't. The tv is going to be in the brightest room in the house.
The room is smallish, too. The viewing angle on DLP's sucks, and they look awful in bright light.
So, I'm stuck with Plasma. LCD's are too small, and I've already got a high end Toshiba tube that's going in my bedroom.
Much of the play that this plasma will get is going to be computer gaming and computer output. It's easily going to make the meager price jump over EDTV worthwhile.