Specific Question (don't get pissed)

[ObiTrentKenobi]

Let's say you had 800$ TOPS!

And you wanted to get a new display. It will be used for 0% sports watching, 0% gaming (but maybe in the future a Wii), 75% SDTV watching, and 25% Bluray movie watching...

Which would you choose?

1080p Toshiba 40" LCD 60hz for 700$
or a
720p Panasonic 42" Plasma (which apparently says it has 24p playback) for 600$
???

I'd be sitting 5-6 feet away from the display BTW.

[hellwolf78]

If your just going to watch SDTV and not HD.Your better off saving money and getting the 720p Panasonic 42" Plasma.No point getting 1080p for SDTV.That's my point of view but I believe others might think different..

[Pondosinatra]

Neither.

Get a tube television to watch SDTV.

[Dave3000]

Originally Posted by Pondosinatra

Neither.

Get a tube television to watch SDTV.

He said he'll use it for Blu-Ray. Go with the 1080p Toshiba.

[SlmShdy1]

The Panasonic. Plasmas handle SDTV better than LCD's. Plus, it's a Panasonic so you can't go wrong. If you can, find yourself a CRT HDTV. It would be perfect for SD viewing and it would give you the option for Blu-ray. I know they're hard to come by nowadays and the weight of a decent size screen is killer, but they can't be beat when it comes to SD content.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by SlmShdy1

The Panasonic. Plasmas handle SDTV better than LCD's. Plus, it's a Panasonic so you can't go wrong. If you can, find yourself a CRT HDTV. It would be perfect for SD viewing and it would give you the option for Blu-ray. I know they're hard to come by nowadays and the weight of a decent size screen is killer, but they can't be beat when it comes to SD content.

Absolutely correct, but it's most likely next to impossible to get one. As such, I'd pick the Panny Plasma hands down.

John

[BluRoo98]

I have the Panny - I watch bluray on it every day and love the HD image - never disappoints - alwasy exceeds my expectations - it also has great picture for SD TV. Colors, black levels, and contrast as EXCELLENT! You won't be disappointed. I did find though that as I transitioned from and SD TV to the HD TV - I felt like SD looked worse on my HD TV because you are not using the TV to its capacity. I also went from a 27" to 42" so eveything I was watching in SD now got bigger and more obviously SD.

Needless to say my vote is the Panny - I have yet to find another TV that realy blows my socks off (except for the samsung 650 series - but that is for ultimate HD content - point being I have only seen one other TV that I would recommend over the Panny)

JMO

[syncguy]

Originally Posted by ObiTrentKenobi

Let's say you had 800$ TOPS!

And you wanted to get a new display. It will be used for 0% sports watching, 0% gaming (but maybe in the future a Wii), 75% SDTV watching, and 25% Bluray movie watching...

Which would you choose?

1080p Toshiba 40" LCD 60hz for 700$
or a
720p Panasonic 42" Plasma (which apparently says it has 24p playback) for 600$
???

I'd be sitting 5-6 feet away from the display BTW.

It is important to consider the fact that you are sitting about 60" inch away from a 40" TV set. This is a fairly close seating position and it is good for HD widescreen experience. Since you expect to watch 25% blu-ray which is significant and the primary reason for blu-ray is HD-experience, this fact has to be considered strongly.

Hence I would recommend 1080P 40" LCD (provided this set is comparable with Panasonic in other aspects of PQ such as contrast, brightness etc.) Also should consider that you may watch more blu-rays (and possibly HDTV) in the future.


Panasonic’s apparent play back of 24p does not mean much – this does not mean it has 72, 96 or 120 Hz refresh rate, this most likely mean it maps 24P to 60 Hz. Toshiba will play 24p as well although it has 60Hz refresh rate.

[Sammy]

What model numbers are you considering?

[repete66211]

I bet you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between 1080p and 720p on a 42" TV. Panasonic makes good TVs, so that's the one I would get were I in your situation.

[ObiTrentKenobi]

Originally Posted by Sammy

What model numbers are you considering?

Models in consideration:

Panasonic Viera 42" TC-P42X1 720p Plasma

Toshiba 40" 40RV525U 1080p LCD

[Bluubyu]

I'd go 1080p, you should still get off air HDTV through your local cable programmer as well. Eventhough it's only a 1080i feed, and you'll be set up for your blu-ray watching.

[Toptube]

Shop hard.

This 42inch Panasonic 1080p plasma is $851 right now on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...X0DER&v=glance

[Steve]

I would definitely go with the Panny plasma.

[My_Two_Cents]

Speaking as someone who owns and watches every day a 720p Panasonic plasma, I'd recommend one over any LCD in a similar price range, regardless of what you plan to use it for. I would only hesitate if you plan to put the set into a room with lots of direct sunlight. If that's the case, then I'd go with LCD.

[ijokr]

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

Speaking as someone who owns and watches every day a 720p Panasonic plasma, I'd recommend one over any LCD in a similar price range, regardless of what you plan to use it for. I would only hesitate if you plan to put the set into a room with lots of direct sunlight. If that's the case, then I'd go with LCD.

+1 I still can't believe how people who spend much time in this forums don't understand 720p and 1080p.

[Beta Man]

Plasma......

Originally Posted by ijokr

+1 I still can't believe how people who spend much time in this forums don't understand 720p and 1080p.

Amen.

[gearyt]

P A N N Y >>>>

[CMM]

Originally Posted by Toptube

Shop hard.

This 42inch Panasonic 1080p plasma is $851 right now on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...X0DER&v=glance

I agree with this guy.

Wouldn't go for either of your choices.

[Uncle Leo]

See how long it takes to save 300 more and get the panny 50 in s1. Then you have a display for the future. Remember once you start, upgraditis kicks in.

You've been warned!