Its go time - TV buyng decision (1 Viewer)

[RichardCush]

Ok - my mind is teetering on the edge of a small handful of options and will let your valued opinions push me over the right edge. HAve been lurking for a while and been visting CCity and Best Buy to help narrow my decision - at this point, this is how I see it:

* My viewing habits are pretty evently split between watching DVDs, watching HD Cable and playing console games. If anything, DVD watching probably more like 40%.

* am looking for a 42"-ish plasma. My price range is, well, based on what one should pay to get an excellent 42"-ish plasma. I would say, though, I would like to get something that will last a few years (4-5) and has some staying power. Would be willing to go up to 6,000-6,5000.

* LAstly, per my choices below, if you have any comments on whether either of them will be replaced by newer models and I should wait an extra month or so.

Ok - from my homework, here is where I am:

1) Panasonic 42PX25U/P. Advantages are = seems it has a good reputation on these boards. Best Buy sells it so aquring it is easy. Price in the right neighborhood.

2) Pioneer - PDP4341HD. Advantages are = good reputation (I think). It is 43" vs. 42" which, while only an inch more, it appeals to me. Also, Best Buy also carries it.

3) Fujitsu - Their 42" model. This one is on the list because I keep reading that they are the best out there. The disadvantages is I am not sure where here locally it is sold and haven't heard which model specifically is better than another.

4) OTHER - If you think there is something better for my money than the three up there would love your opinion

If there are things I am not thinking about, am curious to hear about that as well. n advanced thanks to anyone who replies to this post. Its a huge help hearing those with expertise and particurly with hands on experience.

 

[RichardCush]

Ok - my mind is teetering on the edge of a small handful of options and will let your valued opinions push me over the right edge. HAve been lurking for a while and been visting CCity and Best Buy to help narrow my decision - at this point, this is how I see it:

* My viewing habits are pretty evently split between watching DVDs, watching HD Cable and playing console games. If anything, DVD watching probably more like 40%.

* am looking for a 42"-ish plasma. My price range is, well, based on what one should pay to get an excellent 42"-ish plasma. I would say, though, I would like to get something that will last a few years (4-5) and has some staying power. Would be willing to go up to 6,000-6,5000.

* LAstly, per my choices below, if you have any comments on whether either of them will be replaced by newer models and I should wait an extra month or so.

Ok - from my homework, here is where I am:

1) Panasonic 42PX25U/P. Advantages are = seems it has a good reputation on these boards. Best Buy sells it so aquring it is easy. Price in the right neighborhood.

2) Pioneer - PDP4341HD. Advantages are = good reputation (I think). It is 43" vs. 42" which, while only an inch more, it appeals to me. Also, Best Buy also carries it.

3) Fujitsu - Their 42" model. This one is on the list because I keep reading that they are the best out there. The disadvantages is I am not sure where here locally it is sold and haven't heard which model specifically is better than another.

4) OTHER - If you think there is something better for my money than the three up there would love your opinion

If there are things I am not thinking about, am curious to hear about that as well. n advanced thanks to anyone who replies to this post. Its a huge help hearing those with expertise and particurly with hands on experience.

 

[andrew markworthy]

Interestingly, I was facing a similar dilemma a few days ago. Our CRT 32" irrevocably broke down. My wife and I'd promised ourselves a plasma when we next bought a TV (better picture, slimmer design, etc) though a smaller screen size than you're looking for (a larger set than 32" just would be too big for our living room).

Having spent many hours looking at sets, in the end we bought a (relatively) cheap 27" LCD. Our reasoning was that plasma prices are still dropping (okay, so are LCDs, but the absolute value of the decrease is less). We'd sooner get a respectable interim measure and wait another few years for plasma prices to fall further and then go for a plasma set once it looks like prices have bottomed out. Sorry to sound Scrooge-like, but I have an inbuilt resistance to buying something expensive when I know it's going to get cheaper.

Of the plasma screens we saw, I'd say we were most impressed by the new Philips with Pixel Plus (NB - the *new* model, not last year's) and the Sony Wega (in fact, we came v. close to buying the Sony in spite of the above caveat). Don't know if you've got those your side of the Herring Pond, but I would have thought you would.

Incidentally, I'd advise getting extended warranty with a plasma set. The technology is still a bit untested, and better safe than sorry if you set goes kaboom after a couple of years.

 

[andrew markworthy]

Interestingly, I was facing a similar dilemma a few days ago. Our CRT 32" irrevocably broke down. My wife and I'd promised ourselves a plasma when we next bought a TV (better picture, slimmer design, etc) though a smaller screen size than you're looking for (a larger set than 32" just would be too big for our living room).

Having spent many hours looking at sets, in the end we bought a (relatively) cheap 27" LCD. Our reasoning was that plasma prices are still dropping (okay, so are LCDs, but the absolute value of the decrease is less). We'd sooner get a respectable interim measure and wait another few years for plasma prices to fall further and then go for a plasma set once it looks like prices have bottomed out. Sorry to sound Scrooge-like, but I have an inbuilt resistance to buying something expensive when I know it's going to get cheaper.

Of the plasma screens we saw, I'd say we were most impressed by the new Philips with Pixel Plus (NB - the *new* model, not last year's) and the Sony Wega (in fact, we came v. close to buying the Sony in spite of the above caveat). Don't know if you've got those your side of the Herring Pond, but I would have thought you would.

Incidentally, I'd advise getting extended warranty with a plasma set. The technology is still a bit untested, and better safe than sorry if you set goes kaboom after a couple of years.

 

[StephenHa]

The philips is a nice set, the panasonic is the one that seems to be the most popular, the pioneers at least used to do the 4:3 the best (they stretched the outer edges where most do the whole picture) why not try some local specialists?I know we were $200 cheaper than bb on most of our higher end sets, plus when something went wrong we did the service instead of you hunting all over finding one

 

[StephenHa]

The philips is a nice set, the panasonic is the one that seems to be the most popular, the pioneers at least used to do the 4:3 the best (they stretched the outer edges where most do the whole picture) why not try some local specialists?I know we were $200 cheaper than bb on most of our higher end sets, plus when something went wrong we did the service instead of you hunting all over finding one

 

[RichardCush]

before this slides into archives - one more push for some input:

Panasonic 42PX25U/P vs. Pioneer - PDP4341HD.

Which would YOU get?

 

[RichardCush]

before this slides into archives - one more push for some input:

Panasonic 42PX25U/P vs. Pioneer - PDP4341HD.

Which would YOU get?

 

[John_F]

Since you mention you you will be using it for gaming, be aware that the Panasonic cannot accept 720p thru the component inputs on the back of the panel (I believe this was true of the 20 series and assume it carries over to the 25 series).

Good luck,
John Flegert

 

[John_F]

Since you mention you you will be using it for gaming, be aware that the Panasonic cannot accept 720p thru the component inputs on the back of the panel (I believe this was true of the 20 series and assume it carries over to the 25 series).

Good luck,
John Flegert

 

[eric>sch]

I have decided to go with the Pioneer PDP 5040 HD myself