First Flat-Panel Reccomendation??

Definitely hear ya on 1080p....based on everything I've read and considering the dimensions of the room I'm going to put the set in, it doesn't sound like it'd be worth the extra dough.

I heard a little bit about the SD/LCD thing too some months back when I was casually looking....glad you brought that up again though as some of the stuff I'm reading now pretty much says the same thing.

Just finished reading the review for Panasonic's TH-42PX80U (CNet's top pick for my size class) and the included features go a ways towards calming what concerns I had regarding 'burn-in'. I think ya might've pushed me over the fence there

id even go 50" 720p if those are available.

for a while now, the displays totally outclassed the sources available. even at 720p. bluray proliferation is starting to change that, but even then.

but standard def?

anyways get either panasonic or pioneer. i'll look to post in this thread again if i see a deal on cheap 50" plasma. but, again 42" 720p is 800... lemme look right now in fact... hmmm very strange audioholics wont come up on any of my browsers. oh well

Did a rough measurement and came up with slightly more than 6ft.

The only reason I said I was holding off on upgrading my other stuff is, because I wanted to wait until Black Friday or later when everyone's having firesales on this, that and the other.... Figured that would give me enough time to read up & get my choices narrowed down pretty well too.

Pioneer doesn't quite touch the small stuff and if they do I've found they're kinda pricey....

is at these sizes, 0.5 ft in viewing distance makes a significant difference. Anyways, 42" is decent at that distance, though I myself would still prefer a 50".

Try a 42" Panny for $800. Then look at my LATEST post in the price alert panasonic bd-30 thread. $284 or less, gets you three free blurays, the player, shipped.

All in total is less than $1,100 for both a good display and a good source to feed it with.

Went to my retailer of choice this afternoon and got a look at the Pannys as well as others.....and really, given my viewing distance, 42" will fill the bill nicely. One of the salesmen echoed what I read and heard here about Pannys and I think their 42" TH-42PX80U is going to be it for me.....looks like an all around great display. Will be even greater once I upgrade to bluray here.

Although Costco has the Panny TH42PX80U for $998 (where I was going to buy it), I just received a mailer for a local retailer in the Los Angeles area (Ken Cranes) and they have it for $998 less $100 instant rebate, and 0% financing till 2010. This deal may push me into the purchase.

FWIW, I found the $799 deal.

http://www.compusa.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3811032&CatId=37

Jostenmeat,

The Compusa deal is better. I wonder if the 0% financing for a few years is less of a deal, equal to, or a better deal. Hmmm...I'll need the calculator. On the other hand, even though Costco is more money, I wonder if the added warranty the give would be the better deal. Oh the pain, the pain....

Went with the aforementioned Panny.....both Best Buy and my fav. local retailer (Nebraska Furniture Mart) had it on sale for $799 and it was just too good to pass up....so I went to my local place and bit the bullet

I must say after getting it inside and set up in my entertainment center, it looks alot bigger than in the store. Wouldn't have wanted to go any bigger I think.

The viewing quality of my standard def. cable was what really got me kind of nervous, but after getting it setup, I scanned through my local ABC/NBC/CBS/FOX stations and found picture quality was quite acceptable. Isn't quite crystal clear, but much much better than some of the horror stories I read about.

Watching my standard def. DVD's is what I was really looking forward too (have Star Trek II in right now). The experience is worlds away from what it was on my old 20" Tube. I'm no expert, but the picture is crisp & clean and so far all the colors look great. You can really tell Panasonic is on the ball as far as black levels are concerned though

I have this thing plugged into the stoutest surge protector I've got right now, but being that I'm going to start investigating Blu-Ray sometime, it'd prolly be wise to get a better one.

The only thing that kinda irked me is the lil speech the salesman gave about their extended protection plan. I know plasmas can be pricey to fix, but if I take some sensible precautions, I think I should be alright (I have the option of getting into that later down the road if I want though).

aw forget the salesman. He needs to make a living, and extended plans are cash cows. Actually, former BB employees have said that they are trained to make sure to push them as they are so profitable.

Panny is probably on their 10th generation of plasmas about now. maybe more.

I wouldnt worry about surge protector on your blurays behalf as much as your tv's behalf. and you know what.. you might be fine anywyas. if you have very bad electrical there, a ups can be a consideration. my friend got a hand me down from a relative who owns a restaurant, and the power there sorta messed the plasma up. works, but dead pixels if you get close to screen

for TV, you might look into OTA hi def. AFAIK its the best because its uncompressed. and heck, free hi def! ive never hooked one up though

cheers

Many folks don't want nor need huge screens & won't particularly benefit from 1080. It goes with the philosophy of not overbuying. Better for both the earth & your finances.