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ok, hopefully someone can explain this re: panasonic plasma

Aug 5, 2005 7:21AM PDT

Hello,

So I'm about to take the plunge on a 50" panasonic plasma and I had already decided on the TH-50XVS30. A friend of mine has this TV and it looks great. Well, I went to the store and the salesman directed me to the panasonic TH-50PX500U, saying it's the newer version of the same TV and that the XVS30's were on their way out. I took a look at the prices of each and started the head scratching--the "new model" (50PX500U) was selling for a decent amount less than the one that was being replaced.

I went home and looked at the panasonic site, and even there, the the XVS30 is listing for like $8K and the PX500U for $5,500. Now, I know that the prices for these TVs keep dropping but does it make sense that the older models that they're trying to move out would be MORE than the brand spanking new ones?? Am I somehow dropping a level of quality by buying this newer one?

Lo and behold, I went to the specs of each and indeed the cheaper PX500U is slightly more advanced (8th generation plasma vs. 7th, 8.58 billion colors vs. 3.62 billion, etc.)

Can anyone shed some light on this issue? Should I go with the newer, cheaper, PX500U? Is it really the newest (and better) model?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
-Steve

Discussion is locked

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ok, hopefully someone can explain this re: panasonic
Aug 6, 2005 4:01AM PDT

The first PCs were $4000 and were junk buy todays standards. Any $500 would totaly blow them away.
It seems to me you should be jumping for joy!!!
The new model is better and cost less!!!
Yes prices are dropping very fast as production ramps up, the quality should be the same. Next years models will cost even less. John

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Why not buy a vidio projector?
Sep 11, 2005 7:47AM PDT

first off plasma set are cool but to me they look like a picture on the wall even the rear projectors look like a big ugly box with a picture in it I have a Sony 3 ton 3 tube rear projector and Iam stepping up to the sony VPL-HS51 front projector with 96" roll up screen for $5500 which is what your paying for your tiny plasma set Its the feeling you get at the theater and a projector and screen give you the total movie experience, Thats what is so awsome about hi-def you can go huge and still get a stunning picture , I guess iam crazy but after a few months my 65" set looked tiny good luck stewart norrie