LG 50PS6000: Rumours of plasma's death greatly exaggerated

Here are some things that aren't dead: Jeff Goldblum and plasma TVs. Of course, if you're reading this in 2050 there's a good chance that Jeff Goldblum is now dead, but if it's 2050, why on Earth are you reading about a plasma from 41 years ago? That's like us reading about a black and white TV in a little wooden cabinet. Anyway, how is the future? Are there hoverboards yet? Is 3D TV still a dismal waste of time? Please, do tell us all about your exciting futuristic lives via the comments section -- it's been fitted with a flux capacitor which should enable your thoughts to transcend the usual rules of linear time. So, as we were saying, plasma isn't dead, despite rumours to the contrary, and LG's 50PS6000 should help persuade you of this unassailable fact.

In fact, plasma TVs are terrific. Not just because the word plasma sounds incredibly cool, but because it's a technology that's now matured to the point where it's a pleasure to use. LG clearly agrees -- it's gone to a great deal of effort to make this screen look the part. Its one-piece glass styling has hints of blue in the bezel, so when the light catches it, it really does look the business.

To help sweeten the deal, the 50PS6000 is a 1080p TV with all the usual bells and whistles you might expect. Specifically there's DivX playback via the built-in USB 2.0 connector, but the TV can't cope with DivX HD, or indeed any other HD codecs. With LG Blu-ray players sporting this feature, we had thought there was a chance it would be integrated into the company's TVs too.

In terms of connections, you get a pair of rear-mounted HDMI inputs with a third at the side. We think LG has been a little stingey here, especially given this TV is aimed at home-cinema fans who really want maximum flexibility from their sets.

LG is making some pretty bold claims about the specs of this TV too. Its Web site lists the brightness as 1,500cd/m2, which is quite a jump from the usual plasma brightness of around 500cd/m2. Like most plasmas, the contrast ratio is impressive too, with LG claiming a now standard figure of around 2,000,000:1. The company also says you'll get a 100,000 of life out of your panel too, assuming you don't push the brightness above 50 per cent. Happily, the PS6000 comes with Intelligent Sensor 2, which keeps an eye on your viewing environment and adjusts the TV picture to reduce power consumption while still giving you a wonderful picture.

If only this TV had a built-in freesat receiver, we'd bite LG's arm off to get one -- after all, a TV like this is built to show HD, and with BBC HD getting better all the time, we have a burning urge to see a satellite receiver included. Even so, we're itching to get some Blu-ray movies on to this screen and so, if you'll excuse us, that's what were off to do right now.

The PS6000 is available now -- no need to wait 41 years -- and should cost you about £900 (that's 155,883.5 Galactic Eurodollars at the 2050 exchange rate, adjusted for inflation). We'll be reviewing it very soon, so keep your sight spheres on our TV reviews channel, or subscribe to our Twitter feed for up-to-date news and reviews as we publish them.