LCD/Plasma/CRT/DLP - questions

[RLench]

I'm writing one for NTSC-UK myself. It's going to have to wait until charlesr is back before it goes up though

[StLuisRey]

I was thinking of getting plasma at the end of the year to go with my 360 but then I came across this today. Currys have (until Tuesday) the Hitachi 42PD6600 42" for ?1499, the question is, is it worth it or will there be better TV's for the same money by then?

[SubparMario]

Wow. Saw a Panasonic 42PV500 Plasma running a high definition demonstration feed in a dimly lit demo area and it was simply stunning. Astounding picture clarity and colour even right up close. I've looked at loads of televisions lately but this was the first time I've been bowled over by the picture on display. If I could afford ?2499, I'd be down there in a flash.

[Nijo]

I was thinking of getting plasma at the end of the year to go with my 360 but then I came across this today. Currys have (until Tuesday) the Hitachi 42PD6600 42" for ?1499, the question is, is it worth it or will there be better TV's for the same money by then?

It's always going to be better to wait.

http://www.avland.co.uk/panasonic/th42pv500/th42pv500.htm

By the end of the year this will be ?1500 (you can get it sub ?2k already).

[segages]

Hopefully this isn't going OT as I'm currently set on the ?600 Sammy sometime in the next month or so unless prices drop. Anyway, I may be able to get a 42" Plasma for a knockdown price because it's damaged. I've not seen it yet but apparently the screen is fine and cosmetically it looks new but the audio connections don't work after it survived an attempted theft(!) whilst it was on the wall of a gym. How the hell you'd move that sucker I don't know...

Anyone know if repairs are costly for something like this or would I be better staying well away. Until I know the full spec and brand, I'm not even contemplating it but it could be a bargain. Or a dead duck

[Salsa Party Animal]

I am not sure what is worth buying at the moment, but I want a decent 37 inch LCD TV for under a grand in November or December. I haven't found one to buy yet. So it is worth keeping your eye open.

I felt if I buy a 32 inch LCD I will want to upgrade soon as It wouldn't be bigger enough for football.

I am keeping an eye on the like of Pioneer, Panasonic and Samsung for now. I will not buy Toshiba as I had bad experience with them.

[Leon Retro]

This new Sharp LCD has a 1920x1080 resolution. So obviously 1080i won't have to be scaled and must look amazing.

Obviously the screen is a ridiculous amount of money and 45" which is crazy- but at least we know lcd's will be doing pure 1080i as standard sometime in the future.

I am now thinking of waiting until 1920x1080 becomes the standard. It would make me sick to buy a screen now and then with-in a year see loads of 1080 screens for under ?1500.

Does anyone know if any companies plan to release 1920x1080 37" screens sometime?

Here is the link: http://www.sharp.co.uk/Product.aspx?ID=928

[Lyris]

I am now thinking of waiting until 1920x1080 becomes the standard. It would make me sick to buy a screen now and then with-in a year see loads of 1080 screens for under ?1500.

My advice, just buy one now. You can wait all you want but there will always be something better out in under a year. I bought an LCD TV without DVI/HDMI and a 15:9 (not even proper widescreen) panel just over a year ago, in that I'm having to replace before I get my Blu Ray player in early 2006. But given the image quality, it has still been worth every penny.

Also it will be a long time before 1080 lines of liquid crystal will be normal for anything other than larger LCDs. So IMO, you should just buy.

[Leon Retro]

My advice, just buy one now. You can wait all you want but there will always be something better out in under a year. I bought an LCD TV without DVI/HDMI and a 15:9 (not even proper widescreen) panel just over a year ago, in that I'm having to replace before I get my Blu Ray player in early 2006. But given the image quality, it has still been worth every penny.

Also it will be a long time before 1080 lines of liquid crystal will be normal for anything other than larger LCDs. So IMO, you should just buy.

So 1080 screens are gonna be the big ones over 42"- I thought it was strange that the Sharp was only available in 45". I suppose the big screens need a really hi res to look as good as a 32" lower-res screens.

I still have my eye on the JVC 37" DIST lcd. It has excellent reviews- but it will apparently only display 1024x768 from a pc. Will this resolution look bad for pc gaming?

I guess there are probably gonna be some new screens soon from other manufacturers- anything interesting to look out for? I want the screen for the pc and for 360 ps3 etc...

[EvilBoris]

payday toay, so I've ordered myself the 26" samsung with freeview ?650 all in, not bad at all. Should save me some space in the soon to be pokey student accomodation

[Nijo]

This new Sharp LCD has a 1920x1080 resolution. So obviously 1080i won't have to be scaled and must look amazing.

I bet it looks amazing, but my understanding was that 720p would be somehow cleaner than 1080i. On that size/rez screen you'd be wanting 1080p wouldn't you?
And that's another thing to wait for around the corner...

[sj33]

Do remember it's a double-edged sword, as 720p stuff now has to be *upscaled* for such a screen!

And you would really need to use 1080p content to make the most of such a screen. If you were to take out the interlace lines, 1080i works out to be about 1920x800p o.o Not much higher vertical resolution than 720p really.

[Rossco]

On a 1920 x 1080 on 720p not look as good as something running 720p naturally?

[sj33]

Depends on the quality of the internal scaler really.
It should look pretty damn spiffy and all, just be aware the of the extra process going on.

[Leon Retro]

I bet it looks amazing, but my understanding was that 720p would be somehow cleaner than 1080i. On that size/rez screen you'd be wanting 1080p wouldn't you?
And that's another thing to wait for around the corner...

1080P isn't gonna happen for a very long time imo. From what I have read it requires serious bandwith etc... Sony started all this 1080P talk- but it's just hollow hype.

I think 720p is good enough- but a lot of people want a 1920x1080 screen so they can watch pure 1080i, because 1080i is gonna be the highest resolution for quite a while.