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This is a great post. I'm currently in the process of looking at a new TV and the recent posts about the best HDTV's along with posts like this one really help to educate me and help me make a better purchase. I was shying away from a plasma just because of things I heard such as burn in but it's good to hear something like this.
I don't know about current generation models, but our first HDTV was a plasma (this was about 4 years ago), and after less than a year it was definitely showing signs of burn in. You could see faint impressions of menus and other things that were always displayed in the exact same spot. (This wasn't a low-end, no name TV, either.)
We finally replaced it with an LCD, due to unrelated issues that couldn't be resolved through warranty repair. (Ended up getting a refund on it after almost a year.)
I can see faint sidebar burn-in on a pale image, say a pale sky or something, but the picture on my per-Kuro Pioneer Elite crushes any LCD I've ever seen. I forget how good it looks until I go watch another TV.
Not to mention the fact that plasma displays don't leak down over time. Plus, I've seen temporary image persistence on LCDs too. Generally speaking it's always cleared up by changing Desktop background (on a computer monitor) or switching to a dead analog channel on an LCD and let the snow show up fullscreen for a while.
fakejezuzdiaz promoted this comment
RuBBa_cHiKiN: The real question is can it fit in the Batmobile? was starred
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I can't believe that Palm is still firing volleys across the bow of Apple! I'm sure the next update to the iPhone will turn the Pixi back to it's former, black self.
@dingus: Yeah the other ones should, we got in 6 of the 50 in and were gonna open at 5am, also weve got a 40in samsung 1080p lcd I think its the 500 series and were gonna have that for $599
The Panasonic TC-P54S1 (54" screen) can be had for $1099.99 from Sears until this Saturday. Bing Cashback AND 10% off using a Sears credit card can be used as well. If you don't have a Sears card, Bank of America is offering 6% through sears.com and can be combined with Bing Cashback as well.
Sorry for the double post. I wasn't logged in when I did the first one.
@Emulsifide: Sears also had the best price on the 50" S1 a couple months ago - $899, no rebates or special form of payment needed. The price was only listed publicly on the web, but was available in-store if you asked.
Who would have thought Sears would be the place to go for a good deal on a TV?
@slaine17: Yep, I almost bit on that deal. I'm glad I waited. After BoA, BCB, and using some gift cards that I had forgotten about, I grabbed the 54" model for ~$900 yesterday.
The TV itself is AMAZING compared to my previous Hitachi P50S601. The quality of the image is fantastic and the blacks are super deep. I highly agree with Gary's pick/assessment of this TV.
@crackel: not to nitpick, but when making a "best of" list, you ignore the dollar signs.
... and if you are making a "best value" list, then you must calculate (total performance + service)/(total lifetime cost). You will find that Vizio's horrible reliability ratings nock it quite far down the value chart too.
@my favorite car is a motorcycle: similar top lists coming from that website will sometimes include TV's that are really good looking for a lower price. I see your point, but you can't just ignore dollar signs, we always have to have some regard of value. Otherwise, these lists will turn into the like of audiophile lists where people are paying thousands of dollars for a CD player or special power wires.
@crackel: not sure what website you're referring to. every smart shopper must assess value based on his own needs, not on some magazine salesman's most recent issue. the dollar sign on day 1 is only one of many variables. If the price tag really was more important than anything else, then you wouldn't be looking for sales at retailers -- you'd stick with garage & estate sales or the classifieds.
it is always true that undiscerning electronics buyers can find bigger shinier brighter things for cheaper prices than ever before. Sadly, most of these "values" are trashed quicker than ever before because of cheap design and horrid construction.
"looking good" today doesn't mean it's worth 2 nickels tomorrow. a wise shopper looks at upgradeability, compatibility, warranty, service, and so on, and weighs these performance values every bit as much as how bright the thing is in the loud megastore with harsh fluorescent lighting and uninformed sales staff. most people would be surprised when they visit those overpriced a/v-phile stores where tags don't end with .98, to find really good sale prices on gear that lasts more than one holiday season -- as well as service like free trial periods and other benefits.
@my favorite car is a motorcycle: sometimes I wish I could reply to a troll without approving his commenter account and promoting his comment. Not talking about you by the way, since you've already been approved.
Anyway, back to our conversation, cost is always a concern. Wise shoppers will also assess their risk and return, which involves the cost of the unit and how much they'll get out of it, for example, features and usability.
As far as no website could ever possibly do that for every shopper out there I completely agree with you. Top-n websites are useless. And this particular site that's referred to in the OP seems like a Panasonic shill to me.
12/01/09
12/01/09
We finally replaced it with an LCD, due to unrelated issues that couldn't be resolved through warranty repair. (Ended up getting a refund on it after almost a year.)
12/01/09
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11/27/09
11/25/09
Ahhh... now that's better.
11/25/09
11/25/09
11/25/09
I know, right?!?
I can't believe that Palm is still firing volleys across the bow of Apple! I'm sure the next update to the iPhone will turn the Pixi back to it's former, black self.
Will this petty industry bickering never stop?
11/25/09
11/25/09
11/25/09
11/25/09
11/25/09
Sorry for the double post. I wasn't logged in when I did the first one.
11/25/09
Who would have thought Sears would be the place to go for a good deal on a TV?
11/25/09
The TV itself is AMAZING compared to my previous Hitachi P50S601. The quality of the image is fantastic and the blacks are super deep. I highly agree with Gary's pick/assessment of this TV.
11/25/09
11/25/09
11/25/09
11/23/09
They're inexplicably listed under the "Televisions" category, instead of "Big Video Display Things"
11/20/09
Seriously, nice list.
11/20/09
11/23/09
11/25/09
... and if you are making a "best value" list, then you must calculate (total performance + service)/(total lifetime cost). You will find that Vizio's horrible reliability ratings nock it quite far down the value chart too.
11/25/09
#tips
11/25/09
it is always true that undiscerning electronics buyers can find bigger shinier brighter things for cheaper prices than ever before. Sadly, most of these "values" are trashed quicker than ever before because of cheap design and horrid construction.
"looking good" today doesn't mean it's worth 2 nickels tomorrow. a wise shopper looks at upgradeability, compatibility, warranty, service, and so on, and weighs these performance values every bit as much as how bright the thing is in the loud megastore with harsh fluorescent lighting and uninformed sales staff. most people would be surprised when they visit those overpriced a/v-phile stores where tags don't end with .98, to find really good sale prices on gear that lasts more than one holiday season -- as well as service like free trial periods and other benefits.
11/26/09
Anyway, back to our conversation, cost is always a concern. Wise shoppers will also assess their risk and return, which involves the cost of the unit and how much they'll get out of it, for example, features and usability.
As far as no website could ever possibly do that for every shopper out there I completely agree with you. Top-n websites are useless. And this particular site that's referred to in the OP seems like a Panasonic shill to me.