Looking for 42in Plasma TV Please help

This new unit is much better than what I have. Mine is an old model that is replaced by this model. This new model has 2 more S-video inputs, 2 more component inputs, built-in NTSC, closed caption, scalable P-I-P, brighter ratio, over billion colors, alarm clock, DVI port, and speakers. Mine has none of the mentioned. On top of that, the retail on this new unit is $500 less than the old unit. What a deal! I wished that I had waited. The only thing about this unit is that it does not accept 720i signal. ABC network broadcast some programs in 720i mode. You can use standard satellite decoder box to scale down to 480i, or up to 1080i if it's a HD decoder. The new unit accepts either resolution.

For a better deal, check out www.justsayelectronic.com., which is a Deal Time Certified Dealer. From the Panasonic HDTV discussion, a very knowledgeable person on such web site has bought a Sony TV from them. Justsayelectronic.com listed the new Pana unit for $3200 + $200 S&H. The $200 S&H sounds seems like a standard fee of White Gloves. Call them to verify.

Do more research on regarding such unit on Panasonic.com, avsforum.com, & plasmatvbuyingguide.com

As far as cable, I am not familiar with DVI cable. All my video cables are from IXOS (England). Not your best, but better than Monster Cable in terms of price for similar performance, if not better.

There was a typo. Justsayelectronics.com. I forgot the letter s. Anyhow, the price I just check is $3359. The older model, which I have, is about $300 less. My recommendation is to go w/ the new model since so much more features are offered. My model is just a display. The new model is a TV.

I have been eyeing on plasma for a while. I consistently see plasmahouse.com to have the lowest price, it's also a dealtime certified dealer. It sells the Panny for less than $3200, that's a great deal and almost the same price as the pro model.

Gateway. I have one in my bedroom set up and love it. I could have spent $2000.00 more and the plasma would not have been any better.You will need good power cables interconnects and a good power con or plant like the PS Audio 300.

Gateway 42" unit is currently offered for $2700. For few hundred bucks extra as Semi saw on plasma house.com, I said the new Panasonic model is totally worth it. Cost is the major factor, but not the only factor. One must look at brightness ratio, blackness intensity (as closed to the cathod-ray tube TV as possible), DVI ports, number of component video ports (to accomodate DVD and HD decoder), number of S-video ports (VCRs), number of composite video (video game & camcorder), native resolution, other signal capabilities (1080,720,480), built-in tuner, closed caption, P-I-P feature for sport fan, clock, alarm, and speakers. Most old units are just pure display panel, which rely on decoder box for TV tuner, and AVR or amp-preamp system w/ external speakers setup. Moreover, they don't have that many video inputs available to accomodates all those typical gears in a typical household.

Panasonic new model is more like the current conventional TV -- only better, i.e brighter, clearer due to over billion colors and better resolution capability, and darker like a true tube TV w/ speakers. B/c my current old Pana unit does not have its own speakers, I have to watch regular TV shows in stereo mode w/ two huge speakers, which is somewhat overkilled. Every time the commercials come on, they are loud. I wished that I had traditional small TV speakers for regular TV shows so that I could use those big speakers to watch HT movies only. In my case, I have no choice but to use my amp and processor all the time to drive my speakers just to watch TV shows. These units together can really generate some heat. My electrical bills are substantially higher. My current Panasonic unit is considered to be consumped the least energy in its class. That is why it does not have a fan like other 42" models, which can have loud fan noise, depending the distance between the viewer and the panel. Regardless, the wattage is the average power consumption is 300 watt, which is like a hot halogen lamp. In my case, I have 6 low-votage recess lights, warm plasma panel, and all the audio gears. In the winter, it's cozy, but in the summer, it's hot. As a result, I have my AC on all the time, thus, explaining the higher electrical bill as a consequence of getting a display panel only. And I live near the coastal area in California. Just to share with you all my ownership experience regarding the display only unit. On the plus side, every TV shows sound awesome, incuding boring CNN news. heh heh heh

I don't know if there's any subliminal message in those LOUD TV commercials, but my wife shops more than before and my kids demand more toys than ever. Disclaimer: this could be just a bias guy thing on intepretation.