Looking for 42in Plasma TV Please help

Htsteve,

I am just as confused as you are. Perhaps if you can answer these few questions, may be you will have a sense of direction which you want to go.

1) "What do I want?" EDTV or HDTV. You mentioned Panasonic EDTV and Fujitsu HDTV. What would dictate such outcome? Money? Resolution?

2) Once you have decided whether it's EDTV or HDTV, the next question is manufacturer? "Will it be Panasonic, Fujitsu, Mitsubishi, Pioneer, or Sony?" If it's EDTV, I like Panasonic. If it's HDTV, any is good for me personally.
3) "What features are important for me?" 3:2 pull down, types and number of video inputs, P-I-P, speakers, closed caption, clock, ...

4) "Have I done my research on other websites for professional reviews?" Look for ownership experience, but don't look for personal reviews b/c those reviews have bias due to limited ownership. If I own more than one brand of plasma, I can tell you which one I like best. Unfortunately, I only own one brand. The only way to compare apple for apple is to compare all technical information, such as resolution, features, and others, ect...

5) "Am I still w/in my budget, or do I have to trim something to make this purchase possible?"

One thing for sure is that whatever decision you make after having done your research, I'm sure that you will be very happy w/ it. I notice that most plasma owners are happy with their choices. Nicknapster is happy with his Gateway. I am happy w/ my Panasonic. Sony loyal customers will be happy with their Sony. What can I say? Perhaps you can do more research on other websites to figure out your personal best bang for the buck.

I have kooked long and hard to find the best for the buck and the Panasonic EDTV wins . I looked at EDTV and HDTV side by side and I really can not tell much difference. The HDTV had a little richer colors but not much for the price difference. Please reply thanks

HDTV plasma looks sharper if it receives HD signals from HD decoder currently costing from $600-$900, depending on how fast it can change channel as the primary costly feature. Add the price of HDTV, HD decoder, well insulated component video cable, well insulated digital audio cable from HD decoder box, and power conditioner to get good no-snow images. If the price difference is still small, I would go with HDTV even though FTC signals are yet to be standardized.

EDTV plasma looks better if it receives Enhanced Digital signals, which is widely broadcast on satellite dish. Ideal digital signal for EDTV is 480. Satellite dish may feed 480i or less, depending on the number of programs it wants to squeeze through. Digital receivers are currently offered for free with 2 years contract with either Dish or Direct TV. I recommend Direct TV. Just get power conditioner and a good S-video cable to go w/ free digital decoder . Total the price to see if the difference is still small. You should get all digital channels. If you said Panasonic EDTV wins, there is only one new model that I know. If you use terrestial HD decoder with this new Panasonic model, you won't get certain programs on ABC network b/c broadcast signal are in 720. In such case, have the decoder derez down to 480, and you should be good. Good luck.

I agree with theaudiotweak. Samsung's DLP TV is the way to go. Plasma TVs are filled with a gas that WILL leak out over a ten year period. After that the TV is dead and nothing can revive it. The reason why plasma TV repair plans cost $1000 dollars a year is because of the high likelihood that the gas will leak out sooner. Rear projection TVs are less costly to buy and maintain, but are darker, have a narrower viewing area and are much, much bigger than Plasma TVs.

DLP TVs are much less expensive than a Plasma TV, but with the same brightness and viewing area. DLPs can sit on top of a table because they have no bulky base and are half as deep as a rear projection TV. DLPs have no gas to leak out. If the picture goes bad, simply replace the light bulb.

With all the hoopla over Plasma TVs and Rear Projection TVs, few realize the potential of the Samsung DLP TV. Over time the DLPs will probably win the HDTV war. In the meantime, a lot of people are making costly mistakes rushing into the HDTV game.

I'm not a lawyer, but I have to use the lawyer's response, "It depends."

So far I have not owned any TV and have not known any one to own a TV more than 10 years even though those units are in working condition. Because technology improves and changes rapidly, old TVs are ill in comparision. That's a fact. To exacerbate the matter, natural age diminishes the quality of the picture. Even my poor visions could tell the difference in image quality between a 25" console and a HDTV unit. Moreover, it is human nature to relentlessly pursue for something better. The adage states," The grass is greener on the other side... And we gotta keep up w/ the Jones." Most of us probably upgraded to a 50" projector TV that comes w/ a universal remote control when the old 25" console that came with the old clicker were still working. It's tough to own a 25" console when TV commercials, Sunday ads, and electronic stores display nothing but big screens. Furthermore, it's even tougher to go into electronic stores to purchase a new universal remote control to replace an old clicker yet to resist the temptation of big screen as one would see consumers taking turns to park their trucks in front of the store to load their new-purchased big screens. As a consumer, the purchase power often increases over time while the price of technology from yesterday drops at the speed of gravity. Given the inverse relationship, it is very tough to resist the big screen TVs, which the Jones already own 4 units in their house.

Therefore, it depends on the personal preference. DLP may be the way to go for some. For others, 10 years can be a long time for those who are labeled as "early adaptor." Redwoodgarden is right on the fact that the "early adaptors" will have to pay their price, and I mean the world PRICE as in ka-ching!

I think that the person, who started this thread, is ready for a new THX A/V Receiver w/ DVI ports for some digital signals feeding into his EDTV plasma panel as he is tired of the old stereo receiver and the 25" TV console. I wonder what the HT in front of the name Steve stands for?