42-50" hdtv - help me!!

[Koslov]

My brother wants to buy his first HDTV very soon. He wants at least a 42" but 50" would be better. Ideally his budget would be around 1000$-1300$. Best bang for the buck would be great. No need for gimmicks etc..

Is there a good deal right now worth checking?
I saw the LG 50" Plasma HDTV** (50PG25) for 999$ at Futureshop. It looks interesting. Is it worth it?

[ppl4golf]

Do him a favor and persuade him to get 50" - big TV = immersive experience = wow!!
1080p 42" = why I have to stand so damn close to read the text in Window Desktop.

the 720p 50" plasmas are the best bang for buck ATM, everyday they are $900-1100 and sometimes for less. LG, Samsung, Panasonic and Pioneer can all be calibrated to look very good.

$999 is not what I'd consider good price for the LG.

[_Allan_]

Sharp for $1499 (http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0926HDS0010092830&catid=26554)

Just a note, Sony at least (and I think Samsung) use Sharp panels in their TV's

[SinCron]

I'm in the same boat. Looking for a 42"+ 1080P LCD TV but I'm using it for computer use with the same budget.

[Gutty96]

Plasma all the way. A $1000 720p plasma will still have better PQ then a equally priced LCD. Hell, better then one 2-3x's the price in my eyes.

[maniacshopper]

My brother wants to buy his first HDTV very soon. He wants at least a 42" but 50" would be better. Ideally his budget would be around 1000$-1300$. Best bang for the buck would be great. No need for gimmicks etc..

Is there a good deal right now worth checking?
I saw the LG 50" Plasma HDTV** (50PG25) for 999$ at Futureshop. It looks interesting. Is it worth it?

when you mean no gimmick, are you saying doesn't matter about 120hz?

if you're not looking for a non-120hz LCD screen, 46" can be had for $1099-1199.

[ppl4golf]

Make sure you pass the plasma 'check list' before taking the plunge.

1. low light ambient viewing environment without reflection
2. watch fullscreen and avoid black bars for 4:3; pay attention to tickers, etc. AND willing to change some viewing habits
3. LCD if going to using as computer display heavily

[cdnNick]

If it is a bright room then plasma would not be the way to go. If it is in the basement with like no windows then plasma would be good.

I just got a 40" 720P Samsung LCD and I have to it's very nice, much better then my 42" Sony.

[Martin (deal addict)]

Make sure you pass the plasma 'check list' before taking the plunge.

1. low light ambient viewing environment without reflection
2. watch fullscreen and avoid black bars for 4:3; pay attention to tickers, etc. AND willing to change some viewing habits
3. LCD if going to using as computer display heavily

You seem knowledgeable regarding plasma TVs. Burn-in occurs on a plasma screen and hopefully this happens evenly over time (hence avoid bars, gaming scoreboards etc). My question is - does this make the screen darker over time or lighter over time. I am interested in knowing if the black performance gets better or less good. It must change one way or the other due to burn-in. The reason I ask is I've seen a 60" Kuro on display in a home theatre set up in a store and the blacks don't seem as dark as other Kuros on display. I was wondering if this is because its been on all day for months and the screen has lightened. If plasma screens lighten over time then this would affect the relevance of professional reviews which are normally done on new TVs.

[SinCron]

Make sure you pass the plasma 'check list' before taking the plunge.

1. low light ambient viewing environment without reflection
2. watch fullscreen and avoid black bars for 4:3; pay attention to tickers, etc. AND willing to change some viewing habits
3. LCD if going to using as computer display heavily

I thought lighting didn't matter that much with plasma. We have a 42" plasma in the living room with lots of sunlight coming in and it never seems any different. How are LCD's for the old "In the dark, foot of my bed which is 7 feet away being used as a monitor"?

[ppl4golf]

You seem knowledgeable regarding plasma TVs. Burn-in occurs on a plasma screen and hopefully this happens evenly over time (hence avoid bars, gaming scoreboards etc). My question is - does this make the screen darker over time or lighter over time. I am interested in knowing if the black performance gets better or less good. It must change one way or the other due to burn-in. The reason I ask is I've seen a 60" Kuro on display in a home theatre set up in a store and the blacks don't seem as dark as other Kuros on display. I was wondering if this is because its been on all day for months and the screen has lightened. If plasma screens lighten over time then this would affect the relevance of professional reviews which are normally done on new TVs.

I have no idea but it should take a long time before deterioration occurs.
The chance is nothing is noticeable as long as there is no UNEVEN wear.

[ppl4golf]

I thought lighting didn't matter that much with plasma. We have a 42" plasma in the living room with lots of sunlight coming in and it never seems any different. How are LCD's for the old "In the dark, foot of my bed which is 7 feet away being used as a monitor"?

I put my 2007 LG 42" plasma in the bedroom and I have difficulty watching it when it is very very bright. I have short memory and can't remember if the LCD it replaced had the same problem.

The LG plasma is still watchable if I put it in 'Daylight' (torch mode). I may replace it with a 40" LCD when there is a deal I can't pass up.

[SinCron]

Ah. I should camp the electronic deals for something with at least a 20,000 DCR. I'd be happy as hell if I could find a 46" LCD like that.

[Martin (deal addict)]

I have no idea but it should take a long time before deterioration occurs.
The chance is nothing is noticeable as long as there is no UNEVEN wear.

Can you say if the "burnt-in" areas ( those subjected to prolonged brightness)would be lioghter or darker than the rest of the screen. This would be the centre section for the 4:3 side bar situation or the text areas for say a menu or scoreboard burn in.

[ppl4golf]

Can you say if the "burnt-in" areas ( those subjected to prolonged brightness)would be lioghter or darker than the rest of the screen. This would be the centre section for the 4:3 side bar situation or the text areas for say a menu or scoreboard burn in.

Here is a good one :

The mark will look brighter in a dark screen AND dimmer on a white screen:D.

[SinCron]

What 42"+ 1080P LCD TV would be good for computer use in that same price range?

[ppl4golf]

What 42"+ 1080P LCD TV would be good for computer use in that same price range?

IMHO, no 42" 1080p makes a good monitor.
You'll have to sit close BUT you're not supposed to sit that close.
I found out the relatively hard way 2 years ago and thanks there was Costco...

[SinCron]

I think I may have decided on the LN46A550. Increase desktop res to 1080P and increase text size a tad and I be good to go. Besides, having a 46" TV 7 feet away isn't too bad.