[jacksonpt]

Would you buy an LCD or a plasma online? I've got a great local dealer, but the deals that buying online can give is very tempting. My tax return is coming and I'm considering a plasma for my basement. I'll probably end up putting down hardwood flooring with the money, but a plasma has a far greater cool factor.

Thoughts?

 

[Brian HCM#1]

From what I'm hearing the Plasma are still a bit better than the LCD. However my brother got a Sony LCD and the picture is way kick ass. The plus side to a LCD is if there are picture problems you just replace the bulb which is fairly inexpensive. For video game use as of now the plasma is better for burning protection.

 

[binary visions]

For video game use as of now the plasma is better for burning protection.

Actually, it's just the opposite... The LCD is better when there are stagnant pieces of the screen. Plasmas are what suffer burn-in.

 

[narlus]

brian, the question was mailorder vs bricks & mortar, not format.

the new Consumer Reports issue is devoted to electronics, and they were pretty bullish on the reliability of the new tvs, and recommended not worrying about getting teh extended warrantee. so then i guess i'd ask what does teh local vendor offer which the online guy doesn't, and is that cost worth it?

 

[Brian HCM#1]

For the right price from a reputable online sorce, I'd do it. Costco has some good prices though.

 

[Brian HCM#1]

Actually, it's just the opposite... The LCD is better when there are stagnant pieces of the screen. Plasmas are what suffer burn-in.

Hmmm, I read it was the opposite.

 

[BillT]

Plasmas suffer burn-in, but LCD's don't. Burn-in aside, plasmas are better for video games than LCD's because some LCD's have issues with blurring motion/ghost images due to response times.

 

[syadasti]

some LCD's have issues with blurring motion/ghost images due to response times.

Older LCD have slower response times, not so much an issue with newer models. LCD come in higher resolutions at the same size Plasma usually. The only LCD with potential burn-in are the new IPS panels with overdrive for faster response time, but they are still less vulnerable than Plasma (and some models you can turn off the overdrive to lessen the issue if its primary use is static images). LCD will be getting even better with the newer generation of advanced CCFL backlights and eventually LED.

The DLPs from HP probably have the best bang for buck in the under $10K segment as long as you can deal with the 16" depth. Also if you have very good eyes, you can see rainbows (new LED DLPS don't have this issue I think), but they aren't that distracting. Myself and maybe one other person so far as actually been able to see them on the set.

I've installed/used this HP DLP series model before (Sound and vision's best TV for 2006): MD6580n

The MD5880N goes for around $2750, but its just been discontinued, a new model is coming soon. Maybe you can score a very good deal.

 

[N8 v2.0]

Plasmas suffer burn-in, but LCD's don't. Burn-in aside, plasmas are better for video games than LCD's because some LCD's have issues with blurring motion/ghost images due to response times.

Burn in issues with plasmas are highly over stated... with the last several generations of plasmas, burn-in is pretty much a dead issue.

I orded my plasma via the internet and it arrived at my door with no problems through www.plasmaconcepts.com

I highly recommend them for your plasma, dlp, lcd screen needs.

Do we all need to see my living room again...???

 

[syadasti]

Plasma definately still have burn-in, its not a non-issue yet. I setup the lastest generation panasonic plasma this year. Great set, but watching the letterbox format has caused burn-in - it happened very quickly, within weeks. The first few hundred hours are when the sets are most vulnerable.

 

[Silver]

Plasma definately still have burn-in, its not a non-issue yet. I setup the lastest generation panasonic plasma this year. Great set, but watching the letterbox format has caused burn-in - it happened very quickly, within weeks. The first few hundred hours are when the sets are most vulnerable.

Someone forgot to tell you that you're not supposed to do that for the first 100 or 200 hours? That's what the zoom button on the remote is for...

 

[syadasti]

It wasn't my set. I only own LCD panels (computer monitors even).

I watch about maybe 6 hours of TV/DVD a month if I am lucky.

 

[N8 v2.0]

Plasma definately still have burn-in, its not a non-issue yet. I setup the lastest generation panasonic plasma this year. Great set, but watching the letterbox format has caused burn-in - it happened very quickly, within weeks. The first few hundred hours are when the sets are most vulnerable.

well you got boned...

cuz my 7th gen Panasonic has ZERO burn in and it's on 8 hrs a day... with news tickers during the day/evening and letter box at night.... been like that for 24 months.

 

[syadasti]

The burn on the set is only noticeable up close - you can see the sidebar sections burned-in. The point is is Plasma sets are still have problems with burn-in.

I haven't been over to try this, but I've heard it can work on some cases:

JScreenFix is a Java applet and Java webstart application that helps re-energise stuck pixels and remove burn-in on LCD and plasma screens by randomly switching on and off red, green and blue colour cells very rapidly.

 

[N8 v2.0]

The burn on the set is only noticeable up close - you can see the sidebar sections burned-in. The point is is Plasma sets are still have problems with burn-in.

I haven't been over to try this, but I've heard it can work on some cases:

up close as in closer than viewing distance? if so, then i'd say its a dead issue... while i don't have any, who cares a bout a stuck pixel or two for chrissakes?

 

[syadasti]

up close as in closer than viewing distance? if so, then i'd say its a dead issue... while i don't have any, who cares a bout a stuck pixel or two for chrissakes?

Yes closer than viewing distance, but its something I noticed. I usually inspect things in great detail

With LCD TV sets, a few dead pixels don't matter for most users. With monitors and your face right up next to it, if your vision is good, it can bother some people.

 

[N8 v2.0]

Yes closer than viewing distance, but its something I noticed. I usually inspect things in great detail

With LCD TV sets, a few dead pixels don't matter for most users. With monitors and your face right up next to it, if your vision is good, it can bother some people.

well, my plasma is a 50" so, close up viewing is gonna suck far more from the 'screen door' effect than a dead pixel or a tiny bit of burn in...