Plasma, Dog Plasma, or Projection?

[Bub, Andrew]

My mom called me today. She's looking to buy a 40-50" HD TV and she's torn between a Plasma and a Projection. I couldn't help her much here, so I thought I'd fish for advice. Money isn't an object.

She was told that Plasma screens degrade by 25% over three years?

Which is better, what brands are best, and what problems/concerns come with plasma and projection? I figured somebody here was up on this stuff because audio/visual is no longer my field (not since 1992 and my brief tenure at Circuit City).

[SpoofyChop]

My mom called me today. ... Money isn't an object.


My mom's in the exact same position. She left my dad for this guy and she got half the money so she bought him (the guy, not my dad) a HUGH rear projection TV. I don't know if she got good advice or not though.

So my recommedation is this:

Get your mom to buy you a new TV too.

[Bub, Andrew]

Well, thanks for that, and I'm sorry your parents got divorced, but my dad is the real impetus behind the TV being 40-50". I recommended a flat screen Wega or something more practical.

Also, your post could be construed to suggest that YOU are the guy your mom left your dad for (and bought the TV for). Then again, your name is Spoofy, so I probably should take you seriously at all.

[SpoofyChop]

Also, your post could be construed to suggest that YOU are the guy your mom left your dad for (and bought the TV for).

Hmmm...I reread my post and it looks like you're right. Apparently I'm Oedipus Chop.

Seriously seriously though, I read an article (sorry I couldn't find it) a few weeks ago that basically said "stay away from HDTV."

The standard still isn't in place, you get very few broadcasts, etc.

The article said to get an EDTV (enhanced def) which sometimes supports cool stuff like VGA monitor ports, but more importantly lets you do the whole progressive scan DVD player thing.

I'll try to find that article.

[SpoofyChop]

Check out this (http://www.planetaudio.net/hdtv_questions.htm) article for starters.

[SpoofyChop]

And this one. (http://www.plasmatvs.com/hdtvvsanalogtv.html)

And here too (http://www.bestbuy.com/HomeAudioVideo/DVDPlayers/hr/ProgressiveScan11_17.asp) for some more basic background info.

[SpoofyChop]

And finally here's (http://www.projectorcentral.com/consultants_corner.cfm?ci=video_signals) the article I first mentioned.

[EDIT]

And here's (http://www.msnbc.com/news/850131.asp) a review of the new Gateway plasma TV.

[Jim Preston]

Andrew, I tried to dip a toe into the frigid waters of HDTV recently and recieved some very interesting responses in this thread (http://www.quartertothree.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1230&highlight=samsung).

[Ergo]

Tell her to get an HDTV-ready widescreen RPTV. Much cheaper than plasma, and nearly as good a picture. It won't have an HDTV tuner, which will knock a lot off the price, but she can add one late when HDTV signals are more ubiquitous. Have her also buy a progressive scan DVD player. Coupled with the TV, the DVD player will display movies at near film quality.

[wumpus]

Dog Plasma! Definitely.

[Bub, Andrew]

"She was told that Plasma screens degrade by 25% over three years?"

Anyone know if this is true? it came from a salesguy at a place that, conveniently, doesn't sell Plasma screens.

[Jakub]

"She was told that Plasma screens degrade by 25% over three years?"

Anyone know if this is true? it came from a salesguy at a place that, conveniently, doesn't sell Plasma screens.

They say something similar (http://www.clarityvisual.com/pdfs/technotes/PlasmaDisplayTechnology.pdf). And they appear to sell plasma TVs too, so...

[Bub, Andrew]

Thanks Jakub.

[Jakub]

Here's some more, scroll down (http://www.hwupgrade.com/monitor/index3.html).

Wow, I guess that salesman was telling the truth. There go my ideas for plasma >_<

[ydejin]

Andrew, as pointed out in Jim's previous thread, I've got a 55" Mitsubishi Widescreen HD Rear Projection TV that I'm very happy with. The one thing to keep in mind with the RPTV is that they are very large. It's got a great picture but it also looks like a total monstrosity.

I agree with Ergo, the plasma's are still too expensive for the price. A 50" plasma is $10K while a 55" RPTV is about $2.5K.

I was a bit suprised to hear about the problems with Plasma. I had heard that the big problem with RPTV was burn-in and that plasma didn't have this problem. However, from the links you all provided, looks like that's not true. I guess they both risk burn-in :(