HDTVs - 760p or 1080p?

[Nathan]

Recently ive been considering buying an HDTV. I cant really justify paying more then about $1500 right now, even though I have more money that wouldn't be wise at this time. So basically, if I want a decent sized TV, my only options really would be probably a 42" 760p LCD HDTV.

I was just curious, does anyone have an HDTV? What is it, what are your thoughts on them? Ive been doing alot of research lately on the topic, im the more I read, the harder it gets to really make up a decision. Odds are this wouldn't be a purchase I would make untill early next year, but I wanted to try to educate myself best as possible now and if im lucky prices may slightly drop by then.

[DJ FC]

You should get 1080, and there should be no problem finding a good one for less than $1500. $1500 should be able to get you a 47" LCD or Plasma (I'd choose LCD) w/ 1080 resolution

[BigDongedHoe]

I got a 52" Toshiba 1080p not to long ago for $1250

[Orgazmo]

Originally Posted by BigDongedHoe

I got a 52" Toshiba 1080p not to long ago for $1250

Was it a flat panel? (LCD/Plasma) If so...that's an outstanding deal.

My $.02, I recently got a 42" Panasonic Plasma 720p for around 1k. Not a GREAT deal, but definitely pretty solid. I went with plasma because they're cheaper, they look better (this can be argued...the claim is the lcd's are brighter while plasmas produce better blacks), and they're supposedly better for gaming (I can't have any lag with my guitar hero). Only the first of these arguments is really a fact.

As far as the 720p/1080i vs 1080p debate...all of my research has led to the answer: It depends. It depends on how big the TV is, how far away you are from the tv, and, most importantly, what you're going to be playing on the tv.

For me, the sitting area is, at most, 8ish feet from the tv. 50" or more would kinda be overkill; however, on a tv that small, the difference between 720p & 1080p is negligible. Here is a great chart to help you make that decision:

http://s3.carltonbale.com/resolution_chart.html

As far as what you're playing on the television goes, 1080p only matters if you have a high def player attached (HD/DVD or BluRay). HiDef tv is currently only 720p/1080i with no plans for that to change in the immediate future.

So basically...is the combo of your distance from the tv & the tv's size enough to make you notice the different in 720p & 1080p? If yes, are you going to be using it as a high def gaming/video player? If yes again, spend a bit more and get 1080p. If not, get 720p, wait a couple years, and spend considerably less on a 1080p (or maybe even 1440p) set.

[Mr. Blonde]

nobody else is going to bring up the fact that last week nathan posted advice on how to make money by taking surveys online bc he doesn't want a job, yet he's spending around 1500 dollars on a tv?

no?

okay then. just checking.

[Beebs]

I'm more concerned that nobody pointed out the obvious man law in effect, when it comes to buying shit, the one with the bigger number is almost invariably better.

[BigDongedHoe]

It was not a flat panel. I actually bought it around 2 1/2 years ago or so, maybe I'm wrong on the 1080p technology but I'm pretty certain it is.

Basically the TV went for $1499 at Best Buy, Circuit City, Etc. I found a website online that sold the TV for $1299. I went to the local Rock Bottom Warehouse where they were selling it and asked if they met other store's prices (of course they did all retail stores do/should). Not only did I get that but it was a floor model that was not used but only for display. So I asked if they would knock more off of it since it was a floor model and they agreed to $50 more off (which was well worth it since shipping was going to be outrageous online).

So I basically got a $1499 tv for $1249. The picture is crystal clear, sounds great, looks good I couldn't be more satisfied.

[DJ FC]

Originally Posted by Orgazmo

I went with plasma because they're cheaper, they look better (this can be argued...the claim is the lcd's are brighter while plasmas produce better blacks), and they're supposedly better for gaming (I can't have any lag with my guitar hero).

Yeah LCDs are definitely better for gaming because Plasmas have issues with images burning in. Can be a pain in the ass a little.

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by Mr. Blonde

nobody else is going to bring up the fact that last week nathan posted advice on how to make money by taking surveys online bc he doesn't want a job, yet he's spending around 1500 dollars on a tv?

no?

okay then. just checking.

It wasn't advice, I never said I didn't want a job, I was simply asking about online surveys.

If I get anything im leaning towards a 720p LCD. I checked out the picture quality of LCDs vs Plasmas at Best Buy the other day and I feel like the Plasmas looked better... but im a bit concerned about the burn-ins, especially from things like channel logos and score bars. My tv as is, mainly is set on ESPN so just the thought that the bar at the bottom of the screen could get burnt in after a period of time bothers me.

It would be for my apartment, where anything over 42" would be overkill, and my console gaming at this point is still limited to PS2, with no plans to make any new purchases. If im gaming its usually on my computer anyways, I mainly just use the PS2 for DVDs still and Madden.

Researching new technology can be a pain in the ass because it seems like the more you read, the less you know. Everything thats out there seems to contradict everything else, and after awhile you get too deep into the technical factors when really it should be down to what looks good to you, whats reasonable and whats affordable.

[Orgazmo]

Don't let burn in be your only factor swaying you from plasma. I do everything you're not supposed to and have 0 effect. This includes watching tons of sports, sportscenter, and keeping guitar hero on the screen for ridiculous stretches of time. Very rarely, ghosting will occur (basically burn in that you can only see if the TV is turned off and you're trying to find it), but it goes away after a minute of two. Permanent burn in is a thing of the past for plasmas.

[ninjaface]

You can still get permanent burn-in, but its no more common than it would be on a tube television. Not only that, but most plasmas now have methods of prevention such as pixel-shift and even if you do manage to get some burn-in, many plasmas have ways of fixing that or at least clearing most of it up. Whitewash is what some plasmas use to get rid of burn-in.

I prefer LCDs over Plasma for a few reasons.

#1. No reflection. LCD screens have a matte finish. Plasmas have glass. With plasmas, you'll see a reflection at all times when there is some other light source in the room other than the TV.

#2. No possibility of image burn-in with an LCD. I know that its not really much of a worry with plasmas, but there's still a possibility of it happening.

#3. LCDs tend to use less energy than Plasmas. In some cases, not by very much but in others, a difference of almost half. The idea of paying slightly less over time appeals to me.

#4. This one is the least important to me, but still a factor. Viewing angle. LCDs have a wider viewing angle than Plasmas, but not by too much. And I usually don't sit at a big enough angle to a tv for it to really matter. This is more of a psychological thing though. Not something I harp on unless the viewing angle is really bad.

Just a couple more random pros.. LCDs are lighter, less fragile, and can work at higher elevations (doesn't really matter for most people). As far as the drawbacks of LCD, refresh rates may not be as fast as a plasma. That means you can see what are called artifacts on the screen. However, LCD tvs with refresh rates of 16 ms or lower show very little noticeable artifacts and there are many LCD tvs available that have as little as 5ms response time.
Summary... LCD > Plasma because no reflections on the screen > barely noticeable difference in refresh rates

Here is what I suggest you do. Figure out what is most important to you out of all the main pros and cons of each technology. After you do that you'll pretty much know whether you like LCD or Plasma. Then, choose your brand. The top 3 brands for tvs are Sony, Panasonic, and Sharp Aquos. This list might be arguable, but not by much. The worst brand I've ever seen is Akai. Anything made by Akai is a huge piece of shit. Avoid that brand at all costs.

[Orgazmo]

Some plasmas (I'm speaking of Panny's specifically, though other brands may do this) offer a special anti-reflective coating for some models. This is true of my model, which, for a few bucks more, comes with the coating. My tv is in such a way that it never has a direct light source pointed at it...but it's something to look into. For reference sake, my television is the th42px75u...the anti-reflective is the th42px77u.

As for the brands ninja mentioned, I assume those are mostly for lcd's. In the plasma marketplace, Panasonic and Samsung are the most popular as solid brands that won't break the bank. Pioneer has a couple of higher level models if you're a videophile. If you don't mind settling a bit, I've heard a lot of good about Vizio.

[ninjaface]

Sony is LCD only. Panasonic is mostly Plasma. Like you said, Samsung and Pioneer are also good.

[Nathan]

has anyone been following the market for awhile? I was wondering how quickly HDTVs are dropping in price if any. I hear plasmas used to be much more then they are now, but I was wondering if the market as a whole has been slightly getting cheaper with time. If the price drops have hardly been significant in comparison to time, then odds are id be buying one sooner rather then lately.

I just have a hard time justifying a purchase of this magnitude of any sort. I am still in school and only working part time... I have the cash and then some on hand, but its definitely something I could live without.

[ninjaface]

The prices always go down. Whats top of the line right now will be $500 less in 6 months. Then whatever is top of the line then will follow suit. And so on and so on. You're perpetually in the position of saying TV's will be cheaper if I wait. It be like playing double-dutch wit yo gurls in tha hood. yo bitch ass gotta jump in sometime if you fend to play.

[Orgazmo]

My dad bought my tv's equivalent new 3 years ago for about $3,200. It was a pretty good deal. I this year's version for $1,000 on a bit of a better deal. That said, I think it's to the point where the 720p/1080i sets (especially in normal sizes...50" or less) are about as good as they're going to get. Sure, they'll drop a bit, but nothing significant enough for waiting. If you're wanting the cutting edge shit (1080p or something bigger than 50"), waiting could probably serve you well.

[Nathan]

Okay, so I finally made a purchase the other day at Best Buy. I decided I wanted a 42", that name brand was some what important to me, and that the difference between 760 and 1080p visually, at least for me, didn't seem worth the extra price.

I decided to go with http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....&ref=10&loc=01, a Philips 760p, 42" LCD flat panel TV. Thus far ive been impressed with the TV. It was a bit heavy, but for the price, the size, and the relatively reliable company name I thought it was a good purchase.

Now ive found something really fascinating when I hooked up my Comcast cable (pretty much the lowest package u can get, I dont even have a comcast box). For one, I have all of the local channels in HD. I get channel like 2, which is regular Fox, and then 2.1 which is Fox HD. Same goes for NBC, PBS, CBS, ABC, WB20, CW50, and any other local channels im missing out on.

Also... when I go past my regular channels (before my tv went up to like channel 72), I now have about 100 various channels that are things like 78.3, 78.5, etc... and on these channels im finding a variety of rather odd things. Theres not really much consistency on alot of them... as in, the programming changes on the particular channel number sometimes. For one.. I have ESPN HD. Ive seen About 3 different versions of most of the local channels, most broadcasting different shows at once, and most in HD.

The most bizarre things is about 30 of these channels sometimes are black. Other times they are a messed up image (ill have a small rectangle in the upper left and bottom right replaying the previews of comcast On-Demands menu page). And then sometimes these channels are showing what appears to me to be random on-demand broadcasts. Ive so far caught movies such as Knocked Up, The Departed, Ice Age, Pirates of the Caribbean 2, etc. Alot of movies showing up are clearly ones that just came out and you normally would be paying 3.99 each through comcast to watch. Ive caught a few pornos from time to time randomly on these channels... and all of these on-demand shows are in HD. Also the channels will have various comedy central, MTV, VH1, etc shows all in HD w/ the "on-demand" logos in the bottom.

I cannot figure out whats going on... its funny cause sometimes the movies will fast forward (like when i was watching the one porno it fast forwarded through the aweful acting to the porn scene, as if someone else paid for it and is watching it elsewhere). I had intentions of calling comcast when I bought this TV to get a comcast box and the HD package, but as long as this stuff is coming in for free (im assuming its free, ive done nothing extra to be paying for this stuff), then im not going to bother.

Any thoughts on what the hell is going on? Its like a mystery everytime I surf these extra channels what might be playing. I also noticed last night at like 1AM that the random on-demand shows playing were slim to none, making me really wonder if im somehow watching other local peoples on-demand shows they are picking, hence why it effects me when its fast-forwarding, or stopping abruptly.

[ninjaface]

It's just the tuners in the tv. I've heard of this type of thing before. You should just enjoy it.

PS: Its 720, not 760.

PPS: You could have gotten a 1080 version of that philips tv at Sam's Club for $1,293.22. And at Sam's Club you can return your tv at any time for any reason. So as long as you save your receipt, you can return your tv 2, 3, 4, 5 years down the line and get a full refund.

[Ironic Mustache]

The days of outrageously priced TV's are over. I paid almost double two years ago for what HD's are selling for now. $1500 should be no problem at all.

[Repugnant Abomination]

What a waste of money.

[BigDongedHoe]

I've found some really good ebay deals on projecters. If you go to a local fabric shop you can make a screen for no more than $40 or $50. I don't think I'll buy another HD TV when I can get 80+" projection for $600-800.

[Orgazmo]

Agreed with Ninja. You're watching what your neighbors bought from On Demand. Enjoy it and don't tell Comcast about it.

Also, I read that Sams Club did away with the "return anything, anytime" thing a couple months ago due to abuse. Is that not the case?

[ninjaface]

Where'd you read that? I doubt they did away with it because I went to a large meeting and was told by the "Executive Vice President and President and Chief Executive Officer" for Sam's Club that getting rid of that policy was the last thing they wanted to do.

[Orgazmo]

I believe it was on the fatwallet forums about 4 months ago. Could be wrong.

[ninjaface]

I just pulled this from the Sam's Club website.


Sam's Club Return / Refund Policy
At Sam's Club, Member Satisfaction is 100% guaranteed both on merchandise and Memberships. Our policy is to refund our Member’s purchases in full with a receipt and without a receipt we will refund in full with a Sam's Club Shopping Card.

The following exceptions apply:

* Computers, which can be returned within 6 months of the original purchase date, except Dell computers which can be returned within 30 days of the invoice (ship) date.
* All Dell products can be returned within 30 days of the invoice (ship) date.
* Theme park tickets, which are non-refundable.
* Shopping Cards, which can not be redeemed for cash.
* Refunds on fresh product (i.e. Meat, Bakery or Produce) will follow the Sam's Club 200% Guarantee: Double the Member’s money back OR refund of the original purchase price and replacement of the item. The 200% Guarantee applies only to paid Members with Sam's Club. It does not apply to One-Day or other pass guests. Non-Members may return fresh product for the purchase price only.
* Cigarette returns will not be accepted without prior written approval from the tobacco supplier representative.
* This policy does not change the manufacturer’s warranty on any item returned as defective, such as tires or batteries.
* Refunds on refrigerant (R-134A) will be accepted no more than 7 days from the date of purchase and then only with a receipt.