Plasma TV's

[tasty]

We are looking to buy a plasma TV that can be wall mounted. The cheaper ones are EDTV, but supposedly the picture is blurry and they are not HDTV compatible. I'd like to get the biggest one available in the $3000 price range, because it's going in a big room. Are there any electronics experts out there that can provide some advice? I've researched it on the Internet, but there are so many variables, I'm getting myself confused.

[Brad_D]

Right now there aren't enough programs that are broadcast in HDTV and that's the main reason I'm not in any hurry to get a HDTV. When the programming ramps up, the cost of a HDTV (especially plasma) will come down significantly due to the higher demand.

Samsung makes a 70" plasma which runs around $15,000+ http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif

HDTV programing check out http://www.voom.com

[Andy]

Until the FCC finalizes the date to switch to DTV, and that date comes, the economics of scale will not have much of an influence on sets that display HD, and products like plasma and LCD. Best to wait until the switch, the prices should drop like a rock then with more demand for these products. Yeah, I know there is the 'I want now' factor, but that is my frugal opinion http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Curt Leatherbee]

My suggestion would be to go with a CRT widescreen (16/9 format) and forget about the wall mount plasma, they are just way too expensive, the gateway is about the only set other than the sampo (same as a gateway) in a plasma that sells for what you are looking to spend and from what I understand they are not very good. Plasmas can be a lot of problems and are very fragile, its a bummer when you get burned out pixels too, end up with red lines through the screen.

A set for around the price you are looking at that I really liked which is not a CRT is called the Samsung DLP, I think if you look hard enough you can get one for around 3 grand. It is more reliable than the plasmas and I think has just as good if not better picture.

The set I got for my bedroom about a year ago is a 30 inch samsung 16/9 format hdtv with a sony hd200 hd converter box. The picture on HD is great. I have direct tv and local channels and have about 16 HD channels, to me, I think the HD is worth it, it is so life like. For a bigger room you will need something larger than a 30 inch, sony makes some pretty good hd tv's in crt models. They also make a 50 inch grand vega set with is an lcd screen and infact if you are looking for a fairly big 16/9 screen that is hd ready, this may be the choice. The picture is real nice on this set. I nearly bought one, but glad I did not as it would have been too big for the bedroom. When I need a new set for my living room, this will probabley be the set I will get, right now I have a non hd 53 inch hitachi ultravision.

[Curt Leatherbee]

Just did a little research and you might want to check this set out too. RCA DLP TV with built in hd tuner (http://osdn.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=1349316/ut=4400d1bb54ce2707)

It has a built in HD tuner and is around 3 grand. It is only 16 inches wide and weighs only 109 lbs. The one problem with CRT big screens is they weigh a ton, my small 30 inch weighs 165 pounds. The reviews on this RCA look pretty good from what I see.

[David Berg]

Originally posted by Curtis:

The reviews on this RCA look pretty good from what I see.

Looks like a good option. Here's one of the reviews from Epinions.com (http://www.epinions.com/content_119005286020) on that model.

[stormie464]

curtis...i bought a 40 inch RCA hdtv @ bj's - like sam's club - for 1,100. it was very light compared to the console tv that i had...takes up little rm. too. unfortunately... comsumer report rates it poorly http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/frown.gif ...so far so good though. glad to see the site with the info on it.
stormie

[Scott Pruett]

You've got a big room & you want it on a wall... dude check out a DLP projector. Pair it w/ a quality screen & it'll blow plasma away, IMO.

www.projectorpeople.com (http://www.projectorpeople.com)

______________
There will be plenty of time to rest when I'm dead and gone, until then, 150% straight ahead....

[tasty]

I guess I should have explained further. The room is for a disabled child with a visual impairment. We want to be able to position the TV on the wall so that we can move it to her best side when she plays there. I agree that the projection TV's offer the best deal, but a stationary TV won't work for her. We'd settle for the smaller, more affordable model, but then she'll have difficulty seeing it. Right now it seems as though the size we need is beyond our price range of 3K.

[Brad_D]

You may want to look into LCD's as well. They come in smaller sizes which may suit your needs better.

[Curt Leatherbee]

Panasonic makes a plasma model in a '42 inch that you can find for around 3,000.00. I beleive it is hd capable too, although you have to get a hd tuner.

[Curt Leatherbee]

Stormie, from what I have heard, starting january rca stepped up its quality significantly. I know they are selling lots of tv's with the built in hd tuner. They are one of the few mfg's to offer a built in hd tuner.

Hd is definately the future, when you watch it you are hooked. The detail is so much better. I especially like a station on direct tv called "hdnet" they have a lot of interesting shows, plus I watch discovery Hd quite a bit too. It was interesting tonight on 60 minutes they had the billionare who owns hdnet and he also owns the dallas mavericks basketball team too.

[teesieme]

just talking with a buddy about this, he said he wanted a plasma tv until he learned that every two years (now don't quote me but...) they are in need of either a new battery/charging something of that sort that costs $$$ whereas the others don't. He has since changed his mind once he investigated the maintenance of a plasma tv.

[Chris Chappell]

tees, I've heard the same thing. I figure a couple more years to get the bugs out and bring the prices down.

Nice toy though.

[tasty]

I think we're going to pass on the plasmas for now. You can get a lot more projection TV for the money and the bigger screen will allow our daughter to see the TV better. The room has a hard floor, so we should be able to wheel it around as necessary. We already have a SONY and will probably stick with that brand unless someone has a better idea. Thanks for the input.

[Bobby820]

I have a 42 inch samsung plasma and I love it.. I'd recomend it..