Are Plasma HDTVs Making a Comeback?

tvpredictions.com ^ | February 20, 2011 | Philip Swann

[word_warrior_bob]

THose 720p Panasonic plasmas are the best deals out there, they have outstanding picture quality.

Plasma has always been a little better, although I still love my 55 and 60 inch Sony LCD’s. I’ve got the kind where you can replace the bulb and engine so they can go almost forever. Everything now has the super thin form factor which means you wind up mostly throwing them out when they wear out. With the prices going down though it shouldn’t be that huge of a factor. The new tv’s aren’t like tubes that last for decades.

[SunkenCiv]

The power requirements aren’t that bad, all big screen TVs suck down the juice. The weird thing the past year or more is that the plasmas I’ve seen at the warehouse clubs have all been 720p; though cheap for their size, I don’t consider that a good value unless one is getting it for institutional use (church, airport, bar, etc).

[reg45]

The LED TVs seem to have the best picture. We just need to wait for the price to come down.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

I’d be interested in this group’s opinion of the Panasonic Viera TC46PGT24 3D 1020p plasma unit I’ve seen at Costco for around $900 (through end-March), and even cheaper online. Online reviews and reliability ratings are very positive. It was pretty awesome to play with in the store. The 3D effect was stunning, and its 1020p for non-3D content looked great.

[Las Vegas Dave]

What company sells this model??
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You may find this manual for the TV to be of help:
http://safemanuals.com/user-guide-instructions-owner-manual/PANASONIC/TC46PGT24-_E

Specifications:
http://www.hdtvsolutions.com/Panasonic-TC-46PGT24.htm

And it is 1080p!! (Great for Blu-Ray.)

For those of you who would like to see this short youtube video of HD resolution explained, I suggest this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-JXfyvlPh0

[Las Vegas Dave]

COSTCO, IMHO is the best for TV’s, their guarantee is great, 90 day even exchange and two year guarentee (last time I checked). And the TV is 1080p!!

You may not get much 3D content other than Blu-ray 3D DVD’s.
I suggest Netflix for rentals, (I believe they soon will have 3D-DVD’s available.)

[Las Vegas Dave]

PINGING THE HDTV LIST

The 10 Things I Really Love About HDTV (By Phillip Swann)
http://www.tvpredictions.com/lovehdtv022211.htm

Washington, D.C. (February 22, 2011) — Editor’s Note: To celebrate the 10th anniversary of TVPredictions.com, over the next several months I plan to publish a series of features honoring what I think represents the ‘10 Best’ in the field of TV technologies.

(And in some cases, ‘10 Worst’ articles will expose companies and people who I think are failing to strive toward excellence, or, in some cases, not even making a serious effort to satisfy their customers.)

But today, I offer the ‘10 Things I Really Love About HDTV.’

Over the years, I have written thousands of articles (yes, literally) about High-Definition TV. My stories sometimes take a critical view of the technology’s shortfalls; and there are a few, such as format conflicts that leave viewers guessing about which one provides the best picture (1080p vs. 1080i vs. 720p etc.).

But in in most cases, my negative articles have attacked industry companies who have failed to deliver the best that the technology has to offer. For instance, due to penny-pinching — and sometimes, flat ignorance of what their customers truly want — TV providers will dilute the quality of their HD signals to make room for more channels and save money.

Few things make me madder than that.

But if you search our archives, you’ll also see that I often offer unabashed praise of the high-def picture and related features. I purchased my first HDTV in 2001 and I am as thrilled with high-def as I was on day one.

So, today, I present, ‘The 10 Things I Really Love About HDTV!’

1. Blu-ray
Thank God for Blu-ray. In a world where cable and satellite providers can dilute the HD picture quality — and call it business as usual — the Blu-ray high-def disc offers the purest form of HD on the market. When you watch a movie on Blu-ray, you can see details that often go unnoticed even when you watch the film in the theater. The colors are vivid, eye-popping, and the sound is rich and emotionally-stirring. If you want to get lost in yourself some day, pop in a Blu-ray movie; you won’t regret it.

2. Vudu
While I recommend that you watch a new video release on Blu-ray, if you’re going to watch it via an Internet streaming service, watch it on Vudu. The Net TV service, which is owned by Wal-Mart, has an extensive library of HD films, both current films and classics. If you can think of a movie, chances are that Vudu has it.

But what’s even better is that Vudu’s HD picture quality is very, very good; not up to Blu-ray standards, mind you. But better than Netflix.

The only drawback: Unlike Netflix, which allows you unlimited streaming viewing with one set-priced monthly plan, Vudu charges you by the film. For instance, if you rent The Social Network in HD, be prepared to pay $4.99 or $5.99.(The higher price is for the edition which has a higher picture quality; and the picture is better if you have a 1080p HDTV.)

3. The LG BD570 Blu-ray Player
Okay, I’ve already extolled the virtues of Blu-ray. But the LG player is more than a Blu-ray player. Like all Blu-ray players, it plays standard-def DVDs — and will even “upconvert” them so the picture is better than on regular DVD players. But the LG also enables wireless Internet streaming so you can access everything from Netflix to Vudu to Pandora (an awesome, free music player) to YouTube to even MLB.TV. Yes, that’s right, with a $99 subscription, you can watch 720p HD, live video of every Major League Baseball game on your TV. (Another $24.99 will get you roughly 150 live spring training games.)

With the LG BD570 priced at under $200, it’s no wonder that it’s the best-selling Blu-ray player today at Amazon.com.

4. Plasma HDTVs
Which TV has the best picture? LCD or Plasma? For several years now, the debate has escalated with strong advocates on both sides. But for my money, Plasma is the winner. The Plasma HDTV just offers a richer, deeper and more realistic picture than LCD, particularly in a dark room. There’s nothing better than watching a Blu-ray movie on a Plasma set in a dark room; talk about bliss.

Now the LCD TV has its merits — and I have a LCD set so I know where I speak. The LCD set tends to look slightly better than Plasma in a well-lit room. But if you can control where your favorite TV will be positioned, get a Plasma set, put it in a dark room and you will never have a second thought about why you did.

5. Actors With Balls
Since the advent of high-def, some actors and actresses (and news people) have demanding that they be shot and lit in such a way that their faces look like a blurry mess. (Diane Sawyer, I’m talking about you, among others.) Their vanity and egos are so out of control that they can’t stand the thought that their audiences will see them as they look in real life. (Many of them also engage in various plastic surgeries to trick HD; the irony is that the surgeries usually leave them looking like they belong in a freak show. Joan Rivers, Nicole Kidman, Mickey Rourke, I’m talking about you, among others.)

But many actors (and some local news anchors) apparently are not frightened by HD’s candid cameras. When they perform, you can see every wrinkle. every facial scar, every imperfection. The result is that these actors seem more human on screen, more believable. They are more likely to draw you in, allowing you to become more transfixed with what you see on screen. (Examples: Kiefer Sutherland on 24; the cast of House — even though Hugh Laurie looks a little grizzly at times. But, of course, that’s how his character is supposed to look like!)

Kudos to actors with balls.

6. Dropping Prices For HDTVs
When I purchased my first HDTV (a 37-inch RCA ProScan) in 2001, the price was roughly $5,000. Can you believe that? $5,000 for a 37-inch TV? Well, now you can get a 37-inch HDTV for under $400. And a 42-inch Plasma set for under $500. The lower prices have enabled the masses to become HDTV owners — and that’s a great thing for the future of HD programming and technological innovation. The more people who get HDTVs — and they are now in more than 50 U.S. million homes — the more companies will invest in new programming and set features. (But not 3D, guys; you’re barking up the wrong tree there.)

7. The HD DVR
We take it for granted now, but it’s still a wonderful thing that your HD DVR’s playback of a high-def show offers roughly the same picture as the live edition. (Few can tell the difference.) Once upon a time, the VCR picture offers maybe 75 percent of the quality of a program when first aired.

And new model HD DVRs can store dozens and dozens of hours of high-def programming.

8. HDTV Takes the Argument Out of Sporting Events
Before high-def, TV viewers would squint at instant replays to try to determine if a fumble had occurred or whether a ball hit a foul pole. But HD provides such a clear picture, the replay instantly answers the question.

Now I’m not a fan of the use of instant replay to overturn calls in football and baseball (it delays the game!; stop it already!), but it’s nice as a fan at home to be able to immediately get to the bottom of a disputed call.

9. TV Providers That Add HD Channels
A few years ago, the satellite services and cable operators were engaged in an ‘HD arms war’ to see who could provide the most HD channels. But the sluggish economy — and some dumb-headed thinking by new executives — has forced the TV providers to put the brake on adding new channels. However, every few weeks or so, I get a report of a cable operator adding some HD channels in a small or mid-sized market somewhere. It’s great to see that some companies still believe that their consumers want more HD channels (and they do!). I only wish that more companies understood this.

10. High-Definition Camcorders
I grew up in the 1960s when there was a technological breakthrough called the ‘Super 8’ camera. The hand-held film camera allowed you to shoot home movies in color, that is, if you didn’t mind them being extremely blurry.

But now the high-def camcorder enables you to capture your favorite video memories in 1080p. HD. Just think of how precious this will be in years to come when you watch video of your departed loved ones or your children when they were toddlers? It will stir memories and feelings that you didn’t even know still existed because it will take you back to that moment.

And I really love that idea.

[Politicalmom]

I can recommend the Best Buy Insignia plasma, if you also have a sound system. The picture is better on our plasma, but sound is better on the Bravia LCD.

[Larry Lucido]

I have two flat screen TV’s. One was under $200.00, and one was around $320.00.

I don’t have the slightest idea what is under the screen. Could be little flat people with paint brushes for all I know.

So it was all price.

[Varda]

Thanks, I’ll pass that along. He does have part of a sound system already.

[Las Vegas Dave]

Dish Network to Add OWN In HD
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (March 2, 2011) — DISH Network today said it would add OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network in High-Definition on Thursday.

The satcaster is already carrying the standard-definition edition of OWN; the high-def version will be available on channel 189 to Dish customers who subscribe to its America’s Top 200 programming package.

In a press release, Dish said it will be the first to offer OWN nationwide in HD. Cablevision has carried both the SD and HD editions of OWN since its launch last December, but the cable operator is only available in the tri-state New York area.

“As the nation’s leader in HD channels, DISH Network is proud to be the first to offer OWN – one of the most anticipated channels launched this year – nationwide in crystal clear high definition,” said Dave Shull, senior vice president of programming for DISH Network.

Dish will be the first satellite TV service to offer OWN in HD; DIRECTV does not carry the channel in high-def.

OWN has announced over 20 original series, including a cooking show featuring model Cristina Ferrare, a talk show with Oprah friend Gayle King and a sex advice program hosted by Dr. Laura Berman.

The new channel will also air movies and original documentaries including Precious, Family Affair, Sons of Perdition and Life 2.0.

[Las Vegas Dave]

PING LIST NOTE:

I failed to mention that OWN has poor ratings!

LVD

[DoughtyOne]

Sounding more like the douche channel...

[DoughtyOne]

Ah make that ounding more like the douche network...

[DoughtyOne]

Excellent. Now nobody will watch it in HD either.

[nascarnation]

Plasmas are good for heating your house, right?

[philled]

I’ll be buying a new HDTV in the next couple of months. It will be plasma due to pic quality, black levels, off-axis viewing, and value. Pretty sure it will be the Panasonic 50 inch GT25 (3D ready, as well) for about $1000.00

[longtermmemmory]

1. 3d is a fading gimick as evidenced by the decreasing demand at theaters.

2. Why $1000? why not $500? 780 seems a bit low these days.

I thought LCD is what had the endge on long life. Why haven’t digital frames dropped comperably?

[longtermmemmory]

SAVE AMERICA V-CHIP OPRAH!!!

REMEMBER CABLE COMPANIES AND SAT COMPANIES TRACK CHANNELS.

V-CHIP OPRAH AND SAVE AMERICA!!!

[DoughtyOne]

I could block her on my system, but I never land there anyway.

Still, that could show up on cable company stats I guess.