HDTVs?
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 389
Likes: 0
From: Ashland VA
HDTVs?
My 20 year old Sony Trinitron gave up the ghost in a puff of smoke last night and it gives me a perfect reason to purchase a new High Definition flat screen for Xmas or after. My problem is I don’t have a clue about what I should know about these types of TVs to be a informed consumer. Here is what I want: A 32”- 42” HDTV that is priced around 1K.
What I need to know is:
1. What are the pros and cons of Plasma vs. LCD vs. DLP models?
2. What does 1080P or 720P mean?
3. What does HDMI mean?
4. What is the life expectancy of these types of TVs?
5. What about brand names in terms of best bang for the buck?
If there is anything else you can share, I am all ears. Thanks.
What I need to know is:
1. What are the pros and cons of Plasma vs. LCD vs. DLP models?
2. What does 1080P or 720P mean?
3. What does HDMI mean?
4. What is the life expectancy of these types of TVs?
5. What about brand names in terms of best bang for the buck?
If there is anything else you can share, I am all ears. Thanks.
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 468
Likes: 1
From: Kansas City, USA
Administrator
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 20,274
Likes: 4
From: Toronto, Canada
Ok, well the first one is tricky:
Plasma uses a lot of power, has a fan to cool it, is incredibly rich in color but most importantly in contrast (blackness, the difference between white and black). Best in a big room.
LCD is similar to Plasma, is lighter (weights), costs less, lower power consumption, muted colors and 1/10th the contract ratio of plasma. Better for a smaller room but can look grainy if you get too close.
DLP is pure shit. it's basically a 2nd gen projection TV.
480i, 480p, 720i, 720p, 1080i, 1080p: the number is the number of vertical lines of resolution. 480 is normal TV. 720 is DV like from a DV camera, 1080 is HDTV. The leter means either interlaced (i) or progressive(p). In HDTV programming is either 1080i or 720p. 1080i is much higher resolution but because it's interlaced can cause artifacts or jerky movement for things like sports or action movies which are almost always 720p. Art films, dramas and documentaries can be done in 1080i for a richer more detailed picture. 1080p is fast like 720p but with the size of 1080i, It's too big for broadcast (2x the bandwidth of 1080i) and so it mainly used for HD DVD and Bluray and purportedly for games (more a theory than a practice).
HDMI means High Definition Media Interface. It's basically a DVI type video connector mated to a digital audio connector in one small and simple cable. There is nothing new about HDMI it's just easier to use for the consumer.
They last a long time, figure 5+ years. Plasmas burn brighter so don't last as log and don't do well with images that stay on screen a long time like as a computer monitor or a flight information display in an airport. They do best when the image changes so it burns in evenly. You need to consider that a TV is not an investment. The Panasonic 42" plasma I bought 3 years ago for $2600 now sells for $1025. If you bought a $1500 plasma and it lasted 5 years it would cost you $300/year. It will last longer but it won't look at good as it did when you first turned it on.
For Plasma the money is on Pioneer as #1, Panasonic as #2 followed by the other big name makers. For LCD Samsung seems to have the nod. DLP is shit.
Plasma uses a lot of power, has a fan to cool it, is incredibly rich in color but most importantly in contrast (blackness, the difference between white and black). Best in a big room.
LCD is similar to Plasma, is lighter (weights), costs less, lower power consumption, muted colors and 1/10th the contract ratio of plasma. Better for a smaller room but can look grainy if you get too close.
DLP is pure shit. it's basically a 2nd gen projection TV.
480i, 480p, 720i, 720p, 1080i, 1080p: the number is the number of vertical lines of resolution. 480 is normal TV. 720 is DV like from a DV camera, 1080 is HDTV. The leter means either interlaced (i) or progressive(p). In HDTV programming is either 1080i or 720p. 1080i is much higher resolution but because it's interlaced can cause artifacts or jerky movement for things like sports or action movies which are almost always 720p. Art films, dramas and documentaries can be done in 1080i for a richer more detailed picture. 1080p is fast like 720p but with the size of 1080i, It's too big for broadcast (2x the bandwidth of 1080i) and so it mainly used for HD DVD and Bluray and purportedly for games (more a theory than a practice).
HDMI means High Definition Media Interface. It's basically a DVI type video connector mated to a digital audio connector in one small and simple cable. There is nothing new about HDMI it's just easier to use for the consumer.
They last a long time, figure 5+ years. Plasmas burn brighter so don't last as log and don't do well with images that stay on screen a long time like as a computer monitor or a flight information display in an airport. They do best when the image changes so it burns in evenly. You need to consider that a TV is not an investment. The Panasonic 42" plasma I bought 3 years ago for $2600 now sells for $1025. If you bought a $1500 plasma and it lasted 5 years it would cost you $300/year. It will last longer but it won't look at good as it did when you first turned it on.
For Plasma the money is on Pioneer as #1, Panasonic as #2 followed by the other big name makers. For LCD Samsung seems to have the nod. DLP is shit.
Former Moderator
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 18,852
Likes: 1
From: New York
Originally Posted by cthree,Dec 12 2006, 09:57 PM
Ok, well the first one is tricky:
Plasma uses a lot of power, has a fan to cool it, is incredibly rich in color but most importantly in contrast (blackness, the difference between white and black). Best in a big room.
LCD is similar to Plasma, is lighter (weights), costs less, lower power consumption, muted colors and 1/10th the contract ratio of plasma. Better for a smaller room but can look grainy if you get too close.
DLP is pure shit. it's basically a 2nd gen projection TV.
480i, 480p, 720i, 720p, 1080i, 1080p: the number is the number of vertical lines of resolution. 480 is normal TV. 720 is DV like from a DV camera, 1080 is HDTV. The leter means either interlaced (i) or progressive(p). In HDTV programming is either 1080i or 720p. 1080i is much higher resolution but because it's interlaced can cause artifacts or jerky movement for things like sports or action movies which are almost always 720p. Art films, dramas and documentaries can be done in 1080i for a richer more detailed picture. 1080p is fast like 720p but with the size of 1080i, It's too big for broadcast (2x the bandwidth of 1080i) and so it mainly used for HD DVD and Bluray and purportedly for games (more a theory than a practice).
HDMI means High Definition Media Interface. It's basically a DVI type video connector mated to a digital audio connector in one small and simple cable. There is nothing new about HDMI it's just easier to use for the consumer.
They last a long time, figure 5+ years. Plasmas burn brighter so don't last as log and don't do well with images that stay on screen a long time like as a computer monitor or a flight information display in an airport. They do best when the image changes so it burns in evenly. You need to consider that a TV is not an investment. The Panasonic 42" plasma I bought 3 years ago for $2600 now sells for $1025. If you bought a $1500 plasma and it lasted 5 years it would cost you $300/year. It will last longer but it won't look at good as it did when you first turned it on.
For Plasma the money is on Pioneer as #1, Panasonic as #2 followed by the other big name makers. For LCD Samsung seems to have the nod. DLP is shit.
Plasma uses a lot of power, has a fan to cool it, is incredibly rich in color but most importantly in contrast (blackness, the difference between white and black). Best in a big room.
LCD is similar to Plasma, is lighter (weights), costs less, lower power consumption, muted colors and 1/10th the contract ratio of plasma. Better for a smaller room but can look grainy if you get too close.
DLP is pure shit. it's basically a 2nd gen projection TV.
480i, 480p, 720i, 720p, 1080i, 1080p: the number is the number of vertical lines of resolution. 480 is normal TV. 720 is DV like from a DV camera, 1080 is HDTV. The leter means either interlaced (i) or progressive(p). In HDTV programming is either 1080i or 720p. 1080i is much higher resolution but because it's interlaced can cause artifacts or jerky movement for things like sports or action movies which are almost always 720p. Art films, dramas and documentaries can be done in 1080i for a richer more detailed picture. 1080p is fast like 720p but with the size of 1080i, It's too big for broadcast (2x the bandwidth of 1080i) and so it mainly used for HD DVD and Bluray and purportedly for games (more a theory than a practice).
HDMI means High Definition Media Interface. It's basically a DVI type video connector mated to a digital audio connector in one small and simple cable. There is nothing new about HDMI it's just easier to use for the consumer.
They last a long time, figure 5+ years. Plasmas burn brighter so don't last as log and don't do well with images that stay on screen a long time like as a computer monitor or a flight information display in an airport. They do best when the image changes so it burns in evenly. You need to consider that a TV is not an investment. The Panasonic 42" plasma I bought 3 years ago for $2600 now sells for $1025. If you bought a $1500 plasma and it lasted 5 years it would cost you $300/year. It will last longer but it won't look at good as it did when you first turned it on.
For Plasma the money is on Pioneer as #1, Panasonic as #2 followed by the other big name makers. For LCD Samsung seems to have the nod. DLP is shit.
Todays plasmas are about 1/2 the price of LCDs of equal size....42" and up)
Trending Topics
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,191
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by cthree,Dec 12 2006, 09:47 PM
I think it means only watching soft pr0n for the first hour before moving on the the hard stuff.
That is correct. Hardcore p0rn may cause a new TV, such as plasma, to "explode". 
I've heard most plasma TVs do require a short period of break-in.