So I've been waiting to buy an LCD or plasma TV for a while but just crossed this Toshiba 42" DLP at a great price and don't want to pass on it. Should I pull the trigger? It has only 720p as opposed to full 1080p that I wanted. Should I buy a 720p DLP? Will I be disappointed compared to, say, a 1080p LCD? I need to pull the trigger quickly before the sale ends. It is about 1/2 (or 2/3) the price of a 42" 1080p LCD. I can get one for $700.

http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-42HM66-720p-...V/dp/B000FEE4T4

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DLP makes 1080 models


I think DLP is the best HD bang for the buck and they the best black reproduction of any HD transmission.

you will get more DLP real estate per dollar than lcd or plasma

 

But this particular model makes 720p. Should I pull the trigger by tomorrow?

How much of a difference between 720 and 1080p will I notice? I mostly use standard cable television and DVD player, with a possibility of hi-def player in the future.

 

well before you pull the tigger you should see if you are ready to see HD in your house

--do you have digital HD cable signal coming into the house and a HD receiver for the cable signal?

-- do you have component or compsite wires or HDMI wire?

--if you are running everything through an existing audo/video receiver (home theater) is it capable of sending out composite or HDMI signal?

make sure you have all your ducks in a row before you drop big cabbage on a flat screen

check the local pawn shops.....JK (i could not resist)

there are more questions and better answers out there than what I am throwing at you. check the electronic thread and wait for more answers in here before you make a decision.

 

Thanks!

I don't plan on getting HD cable anytime soon. I have component and HDMI wires already. My DVD player is capable of component video signal, and when I get a Bluray or HD-DVD, they'll have HDMI too.

And no, I'd much rather put out slightly more for this than a 5 yr-old Quasar tube for $300.

 

I'd personally go with the DLP. If something goes wrong in an LCD (just like plasmas) you're generally SOL, and have fun ripping your hair out over dead pixels. A DLP you can at least change the light element in most of them.

black color production is generally slightly better in a DLP plus the fact that a DLP generally costs much less than a similar sized LCD.

The difference between 720 vs 1080p while noticeable is not a cheap difference.
Provided with the fact that there are currently no sources for true 1080p other than HD-DVD or Bluray I would be expecting to buy a new set by the time 1080p becomes more prevalent. IMO 1080p sounds good but its more or less a bragging point at this time unless you absolutely have to be cutting edge and watch every single movie in HD.

I HIGHLY recommend if you're going to get an HD set at least try out HD cable in baseball or football season, its that huge. HD cable is usually a minor upgrade from digital cable. You don't get a huge amount of HD programming (really depends on where you live) but it is nice to at least check it out. Plus since its cable there generally isn't a contract unlike satellite.

You WILL need an audio/video receiver, most big screen sets have ridiculously weak audio systems that aren't up to par for even everyday TV listening.

I hope my rambling made sense.

 

IMO, at a screen size of 42", you will not be able to tell a difference between 720p and 1080p. At larger sizes and too-close viewing distances a small difference may be noticable. DLPs are good bang-for-the-buck as has already been stated. when i was searching for a tv a year or two ago some DLPs had issues with ghosting or rainbowing but it seemed like only some people would notice it. im pretty sure newer DLPs dont have this problem but be sure to check the TV out in the store to make sure you dont see weird artifacts. something else to note is depending on your location, you might be able to get several high-quality HD channels over-the-air with a small antenna. if your tv comes with a tuner (i didnt follow your link to check it out but i think all new hdtvs do), you can get digital programming over the air and it actually looks better than hd cabele or satellite since its not compressed. the cool thing about the digital over the air signal is that you either get it or dont. that is to say if you get it, it will look perfect and if you dont get it, youll have a black screen. there is no fuzzy snowy pictures with digital stations. anyway hope this helps! good luck!

 

This is my primary argument as well.
If you have no source for 1080p, why spend the money right now.
I have a 720p and it works great and looks splendid on all my imputs (dvd, game consoles, digital cable). At the time of purchase, I liked it's picture MUCH better than comparable LCDs (I can see the pixelation), and I wasnt about to spend twice as much for a smaller plasma.

The only problem with DLP is that SOME people can see rainbows in the image (especially on a white/black edge in a scene) from the color wheel.
One friend of mine sees them all the time. I think it's because he has contacts.
I only see them if I move my eyes quickly from side to side.

I have no regrets when I bought it. I used it as my main PC monitor for almost 2 years.

 

I wouldn't do it. My brotehr in law has a Toshiba DLP. WHile it has a great picture, the bulb has burst twice. That's 150-250 each time to replace after it's out of warranty. 720p plasmas are easy to find at 900 these days at 42 inches.

I'd either get a plasma or a 1080p dlp if you are going to get one. If you wait a little while the prices you are finding will be easy to find once the holiday season comes. 700 dollar dlp 720p will be easy to find after thanksgiving.

 

I absolutely love the picture on DLP's, though the bulb is a wear item that will need to be replaced.

I think it's incredible how much they've convinced everyone they need 1080p! It doesn't sound to me like you even have a high-def source, much less one that's 1080p. Take the money you'd spend on a 1080p set and put it towards digital/hi-def cable, trust me. I have standard cable running through my 32" HD LCD and it looks like absolute crap (worse than a SDTV with this standard cable signal).

Think about it like trying to take a picture with awful resolution (like a 400 x 200 image) and trying to set it as your desktop wallpaper (resolution at least 1024 x 768). It will look terrible and blurry because you're trying to fit a picture with such lower resolution onto a high res screen.

Cliff notes: If you buy an HD display, ditch the standard cable.

Edit: Almost forgot!!! If you're REALLY patient, wait until after the Super Bowl when everyone returns the TV's they bought just for their SB Party and they're all open box priced at a discount when they're basically brand new!