The big "How do I choose an HDTV?" thread.

I still watched Football when I first got my Plasma and commercial breaks were more than enough to counteract any retention of the scoreboards and other constant onscreen bits.

Heh, well, even if it's stupid to worry about it, with a three thousand dollar television, I'd still be careful.

Malor wrote:

Heh, well, even if it's stupid to worry about it, with a three thousand dollar television, I'd still be careful.

Heheh, yeah, no kidding.

CNet saw some real problems with IR on two new Panasonic sets last year, where a Samsung that was exposed to the same static image hardly showed anything. The cheaper of the two Panasonic screens seemed to have more of a problem, and didn't recover as quickly as the more expensive model.

Malor wrote:

CNet saw some real problems with IR on two new Panasonic sets last year, where a Samsung that was exposed to the same static image hardly showed anything. The cheaper of the two Panasonic screens seemed to have more of a problem, and didn't recover as quickly as the more expensive model.

Yeah, I read this one, and it was scary.

Well, just be a little careful, and it'll be fine. Remember that the ZT60 is basically the best-of-the-best, probably the finest TV set ever made, and Panasonic will have done everything they could to make sure you won't screw it up.

Got it! Setting up my universal remote now.

Getting mine on monday, but i'll have to have the shipping guy help me unbox and turn it on, only to pack it back up again and tuck it away til my basement remodel is finished. That will make me very sad, at least til remodel completion day.

Still, i'm glad i went for it, especially because of that news about discontinuing production. I wonder what that will do to prices?

Congrats, Fed! Now you owe us some impressions! Do Rich Little!

I think this thing has less of a glare issue than my LCD. Less than this Galaxy s4, even.

I've read people say that the ZT beats reflections better than any other plasma, and I believe it.

Currently streaming the Sound City documentary off of Amazon.

I wonder what that will do to prices?

Well, up until recently, the Pioneer Kuros are probably one of the only pieces of consumer electronics that were worth more every year. These new ZTs are the first to really surpass them, and now they're being discontinued too... so they might actually appreciate in value.

Malor wrote:
I wonder what that will do to prices?

Well, up until recently, the Pioneer Kuros are probably one of the only pieces of consumer electronics that were worth more every year. These new ZTs are the first to really surpass them, and now they're being discontinued too... so they might actually appreciate in value.

Hold on a second while I tell my wife what a good investment this was!

Haaaaaaha.

Fedaykin98 wrote:
Malor wrote:
I wonder what that will do to prices?

Well, up until recently, the Pioneer Kuros are probably one of the only pieces of consumer electronics that were worth more every year. These new ZTs are the first to really surpass them, and now they're being discontinued too... so they might actually appreciate in value.

Hold on a second while I tell my wife what a good investment this was!

This... is a great idea. I'll brb.

By the way, I think someone asked a question about fan noise on the ZT? I've been using the TV for hours and hours, and I haven't heard the fan yet. If I mute the TV and put my head behind it, I can hear the plasma buzz, but no fan.

I love this TV...makes even streamed content look better.

I love how much action this thread has had the last few weeks.

bighoppa wrote:

Played some Uncharted 3 in 3D this weekend. It looked really great. Life of Pi was beautiful also, but the long running time tired our eyes out. The technology is so close to being perfect. Its too bad everyone is giving up on it. Tron Legacy and Wreck-it Ralph are on the pile, but I'm not sure when we'll get to see them.

Be sure to let me know what you think of the 3D on those! I was particularly impressed with Tron Legacy, so I'm very curious what you think of it. The way they switch between 2D in the real world and 3D in the virtual world is really cool. As to Wreck it Ralph, it's pretty well done. I was surprised at how much I liked Paperman in 3D, though. They did a good job with setting up the different planes. It works really well for whatever reason. You'd think it would be better in 2D because it's using a fairly classic animation style.

If anyone is still thinking about getting a VT60, Amazon has dropped the prices to $2400 on the 65" and $2000 on the 60". According to camelcamelcamel.com, those are the best prices Amazon has ever had for these.

Edit: Added links. Give GWJ some love and use them if you decide to pull the trigger.

LG Smart TVs logging USB filenames and viewing info to LG servers

Their response to his contact? Pretty much, "you bought the TV, so you agreed to this."

Thanks for linking that, I just got an LG Smart TV.

As far as mitigation goes, I already own an Apple TV, so why would I ever bother with LG's apps? For that same reason I'd never be arsed to use a USB drive—I have Wifi and it's the 21st-century, you want me to get off the couch?

As far as my viewing habits go, the most LG could wring from mine is an almost exclusive interest in F1 and DTM, so good luck finding any relevant ads for that in North America.

Still, if you don't want them knowing what you're doing, you have to take active, external steps to prevent it, even if you disable tracking on the television. It just ignores the setting, and tracks you anyway.

Just posting an update here to say that I'm quite enjoying my Panasonic ZT, and got some compliments on it this weekend. I haven't really done any break-in nor calibration stuff, though my brother assures me that at the very least I must copy some settings.

I actually haven't used it to watch a film yet; all content happens to have been 16:9, be it kids' cartoons, normal TV, sports, Fallout 3, or one evening of Mario Kart Double Dash with old friends this weekend.

I haven't seen any issues with image retention, it's very quiet, and as I said before it's less reflective than my previous Samsung LCD (which had the usual glossy finish).

Glad to hear, Fed:) Mine is sitting in a box behind my couch, where it will stay for probably a year:(

jonnypolite wrote:

Glad to hear, Fed:) Mine is sitting in a box behind my couch, where it will stay for probably a year:(

IMAGE(http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii107/bighoppa67/vader-says-no_zps6dee4f3c.jpg)

You should probably unbox it at least long enough to be sure it works, jonnypolite, since getting a replacement could be difficult in a year.

Malor wrote:

You should probably unbox it at least long enough to be sure it works, jonnypolite, since getting a replacement could be difficult in a year.

no way it loses like half its value if you open it

On my todo list:)

Quick question

How terrible will VHS tapes look on a new HDTV? My mother-in-law was thinking of getting one for my father-in-law and wondered. Apparently he has a ton of VHS tapes sitting around.

Keep in mind he isn't an aficionado so if it is "ok" he will be fine.

So I killed this thread with my question?

farley3k wrote:

So I killed this thread with my question?

We're still trying to figure out what a "VHS" is.