Ooh, sorry, didn't see that question... it's actually HD, 1024x1024. 720p native resolution with some interpolation (as with any plasma). It looks fantastic. Yes, 1024x1024 > 1024x768 most 42" plasmas have. I got it at Circuit City, it was one of their low-priced bait-n-switch models they use to try to get you to buy a more expensive plasma when they "run out" of the bargain one. Luckily for me they actually had a couple in stock.
I'm still completely unsure of which way I'm going to go on this.
The day my tax return appears in my bank account I'll likely be spending hours and hours driving around to stores figuring out which one I want.
I'll post a pic or two of what it looks like with the 360 running on it when I do finally get it.
In time like this all I can say is "use the force, Thin_J, the force will guide you" 
Look on the bright side, whatever you decide, after you make the purchase you will be able to enjoy the new big screen for a long time.
Oblivion looks awesome on my 42" Plasma 
Oblivion looks awesome on my 42" Plasma ;)
It's looking like I'm going to miss the sale on the 42 incher at Costco, and if I do then it's no longer anywhere near my intended price range. That and I'm not even sure I can actually get one anyway 
TheGameguru wrote:Oblivion looks awesome on my 42" Plasma ;)
It's looking like I'm going to miss the sale on the 42 incher at Costco, and if I do then it's no longer anywhere near my intended price range. That and I'm not even sure I can actually get one anyway :|
Never say never! go donate some sperm.
Costco was out of the plasma.
Also: a 42" would have been way to damn big. Even a 37" would have been too large. The 32 seems to be just perfect for the small amount of distance I sit from the TV.
Congratz Thin_J! That is a sexy looking TV, what is the spec on that anyway?
So what brand, type is it, LCD?
So what brand, type is it, LCD?
Samsung you blind ferret!
Wow you bought the same exact TV as my girlfriend did a few weeks ago. Check it out, there are several display options, Wide, blah blah, Panorama, blah blah... Panorama is designed for the occasion of watching old-style 4:3 content and reducing the "lol everyone is short and fat" factor.
P.S. Don't forget to switch your DVD Player into 16:9 widescreen mode.
Yeah, I have the 360 hooked up on the VGA cable and it rocks.
DVD's took me a while to get the picture set for, but they look good now. The more I watch the more I like it, and I'm totally happy I didn't go with a much larger screen. I think the 32" is absolutely perfect for my room.
For those asking: It's an LCD. The exact model number is LN-S3251D, 1360x768 Native resolution, 2 HDMI ins, one component, VGA, etc, etc, etc.
Couldn't be more happy with it at the moment.
Now i just need to plug an antannae in and check out the local HDTV broadcasts.
I've since gotten rid of the ghetto setup on the front surround speakers as well. The front center is directly beneath the monitor in the entertainment center on a shelf by itself, and the side channels are sitting on top of a smallish stand on top of the sub on the right, and a table on the left. This is actually the first time I've had an ideal surround sound setup where the speakers are all located correctly. My tv's always been in corners before, which kind of interferes with good surround.
So not only does the picture now rock, but my sound, especially in games and movies, is now more immersive as well.
Woo.
Hate to ressurect a dead thread, but I was wondering how the LN-S3251D has been holding up for you, Thin_J?
The SO and I are in the process of shopping for a new HD TV. I'm a Specs/PQ type. She's a "It has to be pretty in the room" type.
It'll mainly be for our X360 and DVDs, with the SO watching her "shows" from time to time. Was also wondering how the PQ was w/the X360 using the standard cables that come with the 360. Do you recommend them, or would we be better off dropping a couple extra bucks on a DVI cable?
Any updated thoughts? Any updated deals from the rest of you?
We're looking to spend in the ballpark of $1000 for an LCD or Plasma screen that will keep us happy for a few years.
If it doesn't have to be HD, Fry's has the ED Panasonic 42-in Plasma for $999 'til Tuesday. That line has gotten consistently good reviews, is the same resolution as DVDs.
I am planning to hit Fry's on Monday morning on the way to work and see if they have one in stock.
If it doesn't have to be HD, Fry's has the ED Panasonic 42-in Plasma for $999 'til Tuesday.
Would you really throw down $1000 for a TV that doesn't support HD?
Define "support".
It has a built-in HD tuner, it does it's own downsampling, it just doesn't have HD resolution.
I really couldn't care less about HD. I'd like a slim TV that I can mount on the wall and that will perform well under bright light conditions and that will do DVD movies justice without making all my SD channels look like a fishbowl.
I really don't get the whole HD craze. I _occasionally_ watch one sport - NASCAR - and not with much fanaticism, I don't have a next-gen console and won't be getting one any time soon, so I don't see any problem with getting the smallest big-brand, well-reviewed plasma, especially at under a grand.
Can you think of a better set that's going to handle direct sunlight through thin offwhite curtains that can be wall-mounted, can display HD signals, gets as good reviews as the Panasonic ED set does, particularly on PQ, for that price?
I'm open to suggestions, but the room-choice/sunlight issue is non-negotiable, nor is the wall-mountability. SD TV and DVDs are tops in my house, so bear that in mind, too.
To be curious, whats unique about the Panasonic that makes it better for your certain environment than any other plasma?
42 inches is actually a little too big for the room we're in. She wants a 37", and i want a 32". We only sit three or four feet from the TV, and the walls are slanted, giving us a far smaller space to actually set up.
I picked this up recently for $898. The deals are around you just need to look around for them. Paying $1k for a TV that doesn't do HD properly just doesn't sit right with me for some reason. It's like I am paying money for a knowingly inferior product (this is about as nice as I can word the sentence too).
edit: I recommend you look here for something your size. Some of the new Westinhouse, Panasonic, LG, and Vizio models are getting good reviews from users.
To be curious, whats unique about the Panasonic that makes it better for your certain environment than any other plasma?
Pretty much the things I listed - consistently good(understating) reviews, good PQ for BOTH SD and HD content as well as DVD due to (most plasmas') good blacks.
It's a name brand that I've been watching for over a year now.
It's not HD - like I said, I don't care about HD content or HD picture - it having a tuner for HD is a nice plus.
More scaling options than many sets for SD.
And, like I said, if there are other 42" plasmas that are reviewed as highly as this set, and can be had for only $1000, tell me what they are.
Paying $1k for a TV that doesn't do HD properly just doesn't sit right with me for some reason. It's like I am paying money for a knowingly inferior product (this is about as nice as I can word the sentence too).
Ok, I'll take the bait in search of more information. If I don't care about HD, show me another wall-mountable plasma with the reviews of the Panasonic at $1000 that's going to make me happy watching SD content most of the time, that's not going to make my 4-year-old ask why Blue's Clues looks funky, and is going to stand up to morning sun in a very well lit room with big windows.
You think I'm being a dumbass. Show me the way, then.
AVSForum is actually the primary source of my reasoning for the Panny ED set, it's not like I just saw the Fry's ad and instantly wanted that set.
I've done a fair bit of research, I don't see the draw of HD _right_ _now_, and don't see why spending $1000 on a 42" plasma should be considered dumb/stupid/ignorant.
Clue me in. (I mean that sincerely, not just being snarky.)
You think I'm being a dumbass. Show me the way, then.
You are in no way being a dumbass, you just have different needs than I and others and I said that too in my previous post.
Paying $1k for a TV that doesn't do HD properly just doesn't sit right with me for some reason. It's like I am paying money for a knowingly inferior product (this is about as nice as I can word the sentence too).
42 inches is actually a little too big for the room we're in. She wants a 37", and i want a 32". We only sit three or four feet from the TV, and the walls are slanted, giving us a far smaller space to actually set up.
Well as far as my Sammy TV is holding up, it's great!
It's still as nice as it was on day one. That said I think there are better options available now than when I bought my TV and some of them are more cost efficient too.
For instance Westinghouse has a 37" 1080p set you can get from newegg for around $1200. It might be $1300. I don't remember for sure. Either way it's an extremely fully featured set and a nice price for a 37" TV. Check it out if you can find it locally. It even has a fairly detailed backlight adjustment feature which is huge as far as overall ability to adjust black levels and picture quality. It's a feature I think all LCD's should have. This is currently the TV I'd upgrade to if I were switching TV's right now.
As for the EDTV Plasma conversation.. I'd recommend avoiding them if you want any kind of "future-proof" features in your TV. For one, games look far better in native resolution than they do after being downconverted to 480p. Regular DVD movies and even current HD-DVD or Blu-ray movies won't look much different at all other than general detail and clarity in the new formats, but games are another story. I'd stick with an actual HD resolution display unless you can test each and find that you can't tell the difference.
For your given 32 and 37 inch tv sizes I think an LCD is the way to go.
If the wife likes the look of the Samsung sets she may be hard to convince on others. They're still (to my eyes) the most aesthetically pleasing LCD sets on the market and there hasn't been all that much in the way of improvements of LCD picture quality since I picked up my set so in store if you adjust settings you likely won't find another 32" LCD with a much better picture, though there are sets out I would consider superior that are available for less money at this point.
The only sets I'd say actually do still beat them consistently on picture quality are the Sony Bravia series screens. Those things are nice and if you watch sales you can get a really nice deal on the 32". I've seen it as low as $1200 in a brick and mortar store before.
And if you can swing the 37" do it. I sit a little farther from my TV now than I did when I bought it (about 5 feet now, maybe closer to 6) and wish it was a little bigger. Use Newegg to check out a general selection and then see which local B&M stores carry those models and what their prices are. That's how I did it and it worked out ok.
Here's neweggs section on 37" LCD's : link
And their 32" sets: link
And don't ignore sets from Sharp. They've had some surprisingly nice LCD sets in their lineup lately.
Make a list of sets that interest you and then see which ones you can actually check out in a store with an HD feed running on them.
Clue me in. (I mean that sincerely, not just being snarky.)
No one's calling you stupid. My point is that you're throwing down lot's of money on a set that will never handle a High Def, even when it does become relevant to you (ex. next gen DVD players, console, etc). Of course, 1K could mean very different things to you and me so that might have something to do with it too. Let us know how you like it.
[quote]It's like I am paying money for a knowingly inferior product (this is about as nice as I can word the sentence too)./[quote]
Look, I'm not taking offense, but if that sentence doesn't say, between the lines, "I think buying an ED plasma is a dumb/stupid/ignorant way to spend $1000," then I've lost all my reading comprehension skills.
Seriously, I'm NOT taking offense, Edwin. You don't think it's a smart buy. That's fine, it's your opinion, and I was simply asking for other options based on that and my criteria.
-No desire/need for HD, now or "soon".
-No next-gen console: I have a PS2, and I won't be getting an HD-capable console "soon".
-Very brightly lit room, during the day
-Primarily viewing SD tv signal: primetime shows, daytime kid shows on Noggin and PBS
-Occasional DVD viewing
-Wall mountable necessary
-High PQ
-Great reviews
-$1000
-I'm not a believer in futureproofing, especially for durables at the $1000 pricepoint. If 75% of TV was HD and SD was rare, I'd see that point, but for _now_, I don't buy it, and I don't need to buy today for something that _might_ be needed tomorrow.
I'm not being snarky, I'm not calling anyone out, I'm saying if you think the Panasonic 42" ED Plasma is a weak choice, give me another option that fits my requirements.
a set that will never handle a High Def
I think we have different definitions of "handle HD" - this set displays HD just fine, at ED resolution, and even gets very high marks/reviews for HD PQ side-by-side with HD sets. No, it won't display an HD signal in HD resolution, but it handles HD signals just fine.
Give me another rec at that pricepoint if there is one. Seriously.
Does anyone know anything about all these new brands? Ive never heard of Westinghouse....Sharp used to be real low end stuff....HP doesnt make TV's themselves I would assume. How is it that these companies are offering similar feature sets at half the price of the big name competitors? I do admit to being a Sony (TV) bigot, but thats partially because the 27" Trinitron sitting in my living room is 10 years old and still has a very reasonable picture. I sold TV's retail for a little over a yeara few years back, and Sony always came at a premium, but was generally better quality. I don't have anything bad to say about most of the other big names...Toshiba and Samsung have really nice products....I trust Panasonic and JVC just fine as well. But some new guy comes around and offers a deal like Westinghouse has and I get paranoid real fast...."you get what you pay for" is something that has been ingrained pretty deep for me. Is it possible that the switch to flat panel displays has upset the market this much?
Pol - probably a much better question for the folks over at avsforum.com
I think we have different definitions of "handle HD" - this set displays HD just fine, at ED resolution, and even gets very high marks/reviews for HD PQ side-by-side with HD sets. No, it won't display an HD signal in HD resolution, but it handles HD signals just fine.
Give me another rec at that pricepoint if there is one. Seriously.
I think you nailed it - funny how semantics is the root of most disagreements. To me, downscaling 720p/1080i signals to 480p is not "handling" HD, it's ruining it. But that's just one person's opinion. To be honest, I don't have any suggestions at that price point and size. Personally, I'd pay more for the higher fidelity.
Is it possible that the switch to flat panel displays has upset the market this much?
Yes.
First thing: Toshiba is no longer as good a name as it once was. Their last gen CRT sets and some of their current LCD and Plasma sets are extremely mediocre. JVC is another brand that simply isn't so hot anymore.
Samsung makes really nice flat panels but is extremely hit or miss with CRT's and has had quite a few problems with their DLP projection sets.
Westinghouse is making a real name for themselves in the "Bang for the buck" category. Sharp is still low end if you're looking at CRT sets but their LCD's are generally well put together and are well-featured.
I do admit to being a Sony (TV) bigot, but thats partially because the 27" Trinitron sitting in my living room is 10 years old and still has a very reasonable picture. I sold TV's retail for a little over a yeara few years back, and Sony always came at a premium, but was generally better quality.
Sony does still (as I said!) still generally win the picture quality wars and still make very high quality products. The problem is that a lot of competitors are offering the same features at less cost.
Westinghouse in particular is a good example of how things have changed. They continue to make very nicely featured TV's that don't "feel" very substantial. Their build quality is not as heavy or high quality as other companies, but the components inside, as far as I can tell, are close enough to make them a very worthwhile consideration if you're out to get a lot of value for your dollar.
Another thing to consider is that a lot of various companies use the same LCD panels in differently branded TV's of the same size. This is double true for computer monitors. For instance.. odds are if you see a 22" 1680x1050 LCD Display for computers with a 5ms response time.. it doesn't matter what company it's from. It's still got the exact same TN-type LCD panel in it as my Westinghouse monitor. The panels themselves seem to be made by a fairly diverse group of electronics companies.
Of course you'll see variances in contrast ratio and brightness rating because those things are also related to other components on the TV, but there are some qualities that really just come along with LCD panels of certain types. TN panels tend to have lesser color representation than say.. an S-IPS panel. The difference being TN panels normally have much faster refresh times than S-IPS panels. There are other types too.
If you really want to get into the crazy LCD market check out the AVSforum. Those guys are nuts. There's also a lot of panel type discussion over on Widescreengamingforum.
Actually duck, I'm looking for something that you need (but HD) for myself so when I do find it I'll be sure to post it. Quick question, do you use a external tuner (DirecTV receiver, or cable box) or do you just plug your cable in? Just so I know if I should grab one with a tuner or not. Myself since I have DirecTV I don't necessarily need a ASTC or QAM tuner but it would be nice. Let me know and I will try my best.
edit: 32"? I didn't see what size you wanted. Decent reviews of the company too.
@pol - semantics, yep. we're clear now.
@Edwin - Verizon's FIOS TV, so yeah, external tuner. Don't "need" one.
I think I'm stuck at 42" - I don't think LCDs will handle the light in here, and plasmas start at 42" except for Panasonic's 37" HD set, which is about $400 more than the 42" ED, I think, and for wall-mountability, it's LCD or Plasma, right?
LCD's don't get bigger than 42" due to price (they exist but man are they expensive). So a plasma set at around 42" with no internal tuner that has high contrast and brightness. Sort of what I am looking for but mine would be smaller.
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