Hi Def TV Question

427sharpe · #1 (**permalink**) 02-20-2008, 09:13 AM

I bought a Phillips plasma, love it. 6 year in house parts and labor warranty included. No burn in problems. Only b*tch is that it (and all plasmas I have seen) get H_O_T! Ours is on most of the day and when I get home I think I could fry an egg on it.

1ntCobra · #2 (**permalink**) 02-20-2008, 10:13 AM

Consumer reports compared LCDs and Plasmas recently. Check it out at your local library.

One thing I think they said was that Plasmas have better blacks, but are not as bright as LCDs. So LCDs will do better in a bright room. I only vaguely remember the article as I don't plan on replacing my antique 1080i 34 inch widescreen CRT HDTV anytime soon. I don't think anyone even makes CRT HD TVs anymore.

Ron61 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-20-2008, 11:06 AM

Thanks guys,

Cobra, I already knew about the Blu Ray not being able to play on a standard DVD.I was just waiting until the war was over to see which format won out. I will keep my pretty new VCR/DVD for the movies I have on the old DVDs and get the Blu Ray and just plug it into the TV for future movies that will now come in that format. As for recording I don't use the VCR as I do that on the satellite DVD. The VCR/DVD player I got just to play movies on. As for satellites I get 110 and 119. They told me the dish would have to be changed but that the new one would be just a little larger than this one, but not noticeable from the ground as mine is mounter on the roof. But since I am in no hurry and am just starting to take a serious look at this now that the DVD format war is over, I can talk to them about what options they might make available.

Ron

Ronbo · #4 (**permalink**) 02-20-2008, 11:47 AM

There's one big difference that put plasmas way out in front.

Blacks are the most black on a plasma, I spent the extra and bought the elite, just like I spent the money and got the Kirkham. No regrets.

My old Pioneer big screen died after 15 great years of trouble-free fantastic viewing. So I bought another.

The only plasmas I saw burn in were the same as CRT's, sitting in the lobby of a business displaying the same image for months.

Samsung and Sony are a close second and Pioneer is #1. Has been for 20yrs.

1ntCobra · #5 (**permalink**) 02-20-2008, 11:51 AM

I hear Sony does not make a Plasma, only LEDs now. But Sony is going to start making OLED (orgranic LED) TVs and that is going to be the new killer technology.

Ronbo · #6 (**permalink**) 02-21-2008, 08:52 PM

I looked at one LED set (panasonic I think) but the Pioneer had a better picture. Another trick some mfgs. use is to increase the blue bias to make the picture appear clearer and brighter. Step up close and you'll see the grain though.

As far as I understand it the LED was just an alternate light source for DLP and LCD sets though. Unless this is something new.

Even compairing the old sets tube picture quality always beat every other type except plasma. (which is akin to CRT) Just something about phosphorus that is tough to match.

KeithBrown · #7 (**permalink**) 02-22-2008, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1ntCobra

I hear Sony does not make a Plasma, only LEDs now. But Sony is going to start making OLED (orgranic LED) TVs and that is going to be the new killer technology.

Actually, Sony doesn't make LCD's either. They do have a JV with Samsung who makes the LCD panels for them. Basically, Sony paid Samsung a whjole bunch of $$, but Samsung is the actual maker.

All of the LCD makers are starting to add LED-based backlight assemblies as an alternative to the CCFL backlights. As with any technologies, this has strengths and weaknesses.

OLED is finally strarting to make some in roads, but it is still relegated to the smaller panel sizes at present. Quite frankly, I have been hearing about how wonderful OLED's (and pick your technology) and about the next killer technology every year. OLED has been slow to roll out and still has a lot of mfg problems (IE: poor yield).

WIth regards to DLP or any other rear projection technology, as someone who use to be in the Direct View CRT and rear projection CRT business, I don't expect any rear projection technology to be around too much longer. Peolple just prefer a flat panel over any rear projection product.

Joe Wicked · #8 (**permalink**) 02-22-2008, 05:15 AM

Ron,
A BluRay player can play a standard DVD, so long as the BluRay player has the DVD decoder software built into it. A DVD player does not have the Blue Laser and cannot play the BluRay at all. I have a Playstation 3, they are BluRay. Playstation 2 is DVD, The PS3 that had the 80GB hard drive included the software for DVD, so it can play PS2 games as well. You can also use it for a DVD and BluRay player.