Looking at changing our TV.

Currently have a a 42" projection TV but are looking at either a plasma screen or an LCD as SWMBO won't let me go the whole hog and put a projector in the ceiling.

Does anyone know the difference between how plasma and LCD work and care to share any advice or horror stories with either type.

Will be running the TV with existing Bose surround sound.

Which? did a review/comparison article a while back. Basically said that for the money Plasma wasn't upto much and might as well have the LCD TVs. That's unless you can wait for LED TVs to hit the shores!!!!

/G

go a projector or dont bother..

or go for a 61" rear projection unit?

Might be worth going to your local electronics store and asking to try them out. Having seen a few plasma TVs showing football highlights, I have to admit I couldn't put up with such a poor picture when it comes to showing rapid movement!

(I also heard that you have to "recharge" plasma screens after 5 or so years which effectively buggers them up - don't know if this is true though. It's probably a myth!).

Are LCD screens available in large sizes (i.e. comprable with what you have now?)

lcd tend to stop at 30"

plasma goes in the bin at 4 yrs old.

Projectors are cheaper.. and bigger

I've got an LCD TV. I'm fairly happy with it, though it does ghost a bit (nothing major, just enough to be noticeable). A normal TV definitely has a much better picture, but I don't have the space for one in my poxy little flat :(

I'd get a divorce and a projector

Can you sell the idea of a projector as removing some clutter (i.e. the rear-projection TV) from SWMBO's lovely room?

Projector (and divorce) will be getting discussed tonight.

And dont forget that 30% of all plasma made dont leave the factory and go in the bin

I wouldn't buy a plasma screen. They are inherently poor on moving images and shockingly fragile in terms of screen burn. You can wreck four grands worth of tv in an afternoon if you're not careful what you watch :eek:

If you want to be trendy, get an LCD. No screen burn problems, but you are at risk from "dead pixels". The same applies to a projector, but they are cheaper, easy to carry about, and nowadays, are getting quite quiet. I bought a projector a year or two ago and hardly use it - just keep it for "special occasions" such as dvd viewing. For everyday use, I'd stick to a CRT (and that's from someone who works in the broadcast business )

andy,

come and see my 61" rear proj before you buy anything.... you might be impressed...... i was...

andy' date='

come and see my 61" rear.... you might be impressed...... i was...[/quote']

:whip:

andy' date='

come and see my 61" rear proj before you buy anything.... you might be impressed...... i was...[/quote']

Is that an open invitation?

61"...doesnt that pixelate/grain out unless you have a room the size of the Albert Hall ?

not funny

Is that an open invitation?

61"...doesnt that pixelate/grain out unless you have a room the size of the Albert Hall ?

you would be suprised how good it looks.... it is 100hzs and seems to cope very well with most inputs... esp consoles... GT4 is lovely

pauls got a very big one and it's very impressive

seriously though, his TV is enormous. You just need to watch days of thunder to get the full effect!!

si

you would be suprised how good it looks.... it is 100hzs and seems to cope very well with most inputs... esp consoles... GT4 is lovely

Does it also do progressive scan as well?

dunno

Having seen Paul's TV all I can say is its huge.

Problem with any large TV is that it shows up a poor source....

Digital terrestial \ satellite is just not good enough at that scale, but consoles seem to be fine.

Problem with any large TV is that it shows up a poor source....

Digital terrestial \ satellite is just not good enough at that scale' date=' but consoles seem to be fine.[/quote']

I can well believe it. I know what its like with my piddly 32" widescreen.

Thats why I asked if it had progressive scan. At least then the sheer size of the TV would come into its own for watching DVD,s, I know it makes a huge difference on my piddly tv.

(I also heard that you have to "recharge" plasma screens after 5 or so years which effectively buggers them up - don't know if this is true though. It's probably a myth!).

A friend works in a TV shop here, I made a comment about the cool Plasma TV's one day and he told me to stay away from them, its true they have to be recharged regularly but he also mentioned about the installation. Seemingly you have to pay someone to put it up as if you do it and you loose a couple of spots (don't know the correct term) the warranty will be null and void. Also he said the insurance was very expensive.

He basic said they're a waste of money.

Make sure you investigate it further.

Hope this helps,

Try www.avforums.com for some advice on the pros and cons. I went from a 42" RPTV to a 42" Panasonic 6 series plasma, and I haven't regretted it once - certainly haven't had any of the problems mentioned above. I am aware of their lifespan, but quoted in terms of viewing hours.... and by the time these were up, I'd have expected to have replaced it anyway.....

i must say all this talk of plasma's being rubbish is absolute nonsense, i have a 42" plasma in my bedroom(i live with my parents) and th picture is perfectly fine as long as you sit at a sensible distance, i.e. don't sit 1 foot away as ofcourse it will look rubbish. when i was looking and i saw lcd's they seemed poor compared to plasma's, so did the really big rear projections in my opinion.

and about the burn in, rubbish. i have played things like pgr2 with mates for hours and have suffered no burn in what so ever, and also not having it installed didn't effect my warrenty at all.

about the re-charge, i asked all over the place about this and was told everywhere that it was a myth and they would love people to bring they're tv's down for a "re-charge" and chrage them for it.

i think that was more than 2 pennies worth but there you go.

ben