Has anyone taken the monitary plunge and bought a plasma TV? If so, what is your opinion? Are they worth the bucks?

I've always wanted one, but never could afford one. {sighs}

With how rarely I watch TV, i would have to say i think it's a useless expense.

With how rarely I watch TV, i would have to say i think it's a useless expense.Watch television, or watch movies on your television? There is a difference! (Movies on a giant plasma is heaven!)

Yes, we are thinking about the plasma especially for watching movies. Who cares what you watch Seinfeld reruns on.

Funny thing, my dh was just a couple of hours ago telling me that he decided against buying a plasma tv because someone told him they wear out in about 5 years???? Have you heard that??? I don't care if we have one or not but he was really thinking he wanted one but then told me he decided he didn't want one after all. Any further info would be great for me too.

They don't wear out in 5 years, however, they can be susceptible to burn-in (where an image gets permanantly burned into the surface). If you don't set the brightness and contrast settings appropriately and leave it in the factory set "torch mode" then they are even more susceptible. But that's the case with many high-end televisions like CRT projectors.

If you are thinking about plasma TV first ask yourself what it is about a plasma set that you are attracted to. Is it the small depth, the size, or is it just because it's the latest and greatest gadget?

If it's the size you want then there are much larger TVs available for the same or lower price. But they are much deaper and take up a lot more room. A plasma TV can basically hang on a wall like a picture and they're less obtrusive. But so can LCD TVs. LCDs are a little more expensive, but they're less susceptible to burn-in and have an overall better picture quality.

But for my money, if I want a big screen that's unobtrusive I'd get a projector that just mounts to the ceiling or even under a table. The screen can hide up in the ceiling when not in use and roll down for movie time. Plus, it's much more like going to the movies when you use a front projection system like that. However, there's a huge array of projectors on the market. Some great, some not so great. So if you don't do your homework you might end up with something that doesn't have the quality you wanted. Plus, setting up a screen and projector like that can take a little more initial leg work than just "hanging a picture."

Bottom line, figure out what it is you really want, take a look around and see what you like, and don't listen to the fast talking salesmen. ;)

They don't wear out in 5 years, however, they can be susceptible to burn-in (where an image gets permanantly burned into the surface). If you don't set the brightness and contrast settings appropriately and leave it in the factory set "torch mode" then they are even more susceptible. But that's the case with many high-end televisions like CRT projectors.

If you are thinking about plasma TV first ask yourself what it is about a plasma set that you are attracted to. Is it the small depth, the size, or is it just because it's the latest and greatest gadget?

If it's the size you want then there are much larger TVs available for the same or lower price. But they are much deaper and take up a lot more room. A plasma TV can basically hang on a wall like a picture and they're less obtrusive. But so can LCD TVs. LCDs are a little more expensive, but they're less susceptible to burn-in and have an overall better picture quality.

But for my money, if I want a big screen that's unobtrusive I'd get a projector that just mounts to the ceiling or even under a table. The screen can hide up in the ceiling when not in use and roll down for movie time. Plus, it's much more like going to the movies when you use a front projection system like that. However, there's a huge array of projectors on the market. Some great, some not so great. So if you don't do your homework you might end up with something that doesn't have the quality you wanted. Plus, setting up a screen and projector like that can take a little more initial leg work than just "hanging a picture."

Bottom line, figure out what it is you really want, take a look around and see what you like, and don't listen to the fast talking salesmen. ;)

Thank you Bill - that was very helpful. I am such a dink - I did not even realize there was plasma and LCD TVs - I thought they were one in the same. I lumped all the thin (which is the only attraction I myself would have to them) TVs in the same group. I obviously need to do some research before we buy any new tv.

The company I work for has a very large (and very expensive) demonstration lab in L.A. which has numerous plasma TVs. They have been working well for more than five years and the lab managers are very happy with them. Their only gripe is how expensive they were when they bought the TVs and how less expensive they are now.

LCD's are definately worth looking into. If you have a Best Buy in your area, I recommend browsing there. They have more large, flat screen TVs than just about anybody.

Since I live at 6,700 feet above sea level, I'm hearing plasma TV's don't to well at high altitudes. I've yet to confirm this.

Since I live at 6,700 feet above sea level, I'm hearing plasma TV's don't to well at high altitudes. I've yet to confirm this.I've heard this, too. I can't confirm it either. Another urban myth that is false would be plasma screens burn out or expire after so much use.

If it's the size you want then there are much larger TVs available for the same or lower price. But they are much deaper and take up a lot more room. A plasma TV can basically hang on a wall like a picture and they're less obtrusive. But so can LCD TVs. LCDs are a little more expensive, but they're less susceptible to burn-in and have an overall better picture quality.

I bought an Zenith LCD last year. It is very thin and lightweight. The picture quality is unbelievable. It was expensive, but I figure that I will have it for so many years that it will be worthwhile. I have a few friends with Plasma TVs, but I heard that they burn out so I invested in a LCD instead.

We've had a 42" plasma hanging on our wall for 2.5 years and have been very happy with it.

Since I live at 6,700 feet above sea level, I'm hearing plasma TV's don't to well at high altitudes. I've yet to confirm this.
I have a magazine at home that mentions this. But in 2 seperate articles in the same mag it both confirms and dismisses this rumor. One says that high altitude can affect plasma displays. The other one says it's not as bad as reported. So either the technology is getting better, or you have to be at really high altitudes to make it an issue, or it's not that big of a deal.

the original plasma tv's had issues where they would suffer from image quality problems after a few years, that's where that comes from. i don't believe the newer ones have that problem.

there will be larger LCD displays coming soon as well, but of course they will still come at a much higher price than their plasma counterparts.

also, if you aren't planning on hanging it on the wall, there's absolutely no reason not to go with a rear projection tv. you can get a 60" screen for a fraction of the cost of a plasma/lcd screen half its size and if you consider the space for your tv that a tv stand would take up, it's a no brainer.

On recommendation from several tech friends, we got this delivered about 5 days ago:

http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/televisions/product.asp?model=62hmx94

...but the darn thing is still sitting in the dining room in it's crate because I ordered the stand/furniture it will sit on from another company and I'm still waiting for that to be delivered! Grrrrrrrrr. :(

Hopefully I'll be able to report on it within a few days as to if I'm happy with it and can recommend it.

I just want something flat and widescreen that I can hang above my fireplace. I do NOT want some huge behemouth that takes up my entire family room, and I don't want to have to install things in my ceiling. So, like Crazy4DL, plasma and LCD - whatever. Just make it look good in my room, and have a nice clear picture that I can watch widescreen DVDs on.

LCD offers a better picture than plasma

Got the stand delivered for the new Toshiba 62inch mentioned above, and after about a 20 minute Ikea-like assembly process it was ready to go and we unpacked the Big Screen, plopped it on it's new perch, and plugged her in!

Picture is good from what I can tell so far. At first I was disappointed but then I learned that because we were using the old TV's standard RCA Video/L/R output-cables, that we're seeing the crappy old signal on a huge screen now, and it's ain't so pretty. Very slightly pixelated coming from the DirectTV/Tivo box and the DVD Player. But my neighbor assures me that by simply going out and purchasing new S-Video cables, I can almost double my picture quality. He says it will be awesome when I'm finished.

But there's more news (at least to me). I can improve my picture even more by upgrading to a new DirectTV/Tivo HD box and service, and get true HD TV on some channels and higher res on all, thanks to a monster 250gb hard drive which holds 30 hours of HD programming or 200 hours of standard quality programming. It also allows for recording in different resolution modes, which my old Phillips DTV/Tivo box wouldn't do. And with that I'll have even better picture quality than S-Video using the new HDMI Audio/Video interface between the DTV/Tivo HD box and the Big Screen. :)

So I'm happy I'm going to have all these new interfaces and much better picture quality, but I'm going to have to spend a bit more money on the new HD DirectTV with Tivo, and some other trinkets.

I should have known it wasn't going to be so easy. :)

So right now I'm going out to get a S-Video cable for my current DTV/Tivo box, and a set of Component Video cables for the DVD Player (as it's so equipped and I'm told Component is a step up from S-Video) just to temporarily get a better picture until the new HD DTV/Tivo arrives.

All that was as clear as mud, right? God...I hope it is to someone! Well, typing it all out was a good exercise in helping me understand it all! I think. :)

I'm really pleased with the Toshiba's appearance and shallow depth. It's not Flat Panel by any means, but it also hugs pretty close to the wall much better than I was expecting. :)

All that was as clear as mud, right? God...I hope it is to someone! Well, typing it all out was a good exercise in helping me understand it all! I think. :)

Made sense to me - even cleared that spaced-out "not Small World again" look off my face ;). Your DVD will remain plugged in to Color-Stream HD-2, I suppose, even after the switch to a new sat/dvr unit (which will probably hook into Color Stream Hd-1 or one of the HDMI jacks on the right I guess.)

Looks like fun!

Your DVD will remain plugged in to Color-Stream HD-2, I suppose, even after the switch to a new sat/dvr unit (which will probably hook into Color Stream Hd-1 or one of the HDMI jacks on the right I guess.)

You pretty much got it in one. :)

DVD to TV via Component Cables to Color Stream HD-1

Sat/DVR to TV via HDMI.

Now...about the cost of those Component Cables! I went to Radio Shack and asked for the top-of-the-line ones. I was expecting to pay maybe $14. I about croaked when they told me $99. For the short 4 ft ones!! Ouch! And then the high quality S-Video wasn't cheap either. So I walked out of the store empty handed and will just live with the picture quality as is until Saturday when DirectTV brings and installs the new HD Sat/DVR (I'm hoping it may come with a few extra cables that might save me a buck or two).

So the final picture quality report is gonna have to wait a bit longer.

But my neighbor assures me that by simply going out and purchasing new S-Video cables, I can almost double my picture quality. He says it will be awesome when I'm finished.Unless I overlooked something in the thread I was wondering if the set has component cable hookups. Although S-Video cables can help improve upon the picture quality compared to old fashioned RCA plugs the s-video is outranked by component cable.

Unless I overlooked something in the thread I was wondering if the set has component cable hookups.

The set does, but the current soon-to-be-replaced satellite unit does not. The new sat. unit does.

I went to Radio Shack and asked for the top-of-the-line ones. I was expecting to pay maybe $14. I about croaked when they told me $99. For the short 4 ft ones!! Ouch! And then the high quality S-Video wasn't cheap either.
Do not, I repeat, do not buy cables at Radio Shack.

"High end" video cables from low-end consumer retail chains are a big rip-off. If you want real high end you have to go to a high end consumer retail store or buy online. They can be pricey but you'll get more for your money than buying low to mid-quality cables at high end prices. But the jury is still out on whether or not there's much of a difference between mid and high end cables. (You could pay 500% more and only see a 5% improvement.)

If you want to just be able to walk into a local store and get something quickly and painlessly that works then look into getting some Acoustic Research cables at Best Buy. They aren't "high end" by any means but they are good quality at a good price. You can get 6' component video cables for about $30, or 12' for $40. They're nearly identical to the higher priced Monster Cables, so don't waste your money on those.

There is a huge jump in quality between composite (that little yellow coax cable) and s-video. There's a slight jump in quality between s-video and component that, depending on your DVD player, the video source, your television, and you eyes, you may or may not notice. But using component cables keeps the video signal from the DVD player as "true" as possible. If you want to view hi-def video on most consumer products the only way is either with component video or DMI.

Bill Catherall writes: Do not, I repeat, do not buy cables at Radio Shack.

Thanks for that post. :)

If we don't get an extra set of Components with the new HD Sat/DVR and it only comes with HDMI cables, then I'll head to Best Buy to purchase the set of Components for the DVD Player.

Appreciate the advice!

Do not, I repeat, do not buy cables at Radio Shack.Whew! That was a close one. I'm glad Bill caught it and came to Opus's rescue.