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macfantn · Oct 16, 2006, 02:49 PM

just wondering how the quality is, especially on non HD broadcasts, also how is the reliability and does it have enough inputs for dvd, game system and HD.

Dark Helmet · Oct 16, 2006, 02:50 PM

What is the contrast ratio?

Paco500 · Oct 16, 2006, 02:54 PM

I had a Vizio LCD for about a month- picture was ok, but brightness, contrast and viewing angle all stunk. Returned it.

It was cheap.

Buckaroo · Oct 16, 2006, 03:19 PM

Personally, I wouldn't buy a Plasma. I've overheard others say that it uses as much electricity as a fridge and the image quality will fade after a couple years.

I don't know if any of the above is true. I'll research it a little bit more when I'm ready to buy.

Dark Helmet · Oct 16, 2006, 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by Buckaroo

Personally, I wouldn't buy a Plasma. I've overheard others say that it uses as much electricity as a fridge and the image quality will fade after a couple years.

I don't know if any of the above is true. I'll research it a little bit more when I'm ready to buy.

More like 6 years but ya it does fade, so does LCD and CRT though. The worst about Plasma is that it gets burn in and uses tons of power/heat output.

It is a dead end technology that I knew from the beginning it was a in-between alternative.

Kenneth · Oct 16, 2006, 03:49 PM

I think I saw those in Costco. It's not that good.

macfantn · Oct 16, 2006, 03:50 PM

i have a 42" toshiba rear projection now which i like, but it is suffering from burn in on the sides from watching 4:3 programming. Plus it is a takes up quite a bit of room, should I go with LCD or DLP if I skip plasma?

tooki · Oct 17, 2006, 07:02 AM

For what it's worth, an interesting problem is happening:

while plasma continues to be improved (increased brightness, lower power consumption, and insensitivity to burn-in), LCDs have actually been suffering from a problem new to them: burn-in (or 'latent images' as they call it, since it's not burned in the same way as in a phosphor-based display).

So plasma may end up being a good choice after all. Right now, LCDs have superior brightness, but lower contrast than plasmas, and plasmas have more natural colors.

But I expect neither one to last in the long run. OLED technology is coming of age, and within a few years, they should start to appear on the market. If the original claims are true, it should become possible to have huge displays made of flexible film that can be rolled up for transport.

tooki

Dark Helmet · Oct 17, 2006, 09:25 AM

I really don't recommend Plasma's at all. LCD's can get burn in but it fades and doesn't happen with TV viewing (really only with computer images).

Right now the best picture quality is LCOS which is an LCD technology and front or rear projection.

It has the same look at DLP but without the rainbows and silly colour wheel. No screen door effect, no burn in, no fading and you can replace the bulb.

OLED is turning out the way they hoped as the life of the display is really short before the blues fade away.

There are also a bunch of new technologies coming that use lasers and another that is CRT but shrunk down to the size of a Plasma.

If you want a good picture you should do with a Sony LCD TV. Try to avoid DLP unless it uses LCD's instead of a colourwheel.

residentEvil · Oct 17, 2006, 11:28 AM

samsung's new slimfit tube TV's are pretty nice; only about 16" thick or so...but only aren't that big yet. 30" widescreen is the biggest. rumor was at last years CES that they were to have a 36" or 42" slimfit, but not happening right now. the 30" would make a nice TV in the bedroom; and will probably be my next TV in there. i have a sony 23" LCD 16x9. i think i will move that down into the gameroom now so there are 2 of them in there.

Dark Helmet · Oct 17, 2006, 11:58 AM

I and many other have had some serious issues with Samsung DLPs. If you get one without a colour wheel that solves one problem but they are still infamous for audio delays.

residentEvil · Oct 17, 2006, 12:03 PM

this isn't a DLP or LCD. it is a CRT. hence TUBE.

Rumor · Oct 17, 2006, 12:06 PM

Doesn't Vizio make an LCD also?

Eriamjh · Oct 17, 2006, 12:07 PM

I was waiting for Carbon Tube TVs, now I'm waiting to Laser TVs.

Rumor · Oct 17, 2006, 12:08 PM

Consult your closest Magnolia for information on the different types of tv's.

Dark Helmet · Oct 17, 2006, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by residentEvil

this isn't a DLP or LCD. it is a CRT. hence TUBE.

Ew. They still make those?

olePigeon · Oct 17, 2006, 01:03 PM

How about a laser TV?

Edit: Oops, didn't see Eriamjh's post.

Dark Helmet · Oct 17, 2006, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

How about a laser TV?

Edit: Oops, didn't see Eriamjh's post.

If one existed then perhaps it would be under consideration.

dav · Oct 17, 2006, 02:59 PM

not overly impressed with current technologies, i'm waiting to see how sed turns out (2008 now i believe).

olePigeon · Oct 17, 2006, 03:35 PM

You could hack up a Virtual GameBoy and watch TV on that.

Rumor · Oct 17, 2006, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

You could hack up a Virtual GameBoy and watch TV on that.

I almost forgot about those things.

Severed Hand of Skywalker · Oct 17, 2006, 10:07 PM

Best LCD Ever: Why Sony's 40-Inch Bravia TV Makes Rivals Pee Pants - Gizmodo

OAW · Oct 18, 2006, 05:18 PM

See what Robert Heron from DLTV and PC Magazine had to say about it. He is the HD junkie and simply raves about Vizio TVs ... especially given the price.

OAW

Dark Helmet · Oct 18, 2006, 05:27 PM

"The display produced an ANSI contrast ratio of 638:1"

That is pretty bad for movies if you care.

My LCD-RP TV is 1500 or highter (depending on the iris).

residentEvil · Oct 18, 2006, 06:43 PM

yah, that is really bad. my PLV-Z4 projector does 7000:1

and the new PLV-Z5 does 10000:1

my only compaint is 1000 lumens; i'm a dedicated room with no windows; but there are times that i like to turn the lights (like having dinner) and it starts to wash out a little.

kikkoman · Oct 19, 2006, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

"The display produced an ANSI contrast ratio of 638:1"

That is pretty bad for movies if you care.

My LCD-RP TV is 1500 or highter (depending on the iris).

Keep in min ANSI contrast ratios are lower then the on/off specification manufacturers use.

KeyLimePi · Oct 19, 2006, 03:45 PM

Originally Posted by Eriamjh

I was waiting for Carbon Tube TVs, now I'm waiting to Laser TVs.

You might be waiting a while. Here's a quote from an Engadget thread:

"...despite all the blow-harding by Novalux's C-levels about laser TVs supplanting plasmas, most big panel manufacturers have no plans to bring laser TV technology to market anytime soon. See, much of the laser TV hype is coming from Australia's own Arasor -- the company behind the optoelectronic chip central to the laser projection device..."

Cadaver · Oct 20, 2006, 11:59 AM

I have from Costco a Vizio 42" HD plasma for TV/DVD and a Vizio 32" for my XBox 360.
No complaints about either.

The plasma has some "false contouring" visible, but this is a common problem with virtually all inexpensive plamsas. Picture is nice and bright, and visible even mid-day with all the windows open. DVDs look fine. Never tried an HD picture source though.

The LCD, at least for XBox 360 via component 720p, looks fantastic. Haven't watched TV on it. Put on a DVD movie once and it also looked very nice.