Televisions

Leisher
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Televisions

Post by Leisher »

Who knows TVs?

I was once told that plasma TVs are garbage because they instantly start to degrade in terms of picture quality and the bulb only lasts about 6-8 years.

Meanwhile, I was also told that LCD TVs would be the next big thing. Their picture never degrades and the bulb burns out in approx. 20 years.

Is all this true or false?
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Post by GORDON »

These are good questions I've been wondering about as well. Going to have to replace the main TV in the next year or so... and I dont know the difference between digital and widescreen and plasma and HDTV and flatscreen and LCD and every other damned thing.
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Cakedaddy
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Post by Cakedaddy »

Plasma does degrade. They recommend having the Plasma changed every 5-7 years. No idea about the bulb. No idea about LCD. I heard a plasma change is about $150-250.
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Troy
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Post by Troy »

Back home my family recently purchased a sony 42 inch HDTV LCD for the entertainment room, it's something to behold to be sure...

The rents had planned on going plasma but it was out of stock at the time. I recall the sales rep saying that as far as picture quality goes the Plasma has the edge for the first few years, but as far as, price, longitivity and value LCD was superior.
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Post by Paul »

I heard the same thing about plasma. I've also heard it called an untested technology, which I guess means your TV might asplode due to unforseen circumstances in a few years.
LCD has been around awhile, so that technology has a proven track record.

If I got one, I'd go with LCD simply because I want longer life rather than a brighter (better?) image that eats up a lot more 'lectricity and may need to be replaced in 2010.
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Post by mbilderback »

The Plasma/LCD question has been covered pretty well here, but if I wanted a thin big-screen, I'd buy DLP. Great HD quality picture, bright, and MUCH cheaper upkeep and initial investment.

One issue that hasn't been mentioned about the LCD. As with monitors, dead pixels are common, as in it's a 50/50 chance if your particular monitor/tv will have one, and anything less than 5 to 8 or even 12 and the manufacturer or dealer will not allow you to return it. Check with dead pixel count necessities before purchase and keep this in mind.
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Post by TheCatt »

I've heard the plasma re-charging is a bunch of shit; That any new tv won't need it.
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Post by TheCatt »

Reference, from 1 of my 2 favorite gadget blogs.

But don't feel bad, the NY Times still thinks plasma TVs need recharging too, and they're only 4 years behind the tech curve.
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Post by Cakedaddy »

My source was the guy at Wal-Mart. :-)
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Troy
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Post by Troy »

And for the record i quoted a guy at best buy
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Post by TheCatt »

Just like Americans to blame other people :p
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Post by TPRJones »

Yeah, sure, and next you'll tell me I don't need to get my muffler bearings balanced every year, either, right?
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Post by TheCatt »

TPRJones wrote:Yeah, sure, and next you'll tell me I don't need to get my muffler bearings balanced every year, either, right?
Don't forget them or to check your turn signal fluid.
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Post by Malcolm »

Getting a new TV in the near future. Anyone learned which technology sucks the least yet?
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Post by TheCatt »

We have two LCD TVs. For some reason, I never bothered with checking out plasma. Seems like LCD just has more options, more TVs out there, better prices.
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Post by GORDON »

LEDs seem to be the current thing, and price points are good.
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Post by Malcolm »

Was checking the LED LCDs at an electronics joint yesterday. Gunning for 70".
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Post by Malcolm »

I believe I've found the new tube.
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Post by GORDON »

"Smart TVs" are fine if you don't have any other device that can handle the "Smart" TV duties, but since I already have a PS3 for my Netflix and amazon and youtube and media tank and whatnot, it just became annoying to have to forced update the TV every 5 days with a 5 minute update download/patch before I could watch TV. After 3 or 4 times, I just unplugged the network cable so it didn't know updates existed.
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Post by Malcolm »

I think it'll suffice until I get around to rigging a PC to do the heavy lifting. I got no recent console and I'm betting my ancient original XBox won't boot up.
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