Should I get a Plasma TV or LCD TV?

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  1. #1

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    Cool Should I get a Plasma TV or LCD TV?

    I have a PC with a ton of movies and TV shows on it, some in HD format. I'm looking to buy a HDTV for gaming and movies. In addition to hooking up my PC, I plan on hooking up like an XBOX 360 and my old PS2.

    Now I got a few questions:

    1. I know that HD LCD TVs are good at showing non native PC resolutions like 1024x768 which is a must some games that don't support widescreen. I know the picture will be a little stretched, but I'm used to that since my notebook has a widescreen LCD.

    However what about Plasmas? Are they good at displaying non native resolutions that PCs may need for games? Will the image still fill up the whole screen without showing black bars?

    I plan on connecting my PC through HDMI.

    2. What LCD/Plasma TVs make standard definition stuff like my Playstation 2 look good while also making high definition stuff look great?

    3. What store should I buy it from?

    The size of the TV should be anywhere from 40 inches to 50 inches. Price is not an issue.

    4. What happens if you have more HMDI, component, etc devices than the TV has plugs for? Can you buy like a switch box to switch between them all. If so, where?


  2. #2

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    I'll answer the last one first as it is the easiest. Yes, HDMI / component switches are available. Ideally, you'd be putting everything through a receiver / amp which will handle the switching. If not, there are several other options which just provide simple switching.

    Look for Gefen or Zektor brands....

    HD Switches can get pretty expensive.


  3. #3

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    Quote Originally Posted by KnowItAll:
    HD Switches can get pretty expensive.
    Around what price range?

    Also to clarify my previous post. I'm open to both "Full HD" and "HD ready" TVs. While the HD ready TVs might not to 1080p, 720p is acceptable to me especially with a 50 inch TV.

    From what I've seen most "HD ready" TVs can do 720p which is still damn nice. All my HD content is in 720p anyway.

  4. #4

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    I'm not really a gamer, but my TV wore out and today after some deliberation (between Sharp, Samsung & Sony) I shelled out for a Sony 46" X200 TV. For real video (i.e. not animation/games) there was no doubt in my mind that when I saw the same source on the 3 displays the Sony beat the Samsung by some distance, and the Sharp was miles behind.

    Shopping around, but wanting a chain rather than a "local" Mongkok shop, I then ended up buying the Sony KLV-46X200A at a PCCW shop for $41,200 with a package that also included a Sony KLV-26S200A 26" TV which will go well in a bedroom.

    The X200 is 1080p capable.

    And PCCW No.1 Club members currently have an offer that gives 1 AsiaMile per HK$ spent, so, bought on a Citibank CX Card that means 46,350 AsiaMiles as well - which will get me a roundtrip upgrade to Sydney (or similar) as well.


  5. #5

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    Lcd

    The one thing about Plasmas + Gaming is the fact that 'burn in' is a lot more common than people take into account. It happens when you have a static image in one position for a long period of time (think life gauges, ammo bars etc)

    My advice, go for the LCD.


  6. #6

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    Also, if you're planning on moving with your tv, plasmas are very fragile and do not travel well, whereas with lcd's this is not an issue.


  7. #7

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    The main advantage of plasmas over LCDs, is the colour depth. To me there is a big difference in the overall picture; plasmas offers a much richer image. Don't believe me? Next time you're in an electrical store, and there are TVs lined up, compare the colour depth between LCDs and plamas.

    Having said that, I bought a 37" Samsung LCD TV, a couple of months ago. My decision was based on the distance between where I'd normally sit to watch TV, and the TV itself. A 42" screen would have been too big for my living room, so I had to go with LCD, as plasmas don't go that smaller than that. If I had more room, I'd have gone with a plasma for sure.

    I bought my TV from AV Lifestyle (I think it's called). I got a free DVD/Surround sound system with it as part of the offer, and I haggled, and got an HDMI cable free, as well as HK$1,000 off the price.

    I recently came across this article about viewing distance/resolution which some of you may find interesting:
    http://www.carltonbale.com/blog/2006...p-does-matter/


  8. #8

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    Quote Originally Posted by Aj149:
    The one thing about Plasmas + Gaming is the fact that 'burn in' is a lot more common than people take into account. It happens when you have a static image in one position for a long period of time (think life gauges, ammo bars etc)

    My advice, go for the LCD.
    From what I have heard from people, the burn in problem is not as much of an issue with newer plasmas.

    Also can anyone tell me if plasmas can still scale up non standard PC resolutions like LCDs can?

  9. #9

    If you are going to hook up your PC to the TV, play games and watch TV with it, Get a 1080P LCD TV with multiple HDMIs, you don't need a switch box for it, just switch them on the TV. The 1080P Sony XBR will look real good with all these functions. The advantage LCD over plasma is there is no burn in and no glare and plasma does not not have many 1080P yet.


  10. #10

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    Quote Originally Posted by IceAIM:
    Around what price range?
    http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/16/r...mi-switch-hub/

    4-port HDMI switch / hub, US$299+

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