TV geeks to me

[crazy canuck]

Excellent, this is very helpful.

Here is an article I found on Cnet.  I have a dark mancave* for the TV so it l am leaning toward a 60' plasma.

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33199_7-57344058-221/led-lcd-vs-plasma-vs-lcd/

* Katmai, you will be crashing in the adjoining rooms.  Think of them as an extension of the mancave.

[Ed Anger]

Ignore the 4x HD bullcrap anybody peddles you. That is their new thing since 3D flopped.

I've been pleased with Mitsubishi.

[CountDeMoney]

Was hoping for a trivia question. 

On which show did Buck Henry get his start?

Acting or writing/producing?

Part of me wants to say Dobie Gillis, but I know that's absolutely wrong.

[katmai]

I thought it was Dick Van Dyke.

[Admiral Yi]

I thought it was a writing gig on Get Smart, but if the Big Bean says Dick Van Dyke I will defer.

[CountDeMoney]

Could be DVDS.  Get Smart, maybe?

[katmai]

I thought it was a writing gig on Get Smart, but if the Big Bean says Dick Van Dyke I will defer.

Nah you are right.

[Ideologue]

Well, don't buy a TCL made in the People's Republic of Crap used on eBay.

[mongers]

Υπάρχουν πολύ λίγα που αξίζει να παρακολουθήσετε στην τηλεόραση σήμερα

Ypárchoun polý líga pou axízei na parakolouthí̱sete sti̱n ti̱leórasi̱ sí̱mera

[Ideologue]

Er, eluetheria i thanatos?

[mongers]

Er, eluetheria i thanatos?

http://translate.google.co.uk/

There is very little worth watching on television nowadays

[Grey Fox]

Sharps makes the Flat Panels for Panasonic & Sony branded TVs. Keep that in mind if you are looking at those brands.

[viper37]

Our old TV finally gave up the ghost.  Back in the day it was pretty nice - a 50'' LED.  I havent looked at TVs since I bought that back in 2003 or so.

I was thinking about a projector thingie but I am told that plasma TVs can be bought for cheap these days.

Assume I have a room suitable for a 100'' or more screen for a projector.

What is the advice of the Languishites?

Panasonic VT50.
55" = TC-P55VT50; 65" = TC-P65VT50
https://panasonic.ca/english/audiovideo/plasma/tcp55_65vt50.asp#.UR70z2dxm_Q

I bought the 55" for Christmas, paid 2200$ + 80$ for the 3D glasses.  It was the last in stock in Quebec, so maybe it's unavailable in BC too.
The new models will be out between April and August, they offer similar performances, but they will have more useless features with some cool name the marketing department came up with.

They are wireless tvs, you can subscribe to Youtube, NHL Centre Ice, some wheater network, Shoutcast radio, and a bunch of other stuff.  They may even have an NBA channel, but I didn't really care


Now, this is the absolute best tv on the market today.  Even converting 2D to 3D looks real nice on this set.
But it comes with a price: you need a very dark room.  In fact, pitch black is what you need.  I had the tv in my living room, and I need to shut the small light in the kitchen, close the blind on a side window of the dining room and I also have to block that tiny door window.

Forget about serious daytime viewing.  Using the proper mode, you won't get that much glare, but the colors will look a little bit too much washed out.

It's ideal for a home theater setup, but with proper adjustments, it can work in a living room.

It's got THX and THX 3D modes, so when watching blu ray it's basically "fire&forget", but if you're willing to shell some extra cash, there are probably professional calibrators in your area.  This TV has a "pro" setting wich you can unlock to have it calibrated, or do it yourself if you have a colorimeter.


Plasma has many advantages over other types:
- darker blacks, wich means better colors
- no ghosting (kind of a shadow image trailing behind in fast action scenes)
- 24p playback for smooth representation of blu ray, the way the movie was shot (multiples of 24fps, usually 48 or 96hz)
- better image clarity
- cheaper price

Drawback:
- consumes a tad more electricity.  There is a "eco mode" on the Panny, but I recommend against using it.  Unless you're a card carrying member of the David Suzuki fan club

EDIT:
OK, you got a dark room, so the tv will be great.

[viper37]

Sharps makes the Flat Panels for Panasonic & Sony branded TVs. Keep that in mind if you are looking at those brands.

Only for the LCDs, not the plasmas.

[CountDeMoney]

Luckily, it's only going to cost me a $150 power supply to fix my plasma.  Whew.