LCD vs Plasma, and 720p vs 1080p.
I'm looking to get a 37inch, but of course i wouldn't mind a 42 inch. I know plasma only comes in greater than 42 inch, which is fine. I know that plasma has darker darks and whiter whites, so that really interests me. I'm interested in how video games are on both, computer hook ups, and just hd channels in general.
Second, i'm wondering if its worth getting a 1080p over a 720p. The 720p is much less expensive, but i figure a 42 inches i should invest is 1080p. I own a ps3 so i can watch blu-ray, which is the main reason i want the 1080p.
Any suggestions or experiences would be greatly appreciated.
Suggestion:
Plasma is a great option; it's often cheaper because it costs less to manufacture, is every bit as long lasting (if not longer) than LCD, is every bit as energy efficient as LCD (and more than some LCD brands), offers much better performance and the picture qualities you mentioned. Panasonic was one of the first companies to remove all hazardous materials from their products; before being green was popular here in the US. That includes everything from their telephones to their largest plasma TV.
Since you have a Blu-ray, I'd go with a 1080p unit if the budget allows. However, the true difference will be minor IF you get a quality unit to begin with. Resolution is not the only determining factor in picture quality! Just like cameras. You can have a 14 mega pixel camera with a crappy lens and you're not gonna get great pictures. When the 1080p units first came out, I spent a lot of time comparing them and the difference is minor at best. One of those reasons is that the native contrast ratio is much higher in the 720p units. That allows for more shades of each color which influences picture detail. It almost ends up being a tit for tat!
Look at the Panasonic plasmas. They have some features that other plasma manufacturers don't; they developed the technologies and hold the patents on them. They use more anti-glare coatings on their screens. They also have a game mode which reduces the amount of controller lag while you're gaming. The setting also adjusts the set to the "optimum" levels of brightness, contrast and such for what you're doing. Takes about 2 clicks of the remote. Ok, maybe 3….
When I bought our 50" plasma, I went with the 720p unit. The majority of the time, we watch broadcast TV on it, do not have a Blu-ray player or PS3 and budget was a concern. We're very happy with it and I defy anyone to walk in the room and tell me if it's 720p or 1080p just by looking at it. It truly has a better picture on than most 1080p units. Broadcast TV is only coming down in 720p anyhow, special content can be higher.
Do get HD MI cables for your set up but you don't need the most expensive cables either. A good middle range cable will work just fine and save you some bucks. And get a screen cleaning kit when you buy the TV. You will get fingerprints on it when you set it up and will want to get those off.
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