TV's

[Lou Girardin]

I'm thinking of getting a new tele.
Who can tell me the pros and cons of; LCD, Plasma, Projection LCD types.
Ta in advance.
PS keep it simple, I'm a tech free zone.

[Indiana_Jones]

LCD are small arn't they?

-Indy

[Waylander]

Plasmas are good but have a highly pixelated image, same thing with LCD even projection LCD. Panasonic or Sony are the best ones of those. If you want a really good image go for a DLP. Best brand is Sharp. No pixels and crisp sharp lines. Also you can play Video games on a DLP without worrying if the image will burn into the screen.

[Indiana_Jones]

I don't like those plasma tv's etc the image isn't very good
I'd get myself a 33" flat screen or what not. :)

-Indy

[Skunk]

I'm thinking of getting a new tele.
Who can tell me the pros and cons of; LCD, Plasma, Projection LCD types.
Ta in advance.
PS keep it simple, I'm a tech free zone.I'm no techie but here's the 'con' 'rumours' I've been told:
Plasma lasts only a few years if you use it like a TV.
LCD is good but limited in screen size.
Projection LCD is limited viewing angles.

I've been told best is a good HD TV ('cause it's going - yeah, right) and a projector and screen for movies.

[k14]

What is your price range??

I would get a 32" sony or panasonic etc, they are around the $2000 price range I think. Don't know a great deal about them, but the LCD's and plasmas are way overpriced.

[StoneChucker]

Duplicate Post - Ignore (read below)

[StoneChucker]

Make sure whatever you get is widescreen. That should be a given. My personal choice right now, would be a normal crt flatscreen tv. You actually don't need to spend alot on fancy crt tv's to get a great picture. Infact, some top of the range tv's boast technology to give you a better, clearer picture using software. These end up resulting in an artificial looking picture. A reasonably priced, good brand standard tv still gives you the best picture available (over ALL other types).

Plasma is still not up to the same standard, however they are improving over time (which is why I suggest getting a standard tv for now). The cheap plasma's are pretty shocking, with lag between visual and audio being an annoying example. You also get blur on high speed images and color swirls on rapidly changing areas of color. The most expensive ones are ok, but still not as good as standard tv's, and fecking expensive.

LCD are great for text (hence their pc application), but they are pretty small for a tv. Also alot fade the picture when viewed from the side.

When you choose your tv, look at the picture (obvious maybe, but alot of people, me included put more emphasis on price, and features).

[madboy]

I seem to be doin a lot of agreeing with Stonie tonight... Not intentional - honest!

I saw something on TV over the last couple days (wished I'd paid a bit more attention now) saying something pretty similar to what Stonie just said. The gist was if you have too much money, buy the plasmas/LCD now and then replace them in a few years when the models are finally up to the same standard as a decent normal TV is now. And when you look at the "normal" TVs, sometimes the cheaper ones are better than the flasher ones with the flash processing bits.

In saying that, a colleague at work just bought an LCD cos he wanted a pretty TV. I kid you not. It wasn't the screen size (only low-20s), it wasn't the picture, it wasn't the "techno" wank value, it was just that it was only a couple inches thick and he could pick it up and move it from room to room on a whim. For that he paid $2000 vs $400 for a conventional TV. Horses for courses.

[Gremlin]

It comes down to the age old question of "What are you going to use it for?" and "What is your budget?"

Personally, I think LCD is a waste of money. Huge price, little TV. Can double as a computer monitor though.

IF you are interested in a plasma, personally, I would take that money and get a good projector. But there are some things you need to look out for on projectors. Visibility is an issue, but the higher up the range, the better it gets. Visibility during the day is also a problem, but I know that one of the manufacturers have come up with a screen that drastically improves vision. Toshiba I think.

Wouldn't bother with rear projection. Too many restrictions as to what you can do with them, but you have got a big screen.

Standard TVs are a good staple and value for money option. Widescreen is the best if you are going to watch DVDs. Also, if you plug any computer into it to do something (my laptop runs as a DVD player) 100Hz is a must. Basically, the screen refreshes more quickly (than 50Hz) and gives a clearer picture... But flatcreen is definitely better than the curved screen.

[BurnCycle]

I have a 60" projection LCD from Panasonic that is very nice to watch. Projection LCD is a little better the DLP but for someone who just want to enjoy TV and is not worried about the latest crap, a DLP might be just what you are looking for.

BTW, GT4 in 1080i mode kicks arse. :D

http://www.mariposaderojo.com/Pics/House/RedRoom1.jpg

[James Deuce]

I'm no techie but here's the 'con' 'rumours' I've been told:
Plasma lasts only a few years if you use it like a TV.
LCD is good but limited in screen size.
Projection LCD is limited viewing angles.

I've been told best is a good HD TV ('cause it's going - yeah, right) and a projector and screen for movies.

What he said. A CRT is still better than any other format, and much cheaper. The only advantage of plasma and LCD is that you can hang them on the wall, but if you do that, they better bee top of the range, or people sitting at 30 degrees to the screen aren't going to enjoy watching telly.

[Antallica]

I've got the Philips 32" Widescreen @ 100Hz and it kicks arse for telly & movies. Best bang for buck I reckon. The other stuff is too overpriced.

[marty]

i've got a toshiba 100hz 43" rear projector which is great - i bought a 50hz one and they delivered a 100 by mistake! the pic quality is great - no real problems with shading or non viewing areas. i've just bought a 50hz philips 32" widescreen for the spare room. it has a bit of difficulty stretching the PS2 to full width, but sky digital runs fine through it. even using the PS2 for DVDs is ok. it was around $700 @ harvey normans. the 100hz one was $1700, but it had a far superior pic when viewed side by side. my recommend - don't get a 50hz projector, only get a 50hz CRT if you're not fussy. don't even think about an overhead projector unless you only use it for movies.

[Lou Girardin]

Thank you all, great stuff. This clarifies things now. Although the LCD screens are now up to 32". It's also hard to judge picture quality in a bright showroom, on that basis the LCD's seem to be best.
We like the thinness of LCD/Plasma, but the value for money argument might win.
But, what's DLP?

[MikeL]

Thank you all, great stuff. This clarifies things now. Although the LCD screens are now up to 32". It's also hard to judge picture quality in a bright showroom, on that basis the LCD's seem to be best.
We like the thinness of LCD/Plasma, but the value for money argument might win.
But, what's DLP?

DLP is projection technology that overcomes some of the limitations of LCD (the "chickenwire" effect) and produces a more film-like image. However it's not perfect and some people are apparently sensitive to colour pulsation effects and even suffer headaches from viewing DLP images.

[FzerozeroT]

If size is everything (and of course it is) then you've got to get a projector, just wander through your house first and make sure you have somewhere to put it as you need to put the projector back from the wall/screen and coffee tables don't cut it, you also need a stereo and somewhere for the signal to come from as they don't pick up TV. it's a huge pain in the ass to set up but once you've had a screen that big everything else pales in comparison.

[sAsLEX]

If size is everything (and of course it is) then you've got to get a projector, just wander through your house first and make sure you have somewhere to put it as you need to put the projector back from the wall/screen and coffee tables don't cut it, you also need a stereo and somewhere for the signal to come from as they don't pick up TV. it's a huge pain in the ass to set up but once you've had a screen that big everything else pales in comparison.

Our mess on base has a conference room that doubles as our tv room, about a ten foot screen hooked up to sky and tv, as well as a lap top for work type stuff. Decent picture quality just have to have the curtains shut during the day! Plus due to the fact its on all weekend and all evening we tend to go through bulbs fairly quickly and they cost abit.

[Skunk]

...get a good projector. But there are some things you need to look out for on projectors. Visibility is an issue, but the higher up the range, the better it gets. Visibility during the day is also a problem, but I know that one of the manufacturers have come up with a screen that drastically improves vision. Toshiba I think.
Yeah, I understand that there are several. They are high reflection screens but tend to lose contrast.

[crashe]

I'm thinking of getting a new tele.
Who can tell me the pros and cons of; LCD, Plasma, Projection LCD types.
Ta in advance.
PS keep it simple, I'm a tech free zone.


Well first off Lou.....

How much are you wanting to spend....??????

How big is the room that you are going to put it into????
You wont want a huge telly if you are going to be sitting right in front of it...Tis not good for your eyes....lol.

Are you wanting it for entertainment...movies, playstation or what?

Go into different tv shops and have a really good look at them working...
Stand back from them and look at each one for some time.... not just a quick look. Different tv's have some totally different colours settings...
Plasma, not everyone can sit and watch a movie/tv programe on a plasma screen. When you go to the shops take the family..... to look as well.

Why the family - cos a friend went and brought a new tv and found out the daughter couldnt cope with the tv screen... something to do with her eyes... they had to go and change the tv..... (at no extra cost).

All the best of luck in finding the right tv for you and your family.

[Krusti]

Get either a Plasma or LCD...we got a 42" Plasma for xmas...we love it ...Of course price dropped by a grand once we got it...Next time will look at leasing, in order to keep up with changes.

Moto GP is..:niceone:

[Krusti]

Took a few days for our eyes to adjust to watching large screen but after a while you don't notice....21" to 42" is a bit of a jump..:D

[Paul in NZ]

Lou... I do this for a living... PM me if you need to know any more and I can let you talk to one of my tech guys but my opinion based on several years of playing with this stuff on a daily basis is...

What is it that you want to use this for? ie. If you watch mainly free to air TV then having a screen that is vastly better quality than the signal you are poking into it is a waste of money. However, SKY (and soone TelstraClear) have gone digital which will improve the signal slightly. (Remember the feed they get off the satelite is not always that flash either)

If you have a good DVD player and you like to watch movies then thats something else again... Shoot the moon...

Plasma is a great technology if you can afford quality. NEC is one of the few companies that manufactures all the components for screens. NEC just sold the assembly plant to Pioneer. Most cheap makes are using several generation old NEC technology in their screens and yes, as a domestic appliance they are not designed to last very long. Usually 8,000 to 12,000 hours. The screens are usually over driven to increase the brightness and contrast ratios. We sell commercial panels (no tuner or speakers) that last 60,000 hours (note Plasma life is measured to half brightness). Plasma is the choice if you like action movies as the refresh rate is better than LCD. If you have a sunlit room plasma may not be bright enough and manage reflection with a matt glass screen.

Remember that Plasma was invented because they could not make LCD big enough!

LCD comes in 2 flavours. True LCD and TFT (Thin Film Transistor) which is what you get in LCD PC monitors and cheap LCD TV's)

True LCD is very rugged but the screen is plastic. Keep the kids fingers off. A commercial screen runs about 55,000 hours at which stage the backlight needs replacing and away you go again. There is no screen burn with LCD but it is a big issue with Plasma and TFT LCD. NEC has the best anti burn software but really, it just fuzzs the burn. LCD refresh rates are increasing and you have to be pretty picky to grumble about it these days. LCD runs cooler, uses less power and is the way to go long term if you can afford it. We have a new 32" commercial screen out and a 46" on the way plus a range of TFT TV's.

Projection costs a lot to run. Bulbs and LED panels are hideously expensive and unless you are spending good money or have a space issue, stay away because you can literally could count the dollars as you are watching. Pubs and clubs bought truckloads of cheap projectors and now only run them when there is something on they REALLY want to see (after they replaced the first bulb)

Projection TV - Unless you want really big and have a limited budget and are prepared to sit straight in front of it... nah!

Me? I have a 100Hz 32" panasonic TV that I bought on sale for the family to watch as I seldom look at it. (careful here as panasonic had issues outsourcing stuff to china as did a lot of japanese tech firms)

Let me know if I can help with anything else.

Cheers

[T.I.E]

what interesting advice you all have.

plasma is a flat no, if you want slimline choose LCD
plamas are fading out.

my idea is go all out, or go real cheap and wait.

tube tvs are the best quality you will ever have.
the bigger the tv the bigger the pixles so to speak.
14 inch tvs are always great for definition.
33" are just 14incjes blown up.
100hz tv are better than 50hz less flicker.
50hz tvs are 25 pictures a second.
100hz are 50 pictures a seconds
so you will have less flicker between pictures as they are moving faster.

projectors are only good at night, unless you have a very hi lens and bulb set up. luminace expensive

and then there is high definition, which will be coming out shortly.
and digital too. so it may be an idea to stay away from analog.

what can you afford, what is the size of your room, how far away from the tv will you be viewing. there are a few points too look at. if you want a hand just send me a message.

[Waylander]

I have a 60" projection LCD from Panasonic that is very nice to watch. Projection LCD is a little better the DLP but for someone who just want to enjoy TV and is not worried about the latest crap, a DLP might be just what you are looking for.

BTW, GT4 in 1080i mode kicks arse. :D


Yea the new LCDs from Panasonic are good but I hope you don't play xbox or anything like that on it or have any movie/tv show with something on the screen for more than 5 mins. It'll burn into the screen and even projection LCDs so it. they also can't handle the flash rate of some things.

[Lou Girardin]

Usage is free to air TV and DVD's. Maybe Sky later when they get their shit together.
We view from about 3 metres in our TV room. Cost isn't so much of an issue, maybe up to $5000.
It's starting to look like a 32" or 42" CRT is the way to go. Shame though, I really like the slimline looks of the others.
Thanks again guys.

[Paul in NZ]

Usage is free to air TV and DVD's. Maybe Sky later when they get their shit together.
We view from about 3 metres in our TV room. Cost isn't so much of an issue, maybe up to $5000.
It's starting to look like a 32" or 42" CRT is the way to go. Shame though, I really like the slimline looks of the others.
Thanks again guys.

One thing to consider....

I'd definately go for a 16:9 aspect ratio, ie a widescreen 32" TV. At around $1,700 we bought ours as a stop gap for 5 years untill the prices come right down.

However, if you have a decent VCR (to act as a tuner) and a stereo (for the sounds) get a hold of me and I'll see what I can do...

You can buy a 42" plasma TV retail for 5k these days though!

Cheers

[Gremlin]

Well, if you want to watch movies, then you definitely want a widescreen (16:9 is the common format)

I would say the standard TVs (crt) would be best, unless you want to spend the money.

Noel Leeming (http://www.noelleeming.co.nz/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&categoryId=13802&crumb=10003-10137-13819-13802) has a selection... just for an idea of prices.

[BurnCycle]

Yea the new LCDs from Panasonic are good but I hope you don't play xbox or anything like that on it or have any movie/tv show with something on the screen for more than 5 mins. It'll burn into the screen and even projection LCDs so it. they also can't handle the flash rate of some things.

That’s a bit of a fallacy… I’ve sat behind the thing for hours on end playing my PS2 and it’s seemingly flawless. Hell a CRT will burn in an image if neglected too.

[Paul in NZ]

That’s a bit of a fallacy… I’ve sat behind the thing for hours on end playing my PS2 and it’s seemingly flawless. Hell a CRT will burn in an image if neglected too.

Plasma and TFT LCD will burn. True LCD won't.

Paul N (just stuck up 2 x 30" LCD and 1 x 40" LCD and 1 x 42" Plasma before lunch - phew)

[Waylander]

Plasma and TFT LCD will burn. True LCD won't.

Paul N (just stuck up 2 x 30" LCD and 1 x 40" LCD and 1 x 42" Plasma before lunch - phew)
Plasmas are heavier then they look aye.


Oh and depending on the plasma you will also get this media box thing that recives the signal and sends it on to the tv and the sound elsewhere. With most plasmas you don't get speakers so you would have to get a sterio to hook it up to. Some plasmas do come with an intergrated media box but they arn't really thin.

As for LCDs not getting a burnt image, it could be true the last time I had heard of any new advancments was litttle over a year ago so they could have fixed that.

[Paul in NZ]

Plasmas are heavier then they look aye.


Oh and depending on the plasma you will also get this media box thing that recives the signal and sends it on to the tv and the sound elsewhere. With most plasmas you don't get speakers so you would have to get a sterio to hook it up to. Some plasmas do come with an intergrated media box but they arn't really thin.

As for LCDs not getting a burnt image, it could be true the last time I had heard of any new advancments was litttle over a year ago so they could have fixed that.

TFT and LCD are quite different...

[bungbung]

TFT is a variety of LCD. Thin film transistor. Pretty much all LCD screens used are now TFT. Previously it was TN and STN (Twisted nematic and super twist nematic).

TFT LCD displays can not suffer from burn in. With age, individual dots can stick on or off, but because TFT displays are backlit, there is no possibility of burn-in.

[T.I.E]

a big thing too is televison is only half of it.
sound is a huge factor as well. surround sound is very important for movies etc.
wide screen yes, 100hz yes, high definition yes,
but all that wonderful viewing is all crap without great sound to go with it.
so i hope you have a excellent theature unit.
dolby prologic 5:1 6:1 NICAM crap and then the list goes on.

good luck

[Lou Girardin]

a big thing too is televison is only half of it.
sound is a huge factor as well. surround sound is very important for movies etc.
wide screen yes, 100hz yes, high definition yes,
but all that wonderful viewing is all crap without great sound to go with it.
so i hope you have a excellent theature unit.
dolby prologic 5:1 6:1 NICAM crap and then the list goes on.

good luck

I thought great sound and home theatre were mutually exclusive. At least as far as music goes.

[Paul in NZ]

TFT is a variety of LCD. Thin film transistor. Pretty much all LCD screens used are now TFT. Previously it was TN and STN (Twisted nematic and super twist nematic).

TFT LCD displays can not suffer from burn in. With age, individual dots can stick on or off, but because TFT displays are backlit, there is no possibility of burn-in.

OK OK I was being a little 'simplistic'....

LCD's fall into several categories but since we are discussing TV's lets ignore common plane based ones and reflective LCD's.

That means we are discussing back lit Passive matrix and Active matrix LCD's. TFT's are Active matric devices. As you rightly point out, these don't suffer from phosphor burn (like a plasma) but they do suffer from a thing called 'image retention'. This happens when a cell is in the on state for an extended period of time and causes a small change in the cell. Cheaper screens seem (in my experience) to suffer from this more than the heavier duty screens.

The LCD models we use are built for digital signage and are intended to run 24/7 (30" and 40"). To date I have yet to see a single failure of these screens yet I see many failures of the units designated LCD TV.

My demo screen has been freighted, couriered, taken (upsidedown) on aircraft, done trade shows and fallen over in the back of the van... A plamsa can't hack that and if you plick uo one of our LCD TV's, then pick up my LCD monitor you will see what I'm on about... These things are built baby....

Cheers