TV's

[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..

[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..

[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.

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 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)