Want 50'' Plasma TV

[Mkilbride]

Reasonable price, I keep getting turned around. Reviews are all over the place, ectera.

I do not care about 3D, and will not spend over 1000$, and preferably would want one for 800$ or so.

1080P, obviously.

Wi-Fi would be nice, but not required.

Optical audio is kind of a must for the speakers I wanna buy for it.

I do want to plug in my old computer so my father can use it to get used to using a computer, not sure how that is entirely done, but yeah, so it would need the ability to do that.

Any suggestions?

I was looking @:

Samsung - Factory-Refurbished 50" Class / Plamsa / 1080p / 600Hz / HDTV - PN50C590G4


No Wi-Fi though, or Ethernet, so not sure how I could hook it up to use that DLNA service to stream stuff from my computer?(friend said I could.)

LG - 50" Class / Plasma / 1080p / 600Hz / HDTV - 50PV400

Then there is that, but no Ehternet, no DLNA, no Wi-Fi, ectera.

Please almighty Guru's, help me!

Thank you.

 

[jcl]

I'm not sure about using your tv as a monitor, you'll have to check and see what kind of video outs it has.

For the streaming part, you might want to leave that to something like a roku.

 

[its phillip]

You can connect any modern computer to any modern tv. Any half decent computer will have a DVI or HDMI out. If they have a DVI out just get a DVI->HDMI cable.

I'll recommend this tv:
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-VIERA-TC-P50ST30-50-Inch-Plasma/dp/B004MME77O/

 

[Midwesthonky]

You can connect any modern computer to any modern tv. Any half decent computer will have a DVI or HDMI out. If they have a DVI out just get a DVI->HDMI cable.

I'll recommend this tv:
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-VIERA-TC-P50ST30-50-Inch-Plasma/dp/B004MME77O/

You won't go wrong with the Panasonic. I've my new 65" GT30 for a whole 2 days and it TOTALLY ROCKS!! Even the wife is impressed and I thought that would be impossible... For the price on the 50" ST30 from Panasonic, you can't beat that deal. I read great things about the ST, but I could get the GT from Amazon for less than the big box boys were selling the ST.

 

[FirstReflection]

If you want a good TV, get a Panasonic plasma, IMO. LG's plasmas don't stack up in black level performance, and Samsung's look good at first, but I'm still seeing them develop "phosphor lag", where they start to retain bright images for a brief moment if the scene suddenly switches from bright to dark. It's a nit-pick that a lot of people don't even catch, but it bugs the heck out of me, personally

Panasonic's plasmas are the best looking displays on the market right now. Pretty much every current LCD has a super glossy screen, which makes them utterly useless, IMO. Only Sharp's 70" 700 series is using a matte screen. It's such a weird TV world

Anywho, it makes the choice of a TV these days super easy. Just get a Panasonic plasma. The ST30 series DOES have 3D capability, but absolutely nothing says that you have to use it You get the larger selection of "Viera" web-apps. It is also "Wifi ready" which means that you can buy a separate USB WiFi dongle if you don't want to use the included ethernet port.

The S30 series does away with 3D and costs a bit less. But you also get fewer web-apps (although the biggest ones like Netflix, Amazon OnDemand and Facebook are still there). Still "Wifi ready" for that USB dongle.

The ST30 is better overall. It has a better PDP panel than the S30 series and more features. Since it's under your $1000 price cap, I don't really see any reason to avoid the better ST30 series.

 

[Mkilbride]

Hmm.

900$.

That is...more than I wanted to spend, honestly.

But you know...this isn't something you replace every year, or even every 5. We've had our last one since like 1999, a 32 inch CRT Sharp TV. It still provides awesome picture quality; but I wanted to get a new one.

So yeah, I guess I could go abit more. It ALL really depends though on what my check is tomorrow. I calculated I should have enough, but who really knows?

I might just not get additional speakers like I planned though, at that price. I know you'll all say the default speakers suck, I mean cmon, it's an Audioholic's forum, but they'll make due.

I notice an issue with fluctuating brightness though. Google says it -may- be fixed with a Firmware upgrade, but if not, that'd piss me off to no end. I use a 24'' LCD for my computer, and right after switching to it, I noticed right away how much I disliked it over CRT. CRT tech is just better, except weight wise.

I heard Plasma was a mix between the two, in a sense that it's better than LCD, and close to CRT.


---------

Amazon only has ONE left. All other sites have it "Deactivated"


Google search results in me finding out they aren't making any more of these? That worries me.

 

[jcl]

You can connect any modern computer to any modern tv. Any half decent computer will have a DVI or HDMI out. <snip>]

I have a couple of computers around that only have vga ports. I guess 'old', 'modern' and 'decent' are all relative terms. ;-)

The take away is don't base your TV purchase decision on this. You can get a video card for < $30 with hdmi out.

Panasonic has the st30 in stock for the same price - Panasonic TC-P50ST30 - VIERA 50 Class ST30 Series Plasma HDTV with 3D (49.9 Diag.) - Overview

 

[its phillip]

$900 for a quality 50" tv is too much? Try looking at comparably spec'd lcds and you'll change your mind.

The ST30 is probably just out of stock with the other sellers. My friend bought one just the other day and amazon/sellers would go out of stock one minute and then have it available 15 minutes later.

 

[its phillip]

I have a couple of computers around that only have vga ports. I guess 'old', 'modern' and 'decent' are all relative terms. ;-)

The take away is don't base your TV purchase decision on this. You can get a video card for < $30 with hdmi out.

Very true

 

[jcl]

If you haven't pulled the trigger just noticed on techbargains that TigerDirect has the st30 for $699 after coupon code DSL37489. I might have to get one at that price.

I have a room full of windows though...

 

[its phillip]

Tigerdirect charges for shipping (tax as well for me in tx):
subtotal: 699.99
shipping: 106.90
tax: 66.57
total: 873.46

 

[Mkilbride]

Aw. Yeah, I don't see it on Tiger Direct; but it comes down to about only 30$ cheaper, and it'll take alot longer to get here.

I checked out BestBuy, and my local one has the TV, so I figure I could just buy it there. Transporting it will be a pain; but I started looking at how much it'd be to ship. Free; of course...however I'd have to wait til January 7th for it to be delivered, even if I ordered now.

Surely can't get it in my trunk, guess I'd have to tie it to the roof...which is iffy with such an expensive TV.

Amazon is 7-10 shipping as well...

Ahhhh.


Sides, TD has full price:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=147065&Sku=P333-5034

 

[its phillip]

Pricing is very fluid online. When I checked earlier, it was $899.99 before coupon.

 

[Mkilbride]

Check was a little less than I was expecting. Bout 800$. 100$ away...

Some **** about roll-over fridays due to working the night shift. HOpefully this stuff stays on sale.

 

[jcl]

The TigerDirect sale didn't last long, I checked in the evening and it was over. Today they are out of stock.

I hate Amazon for changing their prices on a regular basis too. I like to run expensive purchases by the wife and it doesn't go over so well when the price has jumped a few hundred dollars.

In the end this might work out better for you. Join Club Panasonic. After you login the club price at Panasonic TC-P50ST30 - VIERA 50 Class ST30 Series Plasma HDTV with 3D (49.9 Diag.) - Overview is $705 with $59 tax and free shipping, for a total of 763.28.

 

[cpp]

Panasonic's plasmas all the way. Just go to Uhaul rent a little truck for $19.95 plus .49 a mile.

 

[Mkilbride]

The TigerDirect sale didn't last long, I checked in the evening and it was over. Today they are out of stock.

I hate Amazon for changing their prices on a regular basis too. I like to run expensive purchases by the wife and it doesn't go over so well when the price has jumped a few hundred dollars.

In the end this might work out better for you. Join Club Panasonic. After you login the club price at Panasonic TC-P50ST30 - VIERA 50 Class ST30 Series Plasma HDTV with 3D (49.9 Diag.) - Overview is $705 with $59 tax and free shipping, for a total of 763.28.

Hrm.

What does joining the club entail? Some fee?

 

[jcl]

No Fee. Just signing up on a marketing list. Panasonic is a reputable company and their marketing emails have an unsubscribe link so you can opt out whenever you like (such as after buying the tv you want at discount....)

 

[Mkilbride]

No Fee. Just signing up on a marketing list. Panasonic is a reputable company and their marketing emails have an unsubscribe link so you can opt out whenever you like (such as after buying the tv you want at discount....)

So how do I join?

I signed up on their website. 836$. 60$ cheaper than BestBuy. Still about 60$ off.

Takes 2-4 days to ship...then what is the shipping wait? 7-10 days?

So I wait 9-14 days or so for it to arrive???

 

[jcl]

I tried to find shipping times on the Panny site but came up empty. I don't know how long it would take to ship to your location. You could email or call to see if they'll give you an estimate.

I guess you'll have to weigh cost savings vs. the wait. Sometimes instant gratification is worth a little more money.