Looks like I may be joining the HD crowd.

[Clstrphbc_donut]

At work today, got offered a 42" LG Plasma TV normally costing £999.99 for £650. I don't know the exact model number but will find out.

Room may be a bit small for a 42" but I'm not bothered, I want it.

Let's just hope I can get credit at my own work!

[bigblue]

Originally Posted by Clstrphbc_donut

...Room may be a bit small for a 42"...

No such thing as too small a room In all seriousness, you'll probably be fine, especially if you're planning on feeding HD sources into it.

It's amazing how quickly you get used to screen sizes.

Enjoy !

[toolsong]

42" is pretty good for when you're watching a movie at the cinema aspect ratio of 1:2.35 (or whatever it is) so there will be black bars top and bottom on a 16:9 panel

[dangel]

I keep considering a 50" and i'd only be er.. 4-5 metres away. Wife not impressed to say the least..

I think 42" is a good size for most rooms.

[Clstrphbc_donut]

It's an LG 42PC1DA.

http://uk.lge.com/prodmodeldetail.do...&model=NOTHING

[Clstrphbc_donut]

Originally Posted by dangel

I keep considering a 50" and i'd only be er.. 4-5 metres away. Wife not impressed to say the least..

I think 42" is a good size for most rooms.

I will be approx 2 metres away, eyes-to-screen.

Gonna see if I can get credit at work when I get paid and throw an XBox 360 into the mix while I'm at it. Should take it to about £950 then gonna try to sweet-talk my boss (who has only just started to think I work well) into giving me 10% off that aswell....

You don't get anywhere without being cheeky.

[GeorgeTuk]

Whats 2 metres in ft and inches? I sit about 7ft from my 37" LCD and it looks damn good too me but then I never have been a details man.

[Clstrphbc_donut]

Originally Posted by GeorgeTuk

Whats 2 metres in ft and inches? I sit about 7ft from my 37" LCD and it looks damn good too me but then I never have been a details man.

I'm 6ft 2 inches.

if i lay down, my head where it usually is, and my feet aimed at the tv, my toes wouldnt touch the TV.

or for an easier explanation...

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en...+in+feet&meta=

6.5 feet rounded up.

[bigblue]

Hmmm, that is pretty close for a 42"

I'm sure you've already tried standing 2m away from it in work anyway !

You'll be fine with HD sources but SD might not fare so well from that close.

[5lab]

hmm. dodgy specs there - they claim 2 different resolutions, and plasmas can only do one. i *STRONGLY* suspect it will have a 1024x768 panel (as i'm yet to see a 42" plasma panel with better) - in which case ITS NOT PROPPER HD. the picture may look good but its not got enough horizontal pixels - 1024 is less than 1280, which is what 720p runs in. get a GOOD 32/37" lcd instead..

[bigblue]

I disagree... well about getting an LCD anyway Though I would rather have a good 1024x768 rectangularpixelvision than most LCD's

However, if there's going to be a lot of gaming and static images and you're not terribly careful with your gear, going LCD is a good bet.

[Clstrphbc_donut]

Originally Posted by 5lab

hmm. dodgy specs there - they claim 2 different resolutions, and plasmas can only do one. i *STRONGLY* suspect it will have a 1024x768 panel (as i'm yet to see a 42" plasma panel with better) - in which case ITS NOT PROPPER HD. the picture may look good but its not got enough horizontal pixels - 1024 is less than 1280, which is what 720p runs in. get a GOOD 32/37" lcd instead..

There's a 37" Philips for less than the LG?

[bigblue]

Can you not hook up a 360 to each of them, have a play with them and see which your eyes prefer ?

[Clstrphbc_donut]

Originally Posted by bigblue

Can you not hook up a 360 to each of them, have a play with them and see which your eyes prefer ?

I've asked one of the TV salesmen at work and 5lab is right.

The 42" LG Plasma does not run true HD, and he says LG's are prone to failure.

The 37" Philips on the other hand, is an LCD and he said "I'd pay £200 more for the Philips than the LG even though the LG has 5 more inches of screen and costs more."

That's settled then, 42" Plasma --> 37" LCD

The Philips is £100 less too.

[bigblue]

Yeah, there's many a screaming argument raging elsewhere about whether 1024x768 is a HD resolution Technically it qualifies as "HD ready" as all you require for that badge is a x720 resolution. But then you could argue that the whole HD ready standard is quite self serving as many of the manufacturers were involved in setting it

You won't really get a 42" 1366x768 panel unless you wait a month or two and then spend a bit more money.

Glad you've got something sorted but make sure you have a look at the Philips yourself from the distance you'll be viewing from. I guess you're getting staff discount (jammy sod !) but a Philips 37" LCD for £599 sounds a pretty damn good deal.

I'm just a wee bit sceptical about all LCD's because I've been willing to spend a fair bit of dosh on one and haven't yet found one that can match a plasma on PQ (even one with rectangular pixels and scaling )

Anyway, good luck with it and I hope you have many happy hours staring at it

[Howard]

It's not HD, plain and simple. Get a decent LCD, plasmas are crap. Decent LCDs are more than a match for them in terms of PQ, and you get higher resolutions and less chance of screen burn to boot