How much will the sales affect cheap 42" TV's

[pembo]

I know you guys are really in to your decent TV's so I would like some advice, I generally end up watching films in my bedroom on a laptop and don't watch TV much, I occasionally play games which is where a bigger TV might come in handy.

At the moment I have a 26" and it looks tiny in the corner of my lounge in my new flat, which is quite large, so now that it's started to go a little fuzzy I'll get myself a 42"

Now as I don't use it very much I really can't justify spending a great deal and the costs of moving have already mounted up so I'm looking to get the cheapest I can find.

I just looked on the Dixons website and they have a few for between £360 and £400 from LG and Samsung, would these go much cheaper in the next month?

They are:
LG:
42LD450
42PJ550
42PJ350

Samsung PS42C450B

Sorry it's a long post but it really does confuse me.

[PJ S]

Hate sounding like a broken record, but Panasonic 42X20, or S20 if you need Full HD for 1080p movies/native rendered games, and will be sat the recommended distance from it to see the benefit of the 360 extra lines of resolution.

[pembo]

I have no idea what any of that means (I'd rather say that here than in in a shop), I don't really notice the difference, a friend has what is supposed to be a very good LCD TV but no matter what he tries to point out I just don't get it.

As long as I can see where I'm shooting on COD (I can't on my TV at the moment, it's all guess work) I'll be happy and I'm not bothered about intricate details.

I'm only 25 but not really technically savvy, I had no TV for 2 years at uni then a 4" (yes that's right) black and white for a year after that before my current TV so I guess anything will be a big leap but I still want a decent deal.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, I'm completely lost and would like to stick as close to budget as possible. Is the Panasonic really that good?

[PJ S]

To put it in a context you might appreciate - LCD vs Plasma:

0-60 sprint - Plasma wins
Max speed - LCD wins
Handling - Plasma wins
Comfort - Plasma wins

In other words, except for max brightness (only a concern if room is flooded with sunlight and falling directly onto the TV), Plasma switches from light to dark pixel state quicker, handles motion better, and is more sympathetic to poorer signals (of minimal concern if you don't watch much broadcast TV, although you might do with a decent display!)

So for your limited need/usage, the Plasma Panasonics mentioned are still the ones to go for.

X20 is HD Ready, so with most stuff in HD (broadcasts/games) being a 720p signal, then unless you watch a lot of Blu-Ray movies, at the 1080p signal level (Full HD), and sit close enough for your eyes to be able to differentiate the difference in the two resolutions, you won't have any need for a Full HD TV, irrespective of price.

LCD is cheaper to produce than Plasma, so partially explains the reason some brands can punt them out for the price they do.

Signal wise - standard definition (regular broadcasts and DVD) would be akin to say budget/long distance tyres, 720p HD would be all-season type, and 1080p the summer type tyre that sticks to the road like you know what.
Of course, if you haven't the chassis underneath you, they're a bit pointless - viewing distance analogy, where to see the benefits, you need to sit closer than for 720p and 540i (SD).

So, long post short - yes, the Panasonic will be highly appreciated, even if just for fragging the b'stards in COD BO, or driving them off the circuits in Forza 3.

[headcase]

pembo said:

I have no idea what any of that means (I'd rather say that here than in in a shop), I don't really notice the difference, a friend has what is supposed to be a very good LCD TV but no matter what he tries to point out I just don't get it.

As long as I can see where I'm shooting on COD (I can't on my TV at the moment, it's all guess work) I'll be happy and I'm not bothered about intricate details.

I'm only 25 but not really technically savvy, I had no TV for 2 years at uni then a 4" (yes that's right) black and white for a year after that before my current TV so I guess anything will be a big leap but I still want a decent deal.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, I'm completely lost and would like to stick as close to budget as possible. Is the Panasonic really that good?

If you cant see the difference than you are wasting your money, just get yourself a cheepo samsung and you will be happy with it.

[pembo]

Cheers for the well explained post, I think I'll see if I can take a look at the Panasonic next to one of the LG's then but it seems I can get the Panasonic for £420 which is quite close to budget and only about £40 more than the LG anyway (I'll just have to drink less this weekend).

No chance I could get it any cheaper?

[pembo]

I don't know what I found last night but it appears it wasn't the Panasonic for £420 and if it was it's not there now. oops

[thetapeworm]

I think you are more likely to be invited to "get in before the VAT increase" than for there to be any huge savings on offer.

[PJ S]

pembo said:

I don't know what I found last night but it appears it wasn't the Panasonic for £420 and if it was it's not there now. oops

Dixons & Amazon are showing it for that price via Kelkoo - the 42X20 that is.

Dont think there's much room in those prices to go down, at least not until Panasonic start shipping the X30 or however the successor will be known.
Even then, Panasonic manage the stock availability, and unless a particular reseller is sitting on a big stockpile, and wants them gone to make way for the incoming new model, prices won't change dramatically in the intervening months.
So you might as well buy it now, and enjoy the use of it.

Edited by PJ S on Thursday 2nd December 12:17

[sprouting]

Have a look at the Richer sounds clearance offers, sounds like just what your after.

http://www.richersounds.com/showclearanceproduct/L...

[okgo]

thetapeworm said:

I think you are more likely to be invited to "get in before the VAT increase" than for there to be any huge savings on offer.

You are joking aren't you?

He's talking about TV's, one of the most heavily discounted items that thousands of people buy in January every year.

[pembo]

sprouting said:

Have a look at the Richer sounds clearance offers, sounds like just what your after.

http://www.richersounds.com/showclearanceproduct/L...

Cheers for that, that's exactly what I'm after. Weather says Maidstone is out at the moment but I might consider a trip to Cambridge or Romford at the weekend if they have anything worth looking at there.