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SiMBa37

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jul 5, 2010
235
0
New York
I'm about to move in my new house, and I am looking for a thin 47" LED TV to complete my family room. There are some decent sales this weekend.

BUT... I keep thinking what if Apple finally releases there long rumored iTV?

That being said, the Apple TV set top box looks like its getting a refresh. I can't imagine that Apple's long awaited answer to the living room would neglect people that are not looking to purchase a whole new Apple branded television set.

Should I go ahead and get a TV (probably a Samsung or LG) or wait for this mythical device?
 

phas3

macrumors 65816
Oct 5, 2008
1,131
22
I say get a plasma! More screen for your money and better picture quality
 

ljonesj

macrumors 6502a
Oct 20, 2009
945
63
Kingsport TN
well i've seen plasma and for the cost and longevity lcd are way better tv's picture quality and not having to replace bulbs when they go out. new bulbs every three years and i replaced a bulb in a friends and within a month the plasma died one of the circuit boards went out and to get it fixed the friend had to pay 400 he was able for that cost get a 42in led 1080p at that price
 

OmegaRed1723

macrumors 6502
Jun 19, 2009
324
160
The Waste
well i've seen plasma and for the cost and longevity lcd are way better tv's picture quality and not having to replace bulbs when they go out. new bulbs every three years and i replaced a bulb in a friends and within a month the plasma died one of the circuit boards went out and to get it fixed the friend had to pay 400 he was able for that cost get a 42in led 1080p at that price

You may be thinking of DLP projection tvs, which require semi-regular lamp replacements. Plasma sets don't use lamps.
 

pilot1226

macrumors 6502a
Mar 18, 2010
601
15
USA
I'm about to move in my new house, and I am looking for a thin 47" LED TV to complete my family room. There are some decent sales this weekend.

BUT... I keep thinking what if Apple finally releases there long rumored iTV?

That being said, the Apple TV set top box looks like its getting a refresh. I can't imagine that Apple's long awaited answer to the living room would neglect people that are not looking to purchase a whole new Apple branded television set.

Should I go ahead and get a TV (probably a Samsung or LG) or wait for this mythical device?

I'd wait and see. I personally have a 2 year old led Samsung tv that works fine. The power usage on the led is so low that I'm willing to argue it pays for itself compared to a plasma.
 

Mr. McMac

Suspended
Dec 21, 2009
2,968
363
Far away from liberals
Plasma's have better contrast, color, and viewing angle then an LCD. One problem, I'm one of the few people that see plasma flicker. It's almost like an old CRT monitor refreshing at 60hz, but not nearly as bad. Still noticeable to me especially on bright scenes.
 

class77

macrumors 6502a
Nov 16, 2010
831
92
I wouldn't wait. I don't think a "real" Apple TV is possible for at least another year
 

jwm2

macrumors regular
Jan 5, 2012
231
0
Many plasmas also start at 600hz refresh rate, for me thats a big deal. I paid extra to get 120hz to reduce the fuzziness of moving objects onscreen. I wouldn't think of getting a set with less than 240hz refresh rate at this point.
 

phas3

macrumors 65816
Oct 5, 2008
1,131
22
it must be me but ive seen plasma's in the stores along side a led lcd and the lcd seems liek to have a better picture

that's because LCD's are brighter but if you look closely reds are pinks on LCDs/LED. Plus the models in stores aren't fully calibrated, if both sets were fully calibrated the Plasma will have better picture quality.
 

Purakane

macrumors newbie
Aug 27, 2011
11
0
Get a Panasonic plasma. Mines been running for 6 years now no problem.
I also have a 70" sharp led tv but the color quality is **** compared to my Panasonic. whatever u do don't get a 3d tv as new glassless ones are coming out soon.

Get the tv then sell it on Craigslist once the apple tv comes out if ever.
 

StinDaWg

macrumors 6502
Apr 5, 2012
295
0
whatever u do don't get a 3d tv as new glassless ones are coming out soon.

Glassless free 3D is still several years away from mass market. There are only a few prototypes right now. 3D is a fail anyways. Pretty much every decent set comes with 3D built in whether you want it or not so you can't really avoid it.

+1 on the Panasonic plasma. You really shouldn't even be looking at anything else right now. The picture quality/price ratio is off the charts.
 

Purakane

macrumors newbie
Aug 27, 2011
11
0
Glassless free 3D is still several years away from mass market. There are only a few prototypes right now. 3D is a fail anyways. Pretty much every decent set comes with 3D built in whether you want it or not so you can't really avoid it.

+1 on the Panasonic plasma. You really shouldn't even be looking at anything else right now. The picture quality/price ratio is off the charts.

What are you talking about 3d is not a fail!! Have you ever smoked weed then watched (active not passive) 3d porn. OMFG. Gives ghosting a whole different meaning =D
 

whooleytoo

macrumors 604
Aug 2, 2002
6,607
716
Cork, Ireland.
Get a Panasonic plasma. Mines been running for 6 years now no problem.
I also have a 70" sharp led tv but the color quality is **** compared to my Panasonic. whatever u do don't get a 3d tv as new glassless ones are coming out soon.

Get the tv then sell it on Craigslist once the apple tv comes out if ever.

Bought a Panasonic plasma a few months ago (with 3D, since the extra cost was negligible and included 2 pairs of glasses), and am hugely happy with it. Great colours, contrast, and very smooth motion. Love it. Wish I'd bought bigger now, but that was always going to happen!

Glassless free 3D is still several years away from mass market. There are only a few prototypes right now. 3D is a fail anyways. Pretty much every decent set comes with 3D built in whether you want it or not so you can't really avoid it.

+1 on the Panasonic plasma. You really shouldn't even be looking at anything else right now. The picture quality/price ratio is off the charts.

Glassless 3D TVs are already on sale (Toshiba ZL2 is the first I found), and it generally doesn't take too long to trickle down to the mass market.

What are you talking about 3d is not a fail!! Have you ever smoked weed then watched (active not passive) 3d porn. OMFG. Gives ghosting a whole different meaning =D

Errr.... I don't really want to say "+1". But... cough... +1!!!
 

CylonGlitch

macrumors 68030
Jul 7, 2009
2,956
268
Nashville
I picked up the last generation 50" Pioneer Elite Plasma. Holy **** that thing looks beautiful! I also have a 60" Samsung LED and it looks good, but not great. Plasmas just look so much better and are much more fluid than the LED's.
 

Moonjumper

macrumors 68030
Jun 20, 2009
2,740
2,908
Lincoln, UK
If I was waiting for a TV, it would be a wait for OLED. An Apple TV may or may not be coming, OLED definitely is with LG and Samsung saying they will release sets this years, and Panasonic promising to not be far behind.
 

lowonthe456

macrumors 6502
Oct 27, 2007
438
0
well i've seen plasma and for the cost and longevity lcd are way better tv's picture quality and not having to replace bulbs when they go out. new bulbs every three years and i replaced a bulb in a friends and within a month the plasma died one of the circuit boards went out and to get it fixed the friend had to pay 400 he was able for that cost get a 42in led 1080p at that price

My 720 plasma is 6 years old. Heavy as hell but still going. Later this year I may pick up another or I may wait for the iTV. My only complaint about the plasma is heat. When its 115 outside and my AC is cranking, it doesnt help the TV is throwing heavy heat.

----------

I picked up the last generation 50" Pioneer Elite Plasma. Holy **** that thing looks beautiful! I also have a 60" Samsung LED and it looks good, but not great. Plasmas just look so much better and are much more fluid than the LED's.

this
 

Rideherhard

macrumors 6502
Aug 2, 2010
338
9
how are you guys finding the new plasmas in bright rooms with a lot of sun? I know this was a big issue, is it still?.
 

Otago Lad

macrumors regular
Mar 22, 2011
104
10
New Zealand
how are you guys finding the new plasmas in bright rooms with a lot of sun? I know this was a big issue, is it still?.

I have sun hitting the screen from the side and have no problems with it - mine is a Panasonic VT30 55 inch - best tv I've ever had or tested and can't wait to get one of this year's 65 inch models for the games room.
 

Irishman

macrumors 68040
Nov 2, 2006
3,388
842
If I was waiting for a TV, it would be a wait for OLED. An Apple TV may or may not be coming, OLED definitely is with LG and Samsung saying they will release sets this years, and Panasonic promising to not be far behind.

Yes, but do you know how much that planned LG 55" OLED will go for?

$8,000 MSRP. You want to wait that to come down from the price only bleeding edge early-adopters will pay? Count years, if not decades.

----------

I picked up the last generation 50" Pioneer Elite Plasma. Holy **** that thing looks beautiful! I also have a 60" Samsung LED and it looks good, but not great. Plasmas just look so much better and are much more fluid than the LED's.

+1000 on the 9G KURO Elite! Wouldn't trade any current TV for it.

Maybe the new VT50, if the 24p playback is right, dithering at a minimum, the color is as good as the ST50, and the black levels as good as my KURO.

----------

how are you guys finding the new plasmas in bright rooms with a lot of sun? I know this was a big issue, is it still?.

Certainly can be. But then, so can it be on a lot of the new LED-LCD sets, due to very reflective screen materials.
 
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