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Answer Best answer as chosen by user TXMommy

Panasonic or LG

by americano82 - 7/18/12 1:58 AM

In Reply to: Please help, confused about TVs by TXMommy

If you want to stick with a plasma, I would recommend a 55" Panasonic ST30. Panasonics generally make great plasma screens. Or if you want to try out something new, look into the LG LM6200. It has Google TV integrated into it! It's a smart TV, so you'll be able to download applications or stream movies, etc. I think the kids would have a blast with it.

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Why not buy the latest model?

by Pepe7 - 7/19/12 10:11 AM

In Reply to: Panasonic or LG by americano82

There is some improvement in PQ between the ST30 and ST50, FWIW. I believe some of the other bugs were worked out too with the firmware. It's likely that a 50" ST50 would still work with the OP's budget too.

-Pedro

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Answer Best answer as chosen by user TXMommy

HDTV

by daleadjfan - 7/21/12 4:45 AM

In Reply to: Please help, confused about TVs by TXMommy

I recently bought the Panasonic P50ST50 plasma and I can tell you it is awesome. Right out of the box the picture was simply perfect. I bought the Disney WOW disk for calibration, but that was just for my own piece of mind. I bought mine at Amazon for $1100.

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Answer Best answer as chosen by user TXMommy

Best choice

by mrpaul - 7/21/12 6:31 AM

In Reply to: Please help, confused about TVs by TXMommy

First of all, if you want a very good picture without a premium price, the Panasonic ST-50 is a great choice. Too ensure you get the best picture, connect from your cable box with a quality HDMI cable. It transfers audio and video digitally with one cable. Secondly, for the first 100-150 hours, to properly "break-in" your new tv, run it in the lowest picture setting (normally either movie or standard). While you will not really enjoy the picture quality at this setting, this allows the phosphors inside the pixels to coat evenly in the pixels. You can also run the tv 24/7 in this setting for 5 days to achieve the break in. Do not run the tv on "vivid" since that is too intense a setting and it really alters the purity of the colors. If you want an even better picture quality, move up to the GT series, but the ST is really a very good buy.

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Playing the devil's advocate

by Pepe7 - 7/21/12 7:10 AM

In Reply to: Best choice by mrpaul

What constitutes a 'quality' HDMI cable?

Understand, there are plenty of newbies posting here. How about a specific recommendation or two?

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"Quality" HDMI cable?

by JimWolfNW - 7/21/12 3:07 PM

In Reply to: Playing the devil's advocate by Pepe7

A "quality" cable is one that works.

Rule #1: don't let yourself get ripped off by Monster Cable or any salesman. If you pay more than $10 for an HDMI cable, they're stealing your money.

I buy all my cables, of every type you can imagine for all kinds of devices, from monoprice.com - the quality is excellent and they just work at a very, very low price. Have never received a bad product from them; highly recommended. HDMI cables there vary in price from about $5-10 depending on length and they work great.

They're also very good at having a wide range of "weird" cables for old hardware and to adapt from one interface to another.

I also started buying aftermarket unbranded toner carts for my little Samsung laser printer from them as well; they also work fine at about half the price of a Samsung-branded cartridge.

No, I don't work for them; just a longtime satisfied customer.

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Over the years

by itsdigger - 7/21/12 3:14 PM

In Reply to: "Quality" HDMI cable? by JimWolfNW

I've purchased some assorted cables at Radio Shack and soon will be purchasing a new tv, has anyone tried out their HDMI cables?

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Radio Shack cables

by JimWolfNW - 7/21/12 3:46 PM

In Reply to: Over the years by itsdigger

RS's cables are fine, ok in a pinch if you need one in a hurry. They're just too expensive relative to Monoprice and other online sources.

I don't think you can find a really bad cable these days (unless a particular one is just defective) because good cables are very inexpensive - there's no room in the market anymore for junk. Lucky us!

I can't believe Monster Cable is even still in business; everything they make is vastly overpriced and no better than the inexpensive products that do the job just as well. Guess people like getting taken to the gold-plated cleaners.

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There's plenty of junk on fleabay & amazon

by Pepe7 - 7/23/12 8:23 AM

In Reply to: Radio Shack cables by JimWolfNW

You still have to use a little common sense IME. Buying the $3 HDMI cable on fleabay isn't always the best solution to save $7.

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Agreed

by Pepe7 - 7/23/12 8:22 AM

In Reply to: "Quality" HDMI cable? by JimWolfNW

I was just prodding you to be more specific with the newbies .

My preferences are for Monoprice, Amazon basic and Blujeans cable for HDMI.

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