I'm not very knowledgeable about HDTVs, so...

[mikey23545]

Does this look like a decent one? What specs are most important, anyway?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4529485

Walmart has it for $1497:

Item Description

Treat yourself to a giant high definition screen for a non-giant price. You get an impressive 42" plasma display in the widescreen (16:9) ratio; better yet, the built-in ATSC tuner delivers high definition (HD) broadcasts without the need for a separate set-top box. Detachable feet allow wall mounting for a sleek, custom install look.

Your BIG picture deserves BIG sound. Select any of our Surround Sound Systems to complete your ultimate home theater.

Note: Don't forget to get the cables and other accessories for your new TV.

* 42" Widescreen Plasma
* 16:9 Aspect Ratio
* Native Panel Resolution: 1024 x 768 pixels(WXGA)
* Wide Viewing Angles:160+ H x 160+ V Degrees
* Screen Saver feature to prevent burn in!
* Integrated Digital ATSC + Analog NTSC Tuners
* 181 Analog / 99 Digital RF channels
* Receives ATSC signal formats (including 480i/p, 720p and 1080i)
* 3D-YC Digital Comb Filter
* MTS/SAP Stereo & Digital Audio
* Two 6 x 12 cm speakers
* Picture Shapes: 1-4 (w/remote control PIX Shape Key)
* Picture/Sound Selections: Auto/Manual w/Tone
* XDS-Extended data Service capability
* V-Guide Parental Control
* Trilingual Menus: English, Spanish, French
* Closed Caption Compliant: NTSC-608, ATSC-708CC
* Sleep Timer: 1/2 - 3 hours
* Auto Channel Search
* HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) input
* 2 Component (Y-Pb-Pr with R/L audio) inputs
* 1 S-Video Input (overides composite input)
* 1 Composite Input (V,L/R)
* 1 Optical Digital AUdio Output
* 1 Fixed Analog Audio Out (R/L)
* 1 ATSC-Digital RF Input (75ohm)
* 1 NTSC-Analog RF Input ( 75ohm-UHF/VHF/CATV)
* Detachable Bipedal Stand / Wall Mountable (with optional kit not supplied)
* Dimensions w/stand: 47.5"W x 28.2"H x 9.8"D, 84.1 lbs

[ChiefsFanatic]

Does this look like a decent one? What specs are most important, anyway?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4529485

Walmart has it for $1497:

Item Description

Treat yourself to a giant high definition screen for a non-giant price. You get an impressive 42" plasma display in the widescreen (16:9) ratio; better yet, the built-in ATSC tuner delivers high definition (HD) broadcasts without the need for a separate set-top box. Detachable feet allow wall mounting for a sleek, custom install look.

Your BIG picture deserves BIG sound. Select any of our Surround Sound Systems to complete your ultimate home theater.

Note: Don't forget to get the cables and other accessories for your new TV.

* 42" Widescreen Plasma
* 16:9 Aspect Ratio
* Native Panel Resolution: 1024 x 768 pixels(WXGA)
* Wide Viewing Angles:160+ H x 160+ V Degrees
* Screen Saver feature to prevent burn in!
* Integrated Digital ATSC + Analog NTSC Tuners
* 181 Analog / 99 Digital RF channels
* Receives ATSC signal formats (including 480i/p, 720p and 1080i)
* 3D-YC Digital Comb Filter
* MTS/SAP Stereo & Digital Audio
* Two 6 x 12 cm speakers
* Picture Shapes: 1-4 (w/remote control PIX Shape Key)
* Picture/Sound Selections: Auto/Manual w/Tone
* XDS-Extended data Service capability
* V-Guide Parental Control
* Trilingual Menus: English, Spanish, French
* Closed Caption Compliant: NTSC-608, ATSC-708CC
* Sleep Timer: 1/2 - 3 hours
* Auto Channel Search
* HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) input
* 2 Component (Y-Pb-Pr with R/L audio) inputs
* 1 S-Video Input (overides composite input)
* 1 Composite Input (V,L/R)
* 1 Optical Digital AUdio Output
* 1 Fixed Analog Audio Out (R/L)
* 1 ATSC-Digital RF Input (75ohm)
* 1 NTSC-Analog RF Input ( 75ohm-UHF/VHF/CATV)
* Detachable Bipedal Stand / Wall Mountable (with optional kit not supplied)
* Dimensions w/stand: 47.5"W x 28.2"H x 9.8"D, 84.1 lbs


Go to Onecall (http://www.onecall.com/) and sort through projection hdtv's. I bought my Samsung 50" from them and the service was top notch, and the TV arrived in perfect condition.

[Vegas_Dave]

Just understand that Plasmas do not have the life of LCD or DLP screens. Plasmas give the better picture but do not last as long.

[mikey23545]

Go to Onecall (http://www.onecall.com/) and sort through projection hdtv's. I bought my Samsung 50" from them and the service was top notch, and the TV arrived in perfect condition.

Thanks for the advice and link, Fanatic...I'm afraid our living room may be a little too small for a projection tv....I guess if the existing entertainment center was taken out, the tv might not take up too much more than it did...But then I would worry about viewing angles from the sides of this small living room.

[mikey23545]

Just understand that Plasmas do not have the life of LCD or DLP screens. Plasmas give the better picture but do not last as long.

Thanks for the info, Dave...That is something I did not know..What kind of average life span are we talking about?

[Lzen]

Here are a couple recent threads on the topic.

http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=141737

http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=141835

Also, popluar mechanics have had a lot of good articles about them over the past few years.

Try searching their website.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/

[mikey23545]

Thanks, Lzen!

[ChiefsfaninPA]

There is a 50" plasma being sold at Sam's for 1800. It is made by a company I never heard of(who would've thought that Sam or Walmart would provide foreign goods?) but I passed on it just because of the lifespan of plasma's. But if the prices keep going down I guess I could consider them "disposable". Only in America can we consider a TV disposable.

[Miles]

Thanks for the info, Dave...That is something I did not know..What kind of average life span are we talking about?


Most modern plasmas have about 60,000 hours of life on them before they can only display something half as bright which is longer than a standard CRT tube. It wasn't that big of a deal with the early plasmas and is now a non-issue.

[jAZ]

Only in America can we consider a(n $1800) TV disposable.