delete

I'm taking my Gameucbe up to Best Buy today to test a few TVs.. the Westinghouse and Samsung are my two choices as well. I'm leaning more towards the Samsung though.. looking over all the pros/cons between LCD and PDP, PDP makes more sense to me (the only real con that has is the big bad burn-in boogie monster). Ultimately, I think whichever set handles the SD/ED signal I'm going to send to it tonight will be my choice as that's going to be what I'll still be using the most of for some time.. I'm sure both handle HD beautifully and I don't think 1080p is a HUGE selling point for me at this time.

Oh, if I choose the Samsung (very likely) I'll be heading to Sam's to grab the S-4233.. it's a couple hundred cheaper and has a matte finish over the shitty gloss finish of the S-5233. I think the only other difference is that the S-5233 has some added "anti-glare" feature. Plus, at Sam's I've got a hell of a return policy to ease my near $1500 concerns.

The best rated plasma in your price range is the 42" Panasonic TH-42PX60U. Well, it's a bit out of your range *today*, but the prices have been up and down on it at both BB and CC. So, if you give it a few days it could well be back down. Also, you could order it from walmart.com for about $1,440 with shipping.

BTW, right now CC's web site is showing it at $1599.99 with free in home delivery AND there is a coupon (code GPAG8FDAF7) to save $150 on "select" TVs which might bring it down to $1450 too.

delete

If they were all priced the same, I'd probably go with the 42w2 to get the 1080p... it's gotten good reviews too. Given that they aren't, and that there isn't really much feed the set at 1080p right now anyway, I'd probably take a long hard look at the W4207. The few reports that I've seen on it say pretty good things, and the $400 savings is pretty significant.

delete

Okay, I took my Gamecube to Best Buy last night to test a couple of TVs. First I tried a Samsung plasma xx73 set.. I can't remember if it was the 42 or 50 inch.. but it should be the same screen as the xx53 you're looking at and the xx33 I'm looking at. The other TV I tested was the 1080p Westinghouse. I tested a 480p (F-Zero GX) game and a 480i (Tales of Symphonia) game. The Samsung really blew me away.. while the Westinghouse really disappointed. The colors on the LCD were muddy and the softness of scaling the image to its native resolution was pretty apparent. Everything was vibrant on the plasma, and yes.. going from the plasma to the LCD you REALLY see the difference in the blacks.

Oh, just so you know.. for every post I've seen recommending the Panasonic over the Samsung, I've seen the opposite.. several reviews of the Samsung 4253 I've seen said they were after the Panasonic due to internet suggestions and switched after seeing it side-by-side to the Samsung. Most of them note that the Panasonic gives a "plastic" look to everything. So.. I'd say go for one of the PDPs but look at them both for yourself and decide which one works for you.

Me, I'm going with the Samsung.

Yup, the setup is likely the problem. The default settings on many sets, not just the Panasonic, are wildly different than what they should be to present an accurate picture. Essentially anything you buy will need some type of tweaking to get things right.

As for experience with these, I've got the Panasonic and one of my best friends has the Westinghouse 1080p. When I was shopping I also directly compared both to the Samsung. IMO, each of the options being discussed has strengths and weaknesses.

*The Panny is most expensive of these, but almost always the highest rated overall.

*Both the plasmas can have reflection issues when used in a bright room, while the LCDs don't have this problem.

*The colors and black/contrast levels are going to be better on the plasmas.

*The 42w2 is the only set to offer 1080p, which might be useful in the long run.

*The W4207 has a bargain price and, assuming it lives up to the other recent Westinghouse products, should rate pretty good.

*If you're wanting to use it as a computer monitor too, then the LCDs will almost certainly look better due to their resolution.

*The plasmas each have a built in TV tuner, the LCDs don't (though you still may need an external tuner to get hidef content).

So, I wasn't discounting the Samsung. It's a nice set too, and IMO has a much more attractive design. I'd just pay the extra $40 to get the Panasonic instead. Assuming that price is a big issue, then I suspect that you would be pretty pleased with the W4207 though.

Even tho I have not been looking at flat panels that Panasonic 42" plasma is looking very, very good.

I really wanted a 46" sized set, so as these 1080p start dropping in price I was hoping on picking up that 46" 720p Westy, but so far it is staying in the $1,600-$1,900 range.

If I were to get a 42" I think that Panny would be the top of my list. And if you look carefully you can pick up the commercial version for a little less. But you would likely have to add a digital connection at least (and possibly stand & speakers) which would then get above that general budget.

Best Buy has posted on their web site that the 42" Panasonic TH-42PX60U will be a Black Friday special at $999!

There is also a thread or two over at fatwallet about how the system is "messing up" and you can get it now for about that price and less!. I'm very tempted.

I have been reading a lot about this TV. It is very high rated, evidently it is considered the best Pic for anywhere near the money right now.

"Messing up" at BB or somewhere else? Does it involve rebates or anything?

I really don't need another 42" plasma, but if I could get one under $999 I might do it anyway!

People are going about it in different ways, but here is essentially what is going on (I have not tried this myself, but if I have sometime this afternoon or tomorrow I will).

1st - instore price at BB is $1,599 so you need to price match to somewhere else (CC is good, but so might be Walmart or CompUSA - all three have it at $1,299). So now the price is $1,299
2nd - buy install delivery package of up to $200 (any combination)
3rd - buy a direct TV HD receiver for $99

When all three are rung up the system is giving a $600 discount. Now, there is a BB link and talk that it should be a $400 discount, but it is kicking out a $600 discount. So $1,300+200+100 = $1,600 - $600 discount = $1,000 + tax OTD. However the real kicker is, there is a seperate Panasonic $200 rebate that covers deliver/install up to $200 (found at the Panny web site). So if the $200 rebate comes thru you get everything for $800. No one has reported be required to sign up for Direct TV, and you can use the receiver for OTA HD.

If you go over to fatwallet there is a lot more detail. And people are doing different combinations. Some are even returning different parts later on. I really wanted a little bigger set, but for that price I might pick one up and see if it works well in the living room. If not, find a place for it in my bar

edit: the "mess up" part is the extra instant $200 off. As mentioned, everyone new about the instant $400 off on the package, but the system is kicking out $600 off and no one has figured out why. Tho now that there is an instant $600 off on BF, maybe the system is just doing that now???

Thanks! I'm off to read that thread.

Circuit city is planning on having the 42" plasma panasonic for $999.00. -----maybe its Best buy...

I saw it ABT eclectronics for 1200.00

I just bought the 50" for $2150

Well did you get one? I'm going to go look today. I'm going first to Sam's club to see if they have any of the Westinghouse 46" LCD's for a clear out price ($1,300 I think). If not I'm might try that BB deal on the Panny. That is such a sweet tv for a sweet deal.

Not yet, but I'm still considering it. My basic concerns are:

1) I don't actually need another 42" set, for the location I've got 42" will really be too big... even 37" would probably look odd.

2) My wife may kill me if I buy another set at almost $1000. She wasn't thrilled when I started talking about spending $500 or so for a second tier 32" set. Coming home with another Panny, even with the potential of getting it at $800, might be too much for her sanity.

I really just wish that some of the big players were dropping prices on the 23"-37" sets like they are on the ones that are 40"+. If they were, then the 32" Panasonic LCD should be under $600, but instead the best price on it is about $850! Given that another $150 will buy the 42" plasma, the 32" LCD just isn't worth even considering.

Yea, I hear yea. All the real good deals this year seem to be 42" plasma's and Projectors.

In addition to this set for the living room, I also need a 27" to 32" flat panel for the bar. The lowest price for a 32" will be at MicroCenter (if you have one) on BF. The Olevia will be $370 after $150 MicroCenter Rebate. If you don't trust or want the rebate, but CC and BB will have Olevia's for less then $500 on BF.

Ideally I would pick up the 42" Panny today for $800 AR, then pick up one of the 32" at MicroCenter on Friday.

Unfortunately, I don't. the only options I've got in this size are the CC Olevia, the BB Westinghouse, and the HD Element. Each of them seems to have one issue or another that keeps me from being excited about them.

Well I first went to Sam's to look at the 46" LCD Flat Panel Westinghouse. I really like that size. But it wasn't on sale/close out like I had read, so $1,800!!!!

So drove up to BB and talked to a nice guy about the Panny. Right off the bat he agreed to the CC price match of $1,299. Then I started talking about the premium install, and he was good with that. I was looking at the DirectTV HD box and....bailed out.

The Panasonic just an awesome picture (not this BB, but the one that turned me down the other day had it set nicely). But....I just think I want a bigger picture. No matter how terrific the Panny is, it just can't "make itself bigger". Plus, I think this is the season of the 42" Plasma's. Everyone is lowering their prices on these. So if I change my mind, I'm have no doubt I can get a deal. Maybe not this same deal, but a deal. But as we get closer to Christmas and Superbowl, maybe I can pick up a 46" or 47" in the $1,200-1,300 range....

Well, you got closer than I did. I went to BB three times today to look at the set, but each time I ended up walking out without even talking to a sales person about it. At the moment, I'm leaning toward doing the BF thing and getting the 32" Westinghouse. It's far from certain though.

Well, the line at BB Thanksgiving afternoon was too long to seriously believe that I would walk away with the 32" set. So, I "settled" for a 19" set with the thought that in a few months it would get moved into service as a computer monitor and I'd be able to pick up something bigger to replace it.

Well I waited in line for 2 hours at CC for the 32" model @ 499 for the bar. Of course they ran out just in front of me!! So I blew it off.

Later in the day, about 2:00pm I was taking my son to BB as he wanted some of those $6.99 cd's. On the way we stopped in a Compusa, they had a stack (at least 20) of the same TV at CC for $550. Only $50 more...still a great deal for that set. The store was pretty empty the electronics manager came over and we talked. They had the TV on display and I got scared it was to big for the bar. He measured for me and sure enough, I just didn't think it would work like I hoped. So I asked if he had any more of the 26" model's for the "door busting" price of $429. He said "no" but that he would either give me a rain check or let me substitute the 27" model. I took the 27" model! Yea, I know, $429 for 27" isn't as good of a deal as $499 for 32", but I really wanted speakers on the sides, not below and I think the 32" was physically to big for my bar/room. I was impressed with CompUSA. They had good deals, no one was there (no lines-I waited nearly 45 minutes to check out at CC earlier in the day as I did pick up a couple of $10 PS2 games), they had substitute for BF sale item, the guy was super nice and no pressure....good experience.

They had the mount I wanted for $70, but I figured I could do better on line. BB had all their mounts on sale, so picked it up for $50.

So all in all while not the cheapest I could have ever done everything, all was a good deal and got what I needed and should work well.

delete

Excellent choice! Check out the discussion at AVS to get an idea of what settings you should try for the best image.