[jackman]

A friend of mine is looking for a good plasma or LCD monitor for use in a bedroom.  He's buying it for his wife as a Christmas gift (genius!) and will have it mounted on a wall in their house.   He asked me a couple questions but I have no idea about these things and was hoping one of the video experts on this site could chime in.  I could look on avsforum but prefer to keep this simple.  

Here are the questions:

1.  Size: they would like to keep it around 30" or so.  This one is subjective, but is there a size that offers the best value?
2.  LCD or Plasma: what are the advantages and disadvantages of both?  Is there a clear-cut winner?
3.  Brand: is there one company that is really ahead of the field on this type of monitor?  Any suggestions?
4.  Where to buy?  Is there a retail or on-line outlet (Dell, or Gateway?) for medium sized screens that does a better job than the big box (bestbuy, CC, etc.) guys?  
5.  All other: are there any other issues to consider when buying a midsize plasma or lcd monitor?  

This will be only used for viewing movies, not as a computer monitor.  HD is important (no ED sets), but reliability and value is also important.

Thanks!

Jack

[SWG255]

Just like thinking about your listening room for your audio pleasure, you'll have to think about the room where the monitor is going, to help you decide. I'm no expert, but I can say that the amount of ambient light present when the monitor is being viewed has a marked effect on the visual presentation. That's a fancy way of saying that if the room is too brightly lit especially from the outdoors, you may find that LCD screens aren't bright enough. A plasma screen will be brighter and thus perhaps more easily watched in the same ambient light. However, plasma screens are heavier, run hotter and may have burn-in problems over their expected lifetime.


When you go to a "big box" outlet and view these screens, which ones do you like?

Good hunting!

[jackman]

Thanks!  

I like plasma and LCD but prefer plasma because the colors on LCD screens seem to be less vibrant and the screens don't appear as bright.  So there are burn in issues with plasma that don't exist with LCD?  

Do you have a good website suggestion in which I could do some research?

I appreciate your advice!

Jack

[F-100]

Do you have a good website suggestion in which I could do some research?

Go here!!! You will find all the answers to your question
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?s=4e03ee1969b71f6b2ed5fb0e7501bb4f&forumid=40

[bubba966]

However, plasma screens are heavier

Is that honestly an issue?

Plasmas really aren't so heavy. Maybe it'd be a problem if they were weighing 3x as much as they do now.

Anyway, there's a nice little 30" LCD that Sharp makes. Might want to give it a look if LCD is seriously in the picture.


I haven't looked much at 30" plasmas. I've just looked at the bigger plasmas.

But then again I don't care for either LCD or plasmas. I'd much rather have just about any 30" CRT than a 30" LCD or plasma. If you want the best picture, go check out something like a 30" Loewe CRT...

[ABEX]

Today I purchased a 42" Panasonic Plasma for $2100 and just try to purchase a similar sized LCD.

This unit will be going into an RV where Space and Weight are serious issues. The weight is only 62LBS. which is not much compared to what you'd get using a CRT. I think my 1yr.old 25" Samsung weighs more.

It came down to price,reliabilty and user opinion that drove me over to buy the Plasma. And did I mention price. If you have enough for the LCD that you want then go for it,but I did not think I would find a better deal. The similar priced Panasonic LCD's has reliability problems from he few owners opinions I had read. It is also only 23"-26" also.

Good luck!

[John Casler]

 

1. Size: they would like to keep it around 30" or so. This one is subjective, but is there a size that offers the best value?
2. LCD or Plasma: what are the advantages and disadvantages of both? Is there a clear-cut winner?
3. Brand: is there one company that is really ahead of the field on this type of monitor? Any suggestions?
4. Where to buy? Is there a retail or on-line outlet (Dell, or Gateway?) for medium sized screens that does a better job than the big box (bestbuy, CC, etc.) guys?
5. All other: are there any other issues to consider when buying a midsize plasma or lcd monitor?

...

Hey Jack,

1) AFAIK the smallest plasma is 40" or 42" so that means LCD.  However the 42 inch Plasmas are probably less than the 32" LCD.  LCDs now come in sizes up to 45" (around $9500 list) which is about the price for the best 50" Plasma.  So Plasma is probably the best value.
2) Plasma currently seems to have the best picture, but LCD is a newer technology and is getting better by the day
3) Plasmas: Pioneer, Fujitsu, Panny (and others)  LCD: SHARP Aquos
4) Dell is pretty good for Plasma, Even Costco has'em.  Sharp Aquos are all over.
5) Again I could be wrong but in that size all you'll have is LCD

[jermmd]

30" LCD HDTV for $999 AR

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=40&threadid=1442118&enterthread=y

[jackman]

Thanks everyone!  Great information.  Hopefully, this post will help people in the same boat as my friend.  

J

[rosconey]

i bought a panny crt a few months ago-the picture is so good
the lower priced lcd and rear projection didnt look as good to me

[Mike D]

I'm no video expert, but I was told the primary marketing attraction for LCD is the fact that there is no glass for light from windows or lamps to reflect off of.  So if your friend has lights near the head of the bed and the TV is at the foot of the bed, Plasma TVs will mirror the lamps like a like a regular TV.  The advantage of LCD is that they do not have the mirror effect.  I prefer the look of the Plasmas, but the reflections do distract.  Imagine lying in bed and seeing your reflection ALL of the time.  ewwww