So I am looking for a new tv. I have decided I don't like DLP and LCD. DLP looks too grainy to me, and LCD has too much in the way of motion blur. So I have decided that plamsa is the way I am going to go.
Went to the local Circuit City last night and checked out the new panasonic plasma's in 42" and 50".
The 50" had a slightly better looking picture to me. Would that be because of the difference of the 1366x768 VS the 1024x768?
The only problem with that is that the 50" is about 800 bucks more then the 42" and the 42" is right around what I had budgeted for a TV.

Should I just wait until I can afford the 50", or just go ahead and get the 42"?

Go with the 42" and don't look back. The great thing is that this 42"er will become a smaller bedroom flat panel down the road and you will be able to afford your bigger flat panel later. My 42PX60U looks great and the 42PX75U/77U looks just as good! You will only be able to see a difference in the picture quality if both units are side-by-side in your own home (same source material, settings, viewing conditions, etc, etc, etc).

Chris
MountAVision.com

So I am looking for a new tv. I have decided I don't like DLP and LCD. DLP looks too grainy to me, and LCD has too much in the way of motion blur. So I have decided that plamsa is the way I am going to go.
Went to the local Circuit City last night and checked out the new panasonic plasma's in 42" and 50".
The 50" had a slightly better looking picture to me. Would that be because of the difference of the 1366x768 VS the 1024x768?
The only problem with that is that the 50" is about 800 bucks more then the 42" and the 42" is right around what I had budgeted for a TV.

Should I just wait until I can afford the 50", or just go ahead and get the 42"?

you can always get the 50" 2006 model for about the same price as the 42" 2007 model. Just another option you may want to consider.

you can always get the 50" 2006 model for about the same price as the 42" 2007 model. Just another option you may want to consider.

Yeah, but the old stand on the 2006 model tv's, I don't think it would work well on my place the tv is going. the new pedestal on the 07 models would work perfectly. I live in an apartment, and my tv sits on an old microwave cart that is only 21" wide.

I am also interested in this comparison. I have hear many say that the 42" do not have true hd because they are not 1366x768 and that they will not display everything.

However it is a large price increase for similar models.

I am pretty close to place an order for the panasonic professional 42" . With the 5 year warranty included and a price shipped for about a grand...it is hard to beat.

I am just curious what I am losing or missing out on by going 1024x768 on a 42"

Hmmm,

Well, it looks like the 42px75u does 1024x768 but the 42px77u does 1366x768, but the 77u is 300 bucks more.

According to panasonic the 42px77u has the same resolution as the 75u(1024x768). However, it does have an anti-glare coating that the 75u lacks.

According to panasonic the 42px77u has the same resolution as the 75u(1024x768). However, it does have an anti-glare coating that the 75u lacks.


Hmmm, according to the circuit city website, the 77u is 1366x768 and the 75u is 1024x768

I have hear many say that the 42" do not have true hd because they are not 1366x768 and that they will not display everything.
Not 1366x768p per se; it is because it isn't at least 1280x720p.

That has to be a misprint on the CC page.

Hmmm, according to the circuit city website, the 77u is 1366x768 and the 75u is 1024x768Circuit City is NOTORIOUS for having incorrect specs on their website so they're not to be taken as fact. Even Panasonic's own website has had errors so the only thing i go by is the actual owners manual PDF.

Newbie here...I can get any new Panny Plasma 25% off. Can someone explain to me why the 42' 75 and 77U are 1024x768. You have to move up to the 50' to get 1366x768 resolution. Has anyone seen the two side by side?

Newbie here...I can get any new Panny Plasma 25% off. Can someone explain to me why the 42' 75 and 77U are 1024x768. You have to move up to the 50' to get 1366x768 resolution. Has anyone seen the two side by side?

I saw the new 42" and 50" side by side recently, and I thought the 50" had a slightly better pic. But in all honesty, if I got the 42" home, I wouldn't be complaining.

I saw the new 42" and 50" side by side recently, and I thought the 50" had a slightly better pic. But in all honesty, if I got the 42" home, I wouldn't be complaining.
Bingo! Once you get it home you will forget about resolution. Yes it would be nice to have an extra 8 inches, but you can always do that later. Enjoy HD for now and have the luxury of placing this flat panel into your bedroom, while down the road, maybe look into the 58PZ700U as your main room flat panel. Its a possibility....

Chris
MountAVision.com

i got the 50 for the same reason...it sure looked better in the store and is awsome here at home....im loving it..

I would recommend the 50" over the 42" any day. First off it's bigger, has a higher pixel count and it's bigger. After comparing HD DVD on both sets, it makes more of a difference on a bigger screen. I can also say that xbox 360 does look better, games looked very soft on the 42". On the 50" using the same settings the games looked much sharper more "solid". If resolution is not a big deal for you go for the 42". If you want a great picture with more details go with the 50".

Can someone explain to me why the 42' 75 and 77U are 1024x768. You have to move up to the 50' to get 1366x768 resolution. Has anyone seen the two side by side?

Because thats the limit with the 768p pixel size at that level of plasma display tecnnology. Only the larger panels could have more horizontal pixels. The next generation of plasma display technology is coming out later this year allow for finer pixels and results in upping the resolution to 1920x1080 for 50" and above and even a 42" Panasonic 1920x1080 plasma model reportedly coming out this summer.

At standard viewing distances, you probably can't see the resolution differences between the 42" and 50" 768p models. At the stores they both look great from 7feet away or so.

Yeah, but the old stand on the 2006 model tv's, I don't think it would work well on my place the tv is going. the new pedestal on the 07 models would work perfectly. I live in an apartment, and my tv sits on an old microwave cart that is only 21" wide.

You can get the 600U instead of the 60U. Same screen and technology, but with a swivel stand. Also better speakers, a PC input, cable card slot, PIP, and more black on the bezel.

As far as I can tell, the only benefits to this year's models are the black cabinet and the 77U's anti-glare coating. The 2006's even have one more component input.

Oops, one major advantage the new models (75U, 77U, 700U) have over last year's is true independent input memories.

I think the large majority of people would be satisified with the PQ of any of the better 42" plasmas. After that, it's a matter of how much money you have to spend on this particular thing, how much you care about HDTV, and what the impact of a 50" vs. a 42" will be to your eyes, in your room. Having roughly an extra 3.5 inches on each side, and two extra inches on the top and bottom of the screen does result in more impact, but the individual has to decide if it's enough added impact for him/her to be worth the added c-notes.

You can get the 600U instead of the 60U. Same screen and technology, but with a swivel stand. Also better speakers, a PC input, cable card slot, PIP, and more black on the bezel.

As far as I can tell, the only benefits to this year's models are the black cabinet and the 77U's anti-glare coating. The 2006's even have one more component input.

Yeah, been thinking about the 600u also actually.

Oops, one major advantage the new models (75U, 77U, 700U) have over last year's is true independent input memories.


Ooh, that would be nice, but my only input is my dvd player.

I think the large majority of people would be satisified with the PQ of any of the better 42" plasmas. After that, it's a matter of how much money you have to spend on this particular thing, how much you care about HDTV, and what the impact of a 50" vs. a 42" will be to your eyes, in your room. Having roughly an extra 3.5 inches on each side, and two extra inches on the top and bottom of the screen does result in more impact, but the individual has to decide if it's enough added impact for him/her to be worth the added c-notes.

The room isn't a big deal ,but the 800 dollar price difference is.

Yeah, been thinking about the 600u also actually.

Same here.

They are tougher to find now, and much tougher to find at the prices they were going for about 6 weeks ago.

So I am looking for a new tv. I have decided I don't like DLP and LCD. DLP looks too grainy to me, and LCD has too much in the way of motion blur. So I have decided that plamsa is the way I am going to go.
Went to the local Circuit City last night and checked out the new panasonic plasma's in 42" and 50".
The 50" had a slightly better looking picture to me. Would that be because of the difference of the 1366x768 VS the 1024x768?
The only problem with that is that the 50" is about 800 bucks more then the 42" and the 42" is right around what I had budgeted for a TV.

Should I just wait until I can afford the 50", or just go ahead and get the 42"?

I am totally in your same position. I've come to the conclusion that 50" is the way to go. Why? Well, if you plan on using the television as your main viewing area for several years, you will be stuck with what you bought.

Currently, you can get a 42" Panny Plasma for $1000, and the 50" will cost you around $1650. I am currently attempting to budge more $$$ for the 50" version, and also, I recommend physically looking at the difference in sizes in person. Once you budget for a 50" and have it in your living room, you won't have second thoughts.

If the 42" plasma had square pixels, I'd probably would go with it but since the pixels are not square, you have a little more processing going on which will make a difference in the quality of the picture.

I have around $1000 to spend and I'm going to save up for the 50". The extra $650-$700 really isn't too bad considering what you are going to get from the television.

Also, do a calculation on how many more pixels you have as well. I'll help you out here.

42" Plasma: 786,432

50" Plasma: 1,049,088

That's a difference of 262, 656 pixels, which is 33% more than the 42" version. That's a big difference, and I didn't notice it until I started to do the calculations.

While the 50" may not be that much bigger, you gain more in the image quality department. With the 50", you have square pixels, providing full 720p viewing.

Also, do a calculation on how many more pixels you have as well. I'll help you out here.

42" Plasma: 786,432

50" Plasma: 1,049,088

That's a difference of 262, 656 pixels, which is 33% more than the 42" version. That's a big difference, and I didn't notice it until I started to do the calculations.

While the 50" may not be that much bigger, you gain more in the image quality department. With the 50", you have square pixels, providing full 720p viewing.
But a 50" TV is much bigger, it is 41.7% bigger than a 42" TV, that is the part of the equation you missed. ;)

Personally, after receiving my 42" on Monday im glad I saved the $800 it would have cost me to upgrade to the 50". Why?

1. I sit about 6-7 feet from the TV I already feel nearly over whelmed by the 42".

2. The display is beautiful sure the 50" maybe a little sharper but atleast from what ive seen its not $800 bucks sharper. I don't have anything to hook up to HDMI yet so the 42" could possibly be even sharper down the road.

3. The money I saved can buy me a PS3 or a reasonable surround sound system.

If your sitting farther away than me then I would say defiantly go bigger, but at the distance I sit the 42 is just right.

Just my two cents...

Congrats on your non-tuber, bob. :D

Personally, after receiving my 42" on Monday im glad I saved the $800 it would have cost me to upgrade to the 50". Why?

1. I sit about 6-7 feet from the TV I already feel nearly over whelmed by the 42".

2. The display is beautiful sure the 50" maybe a little sharper but atleast from what ive seen its not $800 bucks sharper. I don't have anything to hook up to HDMI yet so the 42" could possibly be even sharper down the road.

3. The money I saved can buy me a PS3 or a reasonable surround sound system.

If your sitting farther away than me then I would say defiantly go bigger, but at the distance I sit the 42 is just right.

Just my two cents...

Just wait a few weeks, then you won't be overwhelmed by the 42". That's the way I felt at first with my 50" but not I wish I would have gone 58"!

What a difference a few months makes.

So I was holding out on buying a tv, but since my current one died, I have no choice. Decided to go out looking again and it still comes down to the 42" vs 50" panny plasma. This time the choice is a little harder though. The price difference is only 150 bucks between the two.

What a difference a few months makes.

So I was holding out on buying a tv, but since my current one died, I have no choice. Decided to go out looking again and it still comes down to the 42" vs 50" panny plasma. This time the choice is a little harder though. The price difference is only 150 bucks between the two.

Sorry to hear about that!!! Did you have a warranty?

Chris

Base it on your viewing distance then. Generally 50" would be good at 9ft or more, depending on the quality of the signal and your eyesight.

Sorry to hear about that!!! Did you have a warranty?

Chris

HA!, my old tv was a 27" jvc tube that is about 8 years old.

$150 difference!!!??? I think it's a no brainer......go 50!

$150 difference!!!??? I think it's a no brainer......go 50!

You'd think.

I'm in the same predicament. I was considering going 50" 1080p(7 - 9 ft distance), but I have a feeling when I move in 4-5 years that I'll want a 58" tv for the bigger living room. Then I could put the 42" in the bedroom. I'm pretty sure a 50" would be too big for the bedroom.

Get a 50" just do it

Get a 50" just do it

You sound just like one of my best buddies.

"Dude, just get it!" :D

So I took my dvd player in and hooked it up to the 50" panasonic and put it on progressive scan. It didn't look that bad. But it didn't look as good as when I hooked it up to my buddies 46" 2080p sharp aquos. Why would that be. I used the same component cables and everything.

Thanks.

Just wait a few weeks, then you won't be overwhelmed by the 42". That's the way I felt at first with my 50" but not I wish I would have gone 58"!


lol, your right! Now Im wishing I had bought the 50", especially now that I have my PS3 and HD-DVD player. :p

So I took my dvd player in and hooked it up to the 50" panasonic and put it on progressive scan. It didn't look that bad. But it didn't look as good as when I hooked it up to my buddies 46" 2080p sharp aquos. Why would that be. I used the same component cables and everything.

Thanks.
Viewing distance, video settings, store lighting, etc.

So I took my dvd player in and hooked it up to the 50" panasonic and put it on progressive scan. It didn't look that bad. But it didn't look as good as when I hooked it up to my buddies 46" 2080p sharp aquos. Why would that be. I used the same component cables and everything.

Thanks.

Probably video settings, and by the way I don't think HDTVs are able to support 2080p ;) . But just get the 50 and don't look back......you'll be glad you did.

Well, I did it. I ended up going with the 42", and I couldn't be happier. The TV is currently being broken in, and I can't WAIT to start watching movies on this bad boy.