Panasonic Industrial vs. Consumer Models

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I'm not an expert, but:


1. Panasonic does not restrict warranties so that a purchase on the internet is fine and you will surely get a better price.


2. Actually, there is much more flexibility with the industrial model than the consumer model. There are a range of terminal boards ("blades") that you can purchase to match your needs for inputs, including DVI and HDMI.


3. No suggestions from me.


4. If you ever get deeper into it and want to get an external video processor, the industrial models are much better because they will accept the native resolution of the panel so that you can get 1:1 mapping with your VP and thus avoid having to use the inferior (compared to the external VP) processing of the panel.


Check out the FAQs on Panasonics in this forum.

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The only reason you'd need to return it is if it arrives broken or damages or is defective right out of the box. I'd recommend buying it from one of the forum sponsors as they tend to have good policies for taking care of you if this were to occur. This is very rare so you shouldn't have any problems in the first place.

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Since you're also asking about speakers below i presume you're not using any sort of Home Theater system, and connecting the DVR and DVD Player directly to the plasma. There are at least a few ways you can connect these to the TV:


If both devices are using Component connections, the 8UK already has one Component terminal board installed, so for the other device you can buy an RGB Breakout Cable (Component-to-15 pin D-Sub cable) and use the 15-pin input as a 2nd Component input. These cables are available online for not too much money.

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The 8UK's terminal boards have BNC-style inputs so you will need BNC-to-RCA adapters for the Component connection. I think VA includes these if you buy the 8UK from them, and you can buy them yourself at Radio Shack or Fry's if you buy it somewhere else.


But on my TH-42PX50U, i've found that my Panny RP62K DVD Player looks better if i send a 480i signal to the TV over S-Video which lets the TV scale the signal and it does a very good job. This looks better than using the Component connection reglardless of if i have Progressive Scan mode turned on or off. S-Video beats both these other settings. So if you choose to connect your DVD player with S-Video like i have then the 8UK already has an S-Video input on the other Terminal Board, so aside from having to have an S-Video cable and Component cable ready, and the 3 BNC adapters, you don't need anything else.

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Speakers are a very personal decision so i'll stay out of this one other than say you might want to buy them from a place that makes it easy/cheap to return if you're not happy with the sound. Pretty much any 6 or 8-ohm bookshelf speaker can be used so go with whatever your ears and eyes like.

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A few people here have posted that Panasonic Customer Service told them over the phone that when a Commercial model is used in a home environment, the warranty is now in-home just like on their consumer models. Others have said that Panasonic has not invoked this policy so unless someone gets it in writing, presume that it will have to be carried in or shipped to a Panasonic service center. But i would seriously check into this In-Home clause and get it in writing from Panasonic. And contact the local repair shops that Panny uses and ask them how they would handle a warranty issue on the 8UK at your house. Maybe they'd come get it for a small fee if the warranty is indeed carry-in only, or for free if it is In-Home and the problem cannot be fixed in your living room. Things to consider . . . .


Keep the original shipping carton and packing materials if at all possible. When it first arrives, take lots of detailed pictures of how it's all packed in various states of removal from carton so you know how to repackage it if you ever have to ship it somehwere in the future. My box and packing material is hanging from the rafters in my garage overhead and i'm keeping it for however long i have this TV. A friend has his box stored at his workplace since he doesn't have room at his apartment

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isn't there a Tiger Direct outlet in the "Triangle"? They see the 8UKs.