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The W - Movies & TV - Anyone have some plasma TV recommendations?
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Alessandro
Lap cheong








Since: 2.1.02
From: Worcester MA

Since last post: 467 days
Last activity: 72 days
#1 Posted on | Instant Rating: 3.04
I think this is an okay subject for the "Movies & TV" forum ...

Anyway, I'm this close to purchasing a new 50" Panasonic Viera plasma TV (The W at Amazon) ... My only question is that the store where I plan to make the purchase (it's not Amazon) is offering the PZ850 model for 600 dollars less than the PZ800 model, and - unless I'm missing something - the PZ850 model actually has MORE features than the PZ800 model, so I'm really having a hard time figuring out what exactly I will be "missing" if I go for the better deal.

The salesman never really gave me a straight answer when I tried to find out what the exact differences are between the two models, and searching the interwebz hasn't really given me anything either ... Does anyone here have any knowledge of the Viera line, and could perhaps point out where the 600-dollar difference lies here?

I would be really really happy to get this purchase out of the way before the weekend; not because there's a big game or anything that I'd like to watch in HD, I'm just sick of all of these options and want the dang process to be over with

{ EDIT: Link changed to hover-overable link }

(edited by CRZ on 12.5.08 1130)


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CRZ
Big Brother
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Since: 9.12.01
From: ミネアポリス

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#2 Posted on | Instant Rating: 9.04
According to CNET (reviews.cnet.com), you're not getting "THX Display certification" in the 850 vs. the 800. Whatever THAT is.

For a $600 price difference, I'd ask them what truck it fell out of. ;-)



Mr. Boffo
Scrapple








Since: 24.3.02
From: Oshkosh, WI

Since last post: 3895 days
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#3 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.10
Panasonic's website has the 850 at a suggested retail $200 higher than the 800. So that's an $800 difference really.
http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/vModelList?storeId=15001&catalogId=13401&catGroupId=75003&langId=-1&surfCategory=null&cacheProgram=11002&cachePartner=7000000000000005702&isSeo=true&orderBy=partnumber
Other differences are that the 850 has a higher contrast ratio, PC AV inputs, but no on timer (only a sleep timer).

carnage
Bauerwurst








Since: 16.2.05

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#4 Posted on | Instant Rating: 9.00
Make sure it is the PZ850U (eight hundred and fifty) and not the PZ85U (eighty-five). The 85U is generally about $600 less than the 800U so your pricing would fit. I've been researching the Panasonic plasmas lately as well and have made this mistake myself. I also ask because the Amazon link is for the 85U and not the 850U. If you can get the 850U for cheaper than the 800U, I would go for it.
Alessandro
Lap cheong








Since: 2.1.02
From: Worcester MA

Since last post: 467 days
Last activity: 72 days
#5 Posted on | Instant Rating: 3.04
    Originally posted by carnage
    Make sure it is the PZ850U (eight hundred and fifty) and not the PZ85U (eighty-five).


Aw shit ... I believe that was my mistake.

Well, I guess the 85U looks pretty good too (sigh).





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Kevintripod
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Since: 11.5.03
From: Mount Pleasant, Pa.

Since last post: 23 days
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#6 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.01
Do Plasma tv's still have that problem of having images burned into the screen ? That has always steered me away from them.



The best part of waking up, is not Folgers in your cup, but knowing that Chuck Norris didn't kill you in your sleep.
PeterStork
Sujuk








Since: 25.1.02
From: Chicagoland with Hoosiers, or "The Region"

Since last post: 3290 days
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#7 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.37
    Originally posted by Kevintripod
    Do Plasma tv's still have that problem of having images burned into the screen ? That has always steered me away from them.


If a static image remains for several hours, possibly. Bugs on networks tend to come and go during commercials so they're not the end of the world. Letterbox bars on Cinemascope ratio movies might hang around barely visible for ten or twenty minutes and then go away. With the pixel-shifting technology most sets come with these days I really wouldn't worry about it.



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MedallaGuy
Head cheese








Since: 12.1.02
From: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Since last post: 3980 days
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#8 Posted on
New Vieras, along with almost all plasmas now a day have an automatic pixel shifting system that prevents screen burning. What do you plan to use the TV for, mainly TV and Movies? Gaming? PC?

Yes I'm back as a TV salesman..now at Best Buy which opened in PR...so I need the practice again hehe...



A Pete...my new man crush!!!
Alessandro
Lap cheong








Since: 2.1.02
From: Worcester MA

Since last post: 467 days
Last activity: 72 days
#9 Posted on | Instant Rating: 3.04
    Originally posted by MedallaGuy
    What do you plan to use the TV for, mainly TV and Movies? Gaming? PC?


Watching sports and playing video games (although we just have the Wii right now, so hi-def gaming really isn't a selling point at the moment) ...

I dunno, now I'm thinking that we'll just spend the extra 600 bucks and go with the PZ800; hell, I'm getting that stimulus check from the gub'mint in a couple weeks, I'll sacrifice that as punishment for my stupidity with the PZ85u/PZ850 mixup ... although my brother, who was standing right next to me, swears he heard the salesman say "850" too.

Anyway, my only concern with this course of action is that we've never really fancied ourselves to be "early adopters", and this line is just so new that there are no real reviews with which to form an opinion (some outlets don't even think that the PZ800 line is available for purchase yet) ... Pretty much everyone seems to respect the Panasonic brand when it comes to their plasma TVs, so it's not like I'm afraid that the thing will burst into flames after a week's use or anything, but I'm just wondering if it's better to just wait to see if any "issues" pop up (we've been TV shopping for the last two years, what's another couple months, blah).

(edited by Alessandro on 13.5.08 1124)

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MedallaGuy
Head cheese








Since: 12.1.02
From: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Since last post: 3980 days
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#10 Posted on
Personally, I would get the 80 and use the 600 bucks for a PS3 so you have the BluRay and HD Gaming that you don't get with the Wii, and you should have 200 left over for a good Home Theatre in a Box which I always think is an essential part of a good HD system and people tend to forget...

The new Panasonic models have cleared many of their "issues" with this years crop, especially the better anti-glare on the screen, the pixel shifting , a much better gaming mode and you'll find yourself using the SD slot more often than you think.



A Pete...my new man crush!!!
Mike Zeidler
Pepperoni








Since: 27.6.02

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#11 Posted on
Are HDMI cable really the incredibly expensive scam they seem to be? I mean, none cheaper than $45 in a bricks and mortar store? How does that happen?



"Tattoos are the mullets of the aughts." - Mike Naimark
CRZ
Big Brother
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Since: 9.12.01
From: ミネアポリス

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#12 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.64
    Originally posted by Zundian
    Are HDMI cable really the incredibly expensive scam they seem to be? I mean, none cheaper than $45 in a bricks and mortar store? How does that happen?
It's a giant scam. You can get them at Amazon for literally a nickel (The W at Amazon) (which is really closer to $5 after some grossly overpriced shipping costs - everybody's got SOME kinda scam...)

EDIT: Well, it SAYS $1.87 when you hover over it, but if you click through it does say 5 cents (new OR used).

(edited by CRZ on 19.5.08 1656)

(edited by CRZ on 19.5.08 1657)

Zeruel
Thirty Millionth Hit
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Since: 2.1.02
From: The Silver Spring in the Land of Mary.

Since last post: 1675 days
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#13 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.05
    Originally posted by Zundian
    Are HDMI cable really the incredibly expensive scam they seem to be? I mean, none cheaper than $45 in a bricks and mortar store? How does that happen?


I get mine from monoprice.com for about $6 each. I've seen them for as much as $100 at Gamestop, EB, and Best Buy. They are a huge scam.



-- 2006 Time magazine Person of the Year --

"Who would want to rent a chicken?" -- The Bowler
Mike Zeidler
Pepperoni








Since: 27.6.02

Since last post: 3515 days
Last activity: 737 days
#14 Posted on
    Originally posted by Zeruel
      Originally posted by Zundian
      Are HDMI cable really the incredibly expensive scam they seem to be? I mean, none cheaper than $45 in a bricks and mortar store? How does that happen?


    I get mine from monoprice.com for about $6 each. I've seen them for as much as $100 at Gamestop, EB, and Best Buy. They are a huge scam.


The $300 HDMI cable

I actually saw 6ft HDMI cables today for $119 on *CLEARANCE*



"Tattoos are the mullets of the aughts." - Mike Naimark
SchippeWreck
Banger








Since: 26.3.03
From: Glendale, CA

Since last post: 2106 days
Last activity: 176 days
#15 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.77
$14.95 is the cheapest I've seen them in a physical store. Sadly, that was at Fry's and I know they're not nationwide. The trick is to look for the cables in the computer section. They charge less for HDMI cables there than in the home theatre section for some reason.



"It's magic! We don't need to explain it!"
Alessandro
Lap cheong








Since: 2.1.02
From: Worcester MA

Since last post: 467 days
Last activity: 72 days
#16 Posted on | Instant Rating: 3.04
Luckily, the store is including all cables in the installation cost (which is a pretty reasonable figure), so I've got that going for me ...

Also, they're now slashing another 200 bucks off the price of the PZ800, so I think that pretty much seals the deal on which model we're going to end up with ... I just wish there were a few more "professional" reviews out there to go over before making the final plunge; CNET is supposed to have one this week (crave.cnet.com), so we'll see if I can hold out.

(edited by Alessandro on 20.5.08 1600)


Parquet Wishes and Leprechaun Dreams


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