1) About the only advantage Plasmas have theses days over LCDs is the contrast ratio (hence your last point for blacks/colours). That said, if you were in the market for a true 1080p display, the only plamsa I'm aware of that does that is by Panasonic and retails for almost AU$19,000. That is where LCD definitely comes out in front. In the 720p range, there probably isn't a huge difference and just come to personal preference.

2) Most of the sets I've seen in places like Harvey Normans, Domayne, etc.. are 720p. Can't say I've really looked at anything below 20" in the past though, so maybe they are there. BigW sells some EDTV sets still, but they are mostly no name Chinese brands.

3) For the eye to fully resolve 1080p is dependent on how far you sit back from the TV. For a 40" screen, you shouldn't sit any more than about 1.6m away and for a 50" screen its about 2m. Given most people sit much futher away than this, while 1080p might look somewhat better than 720p, it isn't until you get closer that you'd truely appreciate it anyhow. For 720p, while I've never seen anything to directly calculate it, based off the previous data and the 480/576p data I've seen, I'd suggest around about 3m and 3.5m respectively (it is 4.2m and 5.2m for SD pictures).

It is also dependent on constrast, so the 1080p plasma i mentioned before will have a picture which is much more easier to see the detail on than any current LCD panel. 

Owning HD TV doesn't mean you HAVE to buy a HD console.

i have 2 HD TVs.. one 42" HD plasma and one 100" HD projector and the only console i got is a SD Wii.

Not interested in LCD.

They make for great monitors, or display devices that you use at close range - for extended periods of time. But not for movies. And the Wii doesn't look great on LCDs either.

The best quality screens I have seen (vibrant colour, richness) have all been Plasmas. Plus the medium-low end models (720p) are actually cheaper than matching LCD models.

Some of the newer plasma sets also have updated tech to improve display life (various tricks) - so they fade much slower than old plasmas. I have never owned one, and I won't know for sure - until I do own one.

Whatever happens, I won't be spending more than $2000 ($2.5k max).

I have been extremely happy with my current TV. Its just turned 3, still works perfectly. It was a factory 2nd (has a "scratch" on the top of the set) Phillips set, 100hz/NaturalMotion (etc..). Does 1080i, 480p, 576p. And it cost me $1500 (three years ago).

Apart from running 480p on my Wii - main reason I want to upgrade, is our current set is now a little small for our living room - and its too big/heavy. Really want a flat screen of some sort.

I 3rd the mention of Samsung LCD's. I really want this one...
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Samsung-40-LCD-HDTV-LN-T4065F/sem/rpsm/oid/175543/catOid/-12869/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

I have an unrelated question? What's better, 1080i or 720p? Which would you rather view at? I understand that the 1080 i is not in progressive scan, but does the resolution make that much of a difference?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889022032

I'm looking at that TV. Anyone see any problems? Could you answer my question in relation to that TV? I have to get 37 inch due to space constraints. Even 40 inch would be on the verge of too big.



Also, I'd like to make this point of HDTV in relation to videogames. Even when HDTVs bust into the main market and the penetration rate starts to increase, when a family buys an HDTV, it is the main TV in the family room that everyone watches TV on etc. Many if not MOST kids put their video game consoles in their bedrooms/playroom or whatever, and while the house may be added into that penetration percentage of HD market, that doesn't mean all TVs in the house are HDTV. Just thought that this was a point that needed to be made.

Thank you.

Huh, interesting. I don't understand the people saying they don't care for the LCD at all. My friend has a 57" LCD TV and the thing looks gorgeous? Far better than my 59" rear projection. Does Plasma really look better than the LCD?

hehe the M8 series. Thats the ones I was talking about.

I got a R7 series. Moives look awesome on it. So do xvids etc.. and so does my wii.

The M8 and R8 series is basiclaly the same as mine but more contrast ratio. All i can say is i seen one running through HDMI they look amazing. They have a new and improved panel also.

 I bet someonwewill quote me saying but plasma has better contrast thus its better. ie 15,000:1 v like 1,000,000:1.  What they don't know is that the ratios are different scales. So they are kind of pointless to compare.

A LCD with 15,000:1 contrast ratio looks amazing.

Shams go to any harvey norman or dick smith (and hope they got hdmi dvd running) it looks amazing. That is jsut for SD so imaging a BlueRay disc or a HDDVD on it.

WHat I'm saying is LCDs have come along way since you last saw them, I too use to be a plasma fan till the new samsung lcd range come out.

We'll see :) I'm sure I'll head shopping and check everything out before making a decision.

But it was only a few months ago, that I spent a good 2 hours at several stores - closely examining the picture quality of every set I could find (this was in Singapore as well, not Australia). I also watched a good amount of BluRay on a 1080p set - and was VERY underwhelmed (I swear I could see compression artifacts in the picture! WTF??).

Plasma all the way baby. I can't even explain why I like them better - except that the picture looks "brighter", "more vibrant" and "more alive" than LCDs - which look flat & dead IMO.

Again - I'll always pick a LCD for PC use/close viewing, and always prefer Plasma for movie viewing in a dark room, sitting a good distance from the screen.

And I'll definitely pay extra for NaturalMotion - or some equiv. functionality. If you haven't seen it, you have no idea what you are missing out on...

(EDIT - the only real point I have against Plasma screens is the power usage. I am "trying" to be green conscious - and 350W is a lot of power. Then again, that's roughly what the PS3 sucks...right?).

Kwaad, please don't use a thread on TV's to get your pro-PS3, anti-Wii comments out.

Anyway, what I want to know is, never mind SDTV's, where are EDTV's at? (ED - Enhanced Definition - 480p Max resolution)

I've been wanting to get a new telly for ages, and an EDTV with a built in freeview tuner would be just perfect until I begin racking up funding for a full HD beast.