NeedQUICK help on HDTV for parents.

[Reality's Fringe]

So, my luddite parents are finally getting an HDTV (after their 11 year old crt craped out). They don't understand much about technology, but I don't understand much about HDTV's. They went to best buy, and the guy convinved them to get a Pioneer 50" Plasma tv, model no. 7854789. I wanted to know if any Cags know anything about this model: Picture quailty, reliability, etc.

Additionally, they were trying to get them to buy a bunch of accessories:
$70 for HDMI cable, and $300 for a Monster surge protector.

Any advice, or info on a better television (must be B&M), and cheaper accessories would be GREATLY appreciated.

*edit* http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7854789&st=Pioneer+plasma&type=product&id=1142299476010

That's the one they were looking at.

[afroabdul]

Look up that model number then review on google. You'll probably find somethin on cnet. Buy a HDMI cable online for $10. They're all the same since they're digital. Don't buy a $300 surge protector. They're all the same and even the lower priced ones include a warranty for damage that will cover all the components running through it.

[auralia]

you can get a 42 inch in a nock off brand for a 1000 bucks i personally wouldn't shell out what they are going to shell out to get that 50 inch, but hell if they are loaded let them do stupid things and reap the rewards.

[Graystone]

I'll agree with the other two. Get the HDMI cable from monoprice, and then just get a $40, or $50 surge protector from belkin. With monster your paying for a name. Nothing more nothing less. They make the outside of their cable look "really nice." so you'll buy it.

[chemical]

It's their job to try and convince people to buy a surge protector, premium cables, a product replacement plan, etc, etc...

Performance is graded by how much of this stuff they attach to a purchase.

Skip the cables and crap, get a costco membership and buy it from there.

[chosen1s]

First off - I would steer them towards an LCD.

Second, I agree with people regarding the lower-priced brands at $1,000. While there is something to be said for paying a little more for quality, prices are dropping SO fast on these TV's that they could get a low-cost TV for, say $1400. If it only lasts for even 2 years at that point they would most likely have no problem picking up that Pioneer for $1,300 - in which case they have paid the same amount of money but had the use of 2 TV's.

That's IF they decided to get rid of the lower-priced one after 2 years. I shelled out $2k for my TV 2 years ago (it was a $2,500 TV but I caught the right Best Buy guy on the right day and got him to PM an internet ad). I thought I got a great deal, but within the last 2 years, I could have re-purchased my TV for as low as $800 at one point.

Unless you're paying under $2k for a TV you're wasting your money, in my opinion. I would suggest pointing your parents in the direction of a lower-cost alternative.

[omgu8myrice]

^^ LCD"s at this size are super expensive..usually anything 42inches+ its cheaper to go plasma. if under u should go LCD. personally, i have a vizio 50 inch that i got from costco for 1600$, and i love it.
also, do not buy any accessories at best buy, unless you NEED them B&M, they can be gotten for tons cheaper with no quality loss online. the reps will just try to sell you the most expensive thing which your simplistic parents wont need.

[sarausagi]

Pioneer, now that's a brand...and 50 inch..that's a monster.

I can't say much about this one because except for "monoprice the cable" [or even walmart it] and get a good surge protector [shouldn't cost them more than $100]

this is the first good choice on a TV I've seen here, usually it's just trying to convince people to not buy an Olevia.

I'd honestly check out Circuit City and see if they have the 2006 Plasmas on sale..I was picking up Hilary Duff the other day and strolled through the TV's..

saw a 42 inch LG with 2 HDMI for $1049, saw a 42 inch Panasonic for $1199.

[Vinny]

About picture quality... Pioneer is pretty much one of the best. Their models are often used as reference (standard) models. Going by user reviews, this one seems like a great choice.

User reviews:
http://www.pricegrabber.com/p__Pioneer_PDP_5071HD_50_Plasma_TV,__24239968
http://www.pcworld.com/product/userreviews/prtprdid,24239968/userreviews.html

But these reviews say otherwise, and one in particular thinks BB is scamming you (surprise, surprise):
http://reviews.cnet.com/Pioneer_PDP_5071HD_50_plasma_TV/4505-6482_7-32064826.html?tag=prod.txt.1

If I were your parents, I'd fight for a reduced price.

Back when we got our first HDTV, we had CC reduce the price from $2700 to $2200 if we bought their protection plan. So we saved $200 and got the 2-year protection plan for free.

[jhaymond1]

I agree with everyone who has said to buy an "off brand" for a cheaper price. I bought a 42'' Haier (didn't know they made TVs until I bought it) and it works beautifully. Since then, I have seen Haier TV adds because they are sponsoring NBA.

I spent 799 for it and couldn't be happier. I skipped out on the Monster cables and surge protector and got much cheaper brands of those as well. Got a refurbished Onkyo home theatre from there website for 150 and for a little over 1000 have a decent entertainment system.

[donut]

^^ LCD"s at this size are super expensive..usually anything 42inches+ its cheaper to go plasma. if under u should go LCD. personally, i have a vizio 50 inch that i got from costco for 1600$, and i love it.
also, do not buy any accessories at best buy, unless you NEED them B&M, they can be gotten for tons cheaper with no quality loss online. the reps will just try to sell you the most expensive thing which your simplistic parents wont need.

Ditto on LCD and the brand above...

[sarausagi]

Plasma VS LCD?

Definitely plasma, "burn in" issues are pretty much done with [you'd have to run the set 10 hours a day with bars on the sides and two network logos at once at 100 contrast and 80 brightness] to burn a set in] and in every other term, Plasma totally rips apart LCD

1. Contrast ratios [Plasma can be super high, 15000 to 1]

2. Response time [waaaay faster than LCD, virtually as fast as CRT, perfect for gaming]

3. Price - size ratio

4. Build quality

5. Color seperation

[omgu8myrice]

what about a projection set, (DLP and such). they arnt flat screen, but you can get bigger sets, cheaper. otherwise, if you have the money to spend, i would go with the pioneer.

[chemical]

Plasma VS LCD?

Definitely plasma, "burn in" issues are pretty much done with [you'd have to run the set 10 hours a day with bars on the sides and two network logos at once at 100 contrast and 80 brightness] to burn a set in] and in every other term, Plasma totally rips apart LCD

1. Contrast ratios [Plasma can be super high, 15000 to 1]

2. Response time [waaaay faster than LCD, virtually as fast as CRT, perfect for gaming]

3. Price - size ratio

4. Build quality

5. Color seperation

You also have to deal with all your inputs getting scaled to a crappy 1024x1024 resolution.

Forget 1:1 pixel mapping on a plasma set. :)

Plasma isn't the end-all be-all HDTV set. Neither is LCD. Everything out there has it's strengths and weaknesses.

[Reality's Fringe]

Thanks for the input. I pretty much KNEW Bestbuy screws you on the extras, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't shooting myself in the foot. My parents really seemed to like the Pioneer model, but I've convinced them to shop around. They DON'T game, and they're about as tech savvy as a Frontiersman. They really want one bigger than 40 inches, and they're pretty adverse to buying non namebrands, so that route is kind of hard.

I hate Bestbuy because the one where we live is staffed with the ruddest and least knowledgeable people they could find. I'd rather tehy go to fucking Wlmart over Bestbuy, but we don't have many alternatives. If they see any other models they want, I'll be sure to ask your opinion here.

One additional question, the whole "Plasma fades" thing, is that overblown or is there a legit concern?

[Dro]

I think burn in only occurs when you leave a certain image on the screen without changing (like leaving a game in pause) for like 5+ Hours straight.

[Vinny]

One additional question, the whole "Plasma fades" thing, is that overblown or is there a legit concern?

Yes, plasma fades...

Plasma works thanks to gases (I think Neon and Xenon are two of the many gases in there) receiving an electrical charge and 'glowing' to the RGB levels needed to show an image. Or at least, that's how I understand it.

And I'm sure you know, but gases do slowly die out in time. But most gases have a half life of many years so it'll fade very slowly and by the time it gets noticeably bad, I'm sure they'll be ready for a new TV.

[sarausagi]

Yes, plasma fades...

Plasma works thanks to gases (I think Neon and Xenon are two of the many gases in there) receiving an electrical charge and 'glowing' to the RGB levels needed to show an image. Or at least, that's how I understand it.

And I'm sure you know, but gases do slowly die out in time. But most gases have a half life of many years so it'll fade very slowly and by the time it gets noticeably bad, I'm sure they'll be ready for a new TV.

All of the above is true, but I doubt anyone will want to have the same TV 10 years from now. You'd have to watch it 12 hours per day to burn it out in 5 years.