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A few thoughts...

No HDTV in the UK? That's kind of sad, considering the choices that are avaiable in the US. Aren't there plans for HDTV in early 2004 for many parts of Europe?

When you visit most stores, you really need to understand that they are just a middleman for the manufacturers. Very few salesmen and manufacturer reps really know what they are talking about. Most of the time, what salesmen tell you comes straight from the rep and what the rep tells them comes from the marketing department. That's not to say there aren't some very knowlegeable reps and salesmen, but they are few and far between.

If you've decided that a plasma display is what you really want, the next thing to consider is the size of the display. Here are some general rules for determining what size is most appropriate. However, it's not written in stone that the recommended size is the only size that will work. Everyone is different in what they see and expect from a display and that is why the rule is a generalization -- not a law.

The two most popular models are the 42" and 50" plasmas. If your seating distance is 8ft - 12ft, the 42" model suits the needs of most owners. The 50" is usually recommended if the seating distance is in the 10ft - 16ft area.

If you decide on a 42" model, you'll need to decide if you need an ED model or an HD model. The ED model pixel structure is 852x480, while the HD models vary from 1024x768 to 1024x1024. Keep in mind that while the ED model isn't capable of a Hi-Def resolution, most of the ED models will still accept an HD signal and downconvert it to the displays resolution. Even downconverted, the pictures that these displays are capable of presenting are still quite breathtaking.

Again, in general, the ED model is recommended for a minimum seating distance of 8ft -- not closer. The HD model, because of its greater resolution and number of pixels, is recommended for a seating distance as close as 6ft. I don't know of too many people that would want to sit 6ft away from a 42" display, but it's capable of giving quite a nice picture should you need it. At a distance of about 8ft - 10ft, the ability to differentiate between the ED and HD models becomes very dependent on ones visual acuity. Many 42" plasma owners base their decision not on the seating distance, but on the capability of their eyesight.

If you decide to go with a 50" model, there will be no ED/HD decision -- they're all HD displays. The common pixel structure in this size is 1366x768, though some models are 1280x768. This small deviation should not be relevant in the decision making process.

As for the "What is the best plasma" theme in your post, all I can say is that choosing what's best for "you" is more important. If the Fujitsu is beyond your reach or will stretch your financial means a great deal, that's probably not the one for you. Not many people would want to deal with the ramifications of overspending and the consequences they tend to bring. At the other end, I would caution someone about the purchase of a plasma (or anything else, for that matter) just because it was the least expensive of the models. There is usually a price you have to pay for an expected level of quality and, more often than not, that expected level of quality is seldom found at the bottom of the price range.

I can tell you that the person you describe in the second to last paragraph is misleading you. All plasmas, like other displays, have certain features and adjustments that are readily accessible by the owner. The adjustments that he is referring to are located in the service menu. Most manufacturers do not give you the codes or the ability to access the service menu very easily. These adjustments should only be accessed by a qualified technician or someone who really understands what they are doing and why they are doing it. That eliminates about 90% or more of today's owners. The display can be seriously messed up, though not unresetable, if you should make changes that you shouldn't be making. It's very easy to do: I've seen the cries for help in other forums. The point that I'm trying to make is that all displays have these adjustments available -- not just one brand.

Any display that you see in an uncontrolled environment is subject to being poorly set up. How good they look, which is another very subjective point, will depend on how well they were set up at they factory, how well the store set them up, who got control of the remote and subsequent "personal calibration" duties, etc. Unless you know that the two displays you are comparing were properly set up, it's not a fair comparison. And that goes for all displays.

Based on what I have seen posted by owners, reviews in magazines and online, shootouts set up by owners and observations made in several stores by actually looking at the displays myself, here's the general consensus on the rankings: Fujitsu, Panasonic, Pioneer/NEC/Hitachi, Sony, Samsung/Daewoo/Sampo. I caution you that this is my opinion and, even though it is based on a few years of research, is not the last word on plasma displays.

Fujitsu uses glass from Panasonic, considered the best plasma glass manufacturer, in their current 50" and 42" ED model. Their 42" HD model uses Fujitsu/Hitachi glass. Their innovative processor, the AVM chip, is considered "the" plasma processor.

Panasonic, through the use of their highly acclaimed glass, comes close to the Fujitsu in picture quality. For most potential buyers, this is the one to get. Excellent electronics and the best glass for a price that's usually a good bit below the Fujitsu.

Pioneer and NEC are pretty much even, though their picture is different. The Pioneers tend to excel in color rendition, though some perceive it to be a bit much, but sacrifice a bit in black level (dark gray). The new models are an improvement, but the black levels stiil don't match the Panasonic and Fujitsu models. The NECs are are also very good performers and tend to be more neutral in color rendition, while doing a bit better than Pioneer in the black level. If you like your colors to "pop", neutral may not do it for you. But if you'd prefer your colors not to "pop", NEC may be the better choice. The picture quality on Hitachi's new models seems to be a combination/cross between Pioneer and NEC.

Sony produces some very nice designs. But if you're in it for picture quality, they're still a bit behind in that category. The Sony's tend to have a soft look and might be in need of a contrast boost. Black levels don't quite match the Pioneers.

The last three, Samsung/Daewoo/Sampo, are probably not the best choices for someone that expects that certain level of quality. It's not that they are bad displays, but compared to the others, they leave a bit to be desired. I'm sure some people will find these thoughts quite contrary to theirs. In the end, it's all subjective. One of these three might be a perfect fit for someone other than myself.

What you can do is search the internet for as much information as you can find. Visit as many stores as you can to check out as much plasma inventory as you can. Read comments from owners of the displays that you are interested in. Sometimes what you think you really want might not be what's best for you. Then again, what you want might actually be a perfect match. But make sure that the decision you make is "your" decision -- not someone elses.

And last, but not least, take a look, do some searches and researching on the best plasma forum available today:

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  Kimber Kable  

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