With LG Out, Plasma HDTVs Are Dead

[UCLAN]

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2471112,00.asp

LG was one of the two remaining pillars of plasma screens in the market after
Panasonic shut down production last year. Now LG is leaving plasma as well,
according to Reuters. Sony abandoned plasma years ago. Toshiba, Vizio, and JVC
don't make plasma screens anymore. Chinese manufacturers like TCL and Hisense,
meanwhile, haven't given plasma so much as a glance.

[Ron]

Post by UCLAN
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2471112,00.asp
LG was one of the two remaining pillars of plasma screens in the market
after Panasonic shut down production last year. Now LG is leaving plasma
as well, according to Reuters. Sony abandoned plasma years ago. Toshiba,
Vizio, and JVC don't make plasma screens anymore. Chinese manufacturers
like TCL and Hisense, meanwhile, haven't given plasma so much as a glance.

Well, that sucks.

And the author says "LCD screens, which have dropped in price to the
point that they're dirt cheap even compared to low-end plasmas from two
years ago." At Best Buy a 50" Samsung plasma is still $150 less than a
50" Samsung LED.

This news makes me wanna go buy a plasma and store it.

[Gene E. Bloch]

Post by Ron

Post by UCLAN
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2471112,00.asp
LG was one of the two remaining pillars of plasma screens in the market
after Panasonic shut down production last year. Now LG is leaving plasma
as well, according to Reuters. Sony abandoned plasma years ago. Toshiba,
Vizio, and JVC don't make plasma screens anymore. Chinese manufacturers
like TCL and Hisense, meanwhile, haven't given plasma so much as a glance.

Well, that sucks.
And the author says "LCD screens, which have dropped in price to the
point that they're dirt cheap even compared to low-end plasmas from two
years ago." At Best Buy a 50" Samsung plasma is still $150 less than a
50" Samsung LED.
This news makes me wanna go buy a plasma and store it.

On BestBuy, I see 50" plasmas from $480 to $1200, but two of them are
720P, including a refurbished one. Dropping them, I see $550 to $1200.

On the same site, I see 50" LCDs from $370 to $1600. Omitting the 720P,
a refurbished set, and two 4K sets leaves a price range of $430 to
$1100.

This is more informative than cherry-picking statistics, in my opinion.

[Ron]

Post by Gene E. Bloch

Post by Ron

Post by UCLAN
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2471112,00.asp
LG was one of the two remaining pillars of plasma screens in the market
after Panasonic shut down production last year. Now LG is leaving plasma
as well, according to Reuters. Sony abandoned plasma years ago. Toshiba,
Vizio, and JVC don't make plasma screens anymore. Chinese manufacturers
like TCL and Hisense, meanwhile, haven't given plasma so much as a glance.

Well, that sucks.
And the author says "LCD screens, which have dropped in price to the
point that they're dirt cheap even compared to low-end plasmas from two
years ago." At Best Buy a 50" Samsung plasma is still $150 less than a
50" Samsung LED.
This news makes me wanna go buy a plasma and store it.

On BestBuy, I see 50" plasmas from $480 to $1200, but two of them are
720P, including a refurbished one. Dropping them, I see $550 to $1200.
On the same site, I see 50" LCDs from $370 to $1600. Omitting the 720P,
a refurbished set, and two 4K sets leaves a price range of $430 to
$1100.
This is more informative than cherry-picking statistics, in my opinion.

Who is cherry-picking stats?. I'm talking about a 50" TV made by the
same manufacturer. One being plasma, and the other LED.

Now that I look at it again, the the LED is a "smart" TV. Whatever. I
don't care about that. I guess one could argue that is where the $150.00
difference comes in? I'll take the plasma over the "smart" LED for
$150.00 less any day. I want the TV with the best picture.

Samsung - 50" Class (49-1/2" Diag.) - LED - 1080p - 120Hz - Smart - HDTV
Sale: $699.99

Samsung - 51" Class (50-3/4" Diag.) - Plasma - 1080p - 600Hz - HDTV
Sale: $549.99

I don't know why you don't want to include 720s. I go buy the 10 foot
"rule" when it comes to 50" TVs.

I see these at BB.

Dynex™ - 50" Class (49-1/2" Diag.) - LED - 720p - 60Hz - HDTV
Sale: $369.99

Samsung - 51" Class (50-3/4" Diag.) - Plasma - 720p - 600Hz - HDTV
Model: PN51F4500BFXZA
$399.99

I'll take the Samsung for $30.00 more.

My little brother bought that Samsung model from Best Buy almost a year
ago for $420.00 (open box) regular price was $500.00. I just found out
tonight that he bought another one about 5 months ago for the above price.

We live 500 miles apart so we only see each other once or twice a year.

I was with him last November when bought his first one and it has a
great picture. It has a better picture than my 50" 720 Panasonic that I
bought in "09. It's a bit brighter, and stays sharper when you get
closer to the screen. I can understand why it could be brighter, but I
thought 720 was 720. Don't know why his is sharper the closer you get to
the screen.

[Gene E. Bloch]

Post by Ron
Who is cherry-picking stats?. I'm talking about a 50" TV made by the
same manufacturer. One being plasma, and the other LED.

I thought the question was whether plasmas are cheaper than LEDs, not
whether one manufacturers has a plasma cheaper than an LED somewhere in
their lineup.

Post by Ron
I don't know why you don't want to include 720s. I go buy the 10 foot
"rule" when it comes to 50" TVs.

That should have been obvious to you, but here it is: to compare
*comparable* items.

[Ron]

Post by Gene E. Bloch

Post by Ron
Who is cherry-picking stats?. I'm talking about a 50" TV made by the
same manufacturer. One being plasma, and the other LED.

I thought the question was whether plasmas are cheaper than LEDs, not
whether one manufacturers has a plasma cheaper than an LED somewhere in
their lineup.

They are cheaper unless you buy an off brand POS LED.

Post by Gene E. Bloch

Post by Ron
I don't know why you don't want to include 720s. I go buy the 10 foot
"rule" when it comes to 50" TVs.

That should have been obvious to you, but here it is: to compare
*comparable* items.

So, you can only compare 1080s and not 720s? And if you are going to
compare *comparable* items that is what you need to do.

Are these comparable items? I guess so since brand doesn't seem to
matter to you. So there you go. A "dirt cheap" 50" LED TV that cost less
than a much better Samsung plasma. You and the author are right.

Dynex™ - 50" Class (49-1/2" Diag.) - LED - 720p - 60Hz - HDTV
Sale: $369.99

Samsung - 51" Class (50-3/4" Diag.) - Plasma - 720p - 600Hz - HDTV
Model: PN51F4500BFXZA
$399.99