What TV

[Norman Verona]

Sorry to ba a pain but I've a short memory span.

Baering in mind that HM and I have poor eysight and can't tell the diffference between a normal station and HD (well the HD is probably a bit "crisper") the quesrtion is.....

What are the downsides to this 42" Samsung plasma TV  1024x768

It's on specail offer at the supermarket for 639€ (£514) and seeing as otheres all much dearer all I want to know is where's the catch?

Many thanks and sorry to bring this subject up again.

[Captain Colonial]

Some gobbledegook for you...

Otherwise, it appears it's a model only sold in Frogland, so hard to get any info.

This lifted from a consumer site - read it while you can:

Best TV brands: Samsung

Average score: 46% Current Best Buys: 0 from 20

Brand reliability: Above average

We can’t help but think that Samsung’s position as the biggest selling TV manufacturer in the UK is more down to brilliant marketing and the chic glossy black (and now much imitated) finish of most of its LCD and plasma TVs. In terms of product quality, we have witnessed some picture improvement of late, but TVs often still teeter on the wrong side of mediocre.

With Samsung, it’s not always the case that the more you spend the better you get. The 2008 entry level series 4 models tend to perform better in our viewing tests than the higher priced and higher specification series 5 and series 6 models. Nevertheless when put through our comparative viewing tests Samsung pictures, despite some lovely detail, tend to look a little over-enhanced.

Sound quality is usually disappointing and Samsung TVs have struggled to soothe the ears of our exacting listening panel. They’re also lacking in energy efficiency measures such as light sensors and screen blanking – features which are now standard on many rivals.

On the plus side its sets are normally cheaper than the average Sony or Panasonic, do tend to have lots of nice features (USB sockets, media card slots) and with a chic, shiny black finish they're usually some of the best looking.

We normally find them fairly intuitive to use but our ergonomics team usually has a good moan about the cluttered, over-sized remote controls. However, if you're looking for a TV to use principally as a PC monitor, Samsung is one of the best and has performed well in our PC tests in the past.

FOR: Good value for money and sumptuous looks

AGAINST: Higher end models aren’t all they’re cracked up to be, sound is usually below par, lacking in energy saving features

Hope that helps.

[Norman Verona]

Captain, Thanks for that. I was really asking about the spec.

I've read a lot of double dutch about plasam v LCD and about resolution sizes.

Still totally confused.

[Captain Colonial]

HD-ready: 1080p Look for this new official logo if you also plan on buying a high-definition Blu-ray player. HDTV pictures come in two main formats – 1080i and 1080p – depending on the number of horizontal lines that make up the picture and the way they’re broadcast.

HD broadcasters mainly use 1080i. The ‘i’ means that the 1,080 lines are ‘interlaced’ – so all even-numbered lines are scanned first and then odd ones, to make a picture.

HD-ready: The 'HD-ready' logo ensures your TV has the minimum screen resolution (1280x720) and digital sockets (either HDMI or DVI) necessary to receive and display a 1080i high definition signal.

However, remember that just because a TV is labelled HD ready, don't expect to get home, plug it in and start watching picture quality of the like you've never seen before. HD isn't on Freeview yet but is available on Sky or Virgin for a monthly fee, or via the new Freesat satellite service for free.

High-definition DVD on the other hand uses the 1080p format. A 1080p image is made by lines scanned one after another – making pictures sharper and more detailed than 1080i – but in reality the difference is quite subtle.

Many HD ready TVs cannot process a 1080p signal, so look for the new official ‘HD ready 1080p’ logo to be sure of full compatibility. If the TV doesn't support 1080p it simply switches to 1080i. The loss in quality may be small but if you're after the very best picture available, worth considering.

As far as LCD vs plamsa goes, IMHO go plasma (better rendition), but:

> Make sure you don't leave a still image from a Wii or paused DVD or menu up for hours (screen burn, not as bad as older plasmas, but can still be done)

> Sets come straight from the manufacturer with brightness and colours turned way up to look good on retailers shelves.  TURN IT DOWN - at least for the first 200 hours or so - to protect the screen.

[V8grunt]

Hi Norm

I put the following on a blog the other day.

I was at my mates house and he put the film "Transformers" on via is projector which is 5 years old, but one of the best available then,

I was blown away buy the quality... and the size of the picture can be like sitting at the pictures!

One of the posters said that for around the £350 mark you can get a Quality projector that when fitted up with the surround sound will blow you away.

All you need is a large flat wall painted with the correct "Projector paint"

Hope I haven't put the cat amongst the pigeons!

[headland blue]

IS someone going to give a upside of buying this samsung

[Norman Verona]

I can't tell the difference between normal transmission and HD on my sons TV so picture quality isn't that important.

I haven't got a large flat wall so projectors are out (stone walls)

Captain, thanks for that some interesting points

Marcus. You win the lollypop - that's the question.

[Cleggy the Spyder Man]

as captain says in the main ... however when you go into shops they tend to say either "HD" ready or "Full HD" ... the first being 1080i the second 1080p...

If you can afford a 1080p tv then go for it, it will be a little more future proof, although there are talks of even higher defenition broadcasts at some point in the future that will make even 1080p tv's old hat ....

Dunno about the Samsung in question, but there are loads of 1080i tv's 42" about at that sorta price ...

Start your research here http://www.homecinemachoice.com/reviews I have purchased all my gear through advise from this website/magazine#

Plasma vs LCD...varies really, read the reviews...some say that the plasma is softer and more watchable although some prefer the brighter sharper pictures of the LCD...either way go by the reviews as the performance varies dramatically between the two..

Dont forget that HD DVD format is dead ... Sonys Blue ray is the HD format for playing discs/films ... so guy buy a sony ps3 then you have all angles covered with games and movies (this is when 1080p full hd pictures come into their own, althought there are not too many 1080p games)

[Norman Verona]

Cleggy (of the small picture) I think in a way you've hit the nail on the head. We don't have games and hardly watch DVD's. We watch TV in the winter but hardly in the summer. I listed to Radio 4 from a sky box most of the day (winter only).

Just looking for a low cost large screen so we can see the bl00dy thing.

[Cleggy the Spyder Man]

you like my slightly larger than the small picture?

go for a 42" plasma ...like I say there are loads about ...I would try and find one that has a good review ...and If ya cant find a review on the one you have looked at then dont bother

Or you could always simply move closer to your existing tv  

I have a 42" hitachi plasma purchase a few years ago for £1200 ... I think these can now be had for £5-600

I have a 1080p projector too ... so tv through the plasma and when I wanna watch a film I stick on the ps3 through the projector ... best of both worlds

[Norman Verona]

I think we'll call you Cleggy the shrinking banana

Thanks for the info. You should see us when there's something to read on the telly.

Me: what's that say, my sweetheart

HM: no idea, can't read a word

Me: put your glasses on darling

HM: I've got them on you stupid bu99er

Me: Oh, OK then you old cow.

Of course by the time this dialogue is complete whatever it is we wanted to read is long gone.

We're watching on a 23" Phillips LCD which is on a wall bracket about 5' off the floor. When we lived in the UK this set up was fine because we sat a lot nearer because the TV was inside the unused brick fireplace. Also we watched about 1 hour a night, if that. Now that we're here and don't have pubs to visit every night we watch most nights in the winter. In the summer we're normally outside until 11pm.

Looks like I'll get the Samsung tomorrow. Normal price is 699€ but it's on offer at 639€ and I can only do 2€ better searching the net.

Oh, and by the way, don't laugh too much at the above - you'll be there one day!  

[Cleggy the Spyder Man]

hehe ... you need one of those tv magnifiers like they did in the 60's

[Norman Verona]

We had one of those, but it was in the '50's  

Do you know where I can get one. Must be cheaper.

[MARTIN T]

Last year I bought a 42" Pioneer plasma, very very happy with it, very nice picture but I do have Virgin HD and a Blue-ray and HD DVD player

[bhouse]

Norman - I suspect the reason it's cheap is that anything offering less than full HD spec (1920 x 1440 pixels) is seen as 'inferior' and the shops want to offload it fast. It's largely a matter of fashion.

1020 x768 will still be a fair bit sharper than standard PAL (or rather SECAM for you Francophiles!).

If you're watching the TV from more than 2.5m away, it is unlikely you would see a difference between the Samsung you're considering and a full 1920x1440 HD model.

The really tricky bit is to find something worth watching...

Brian