HDTV suggestions

[Fulmar]

Currently I'm in the market for an HDTV.  The current Philips 27" in my living room has done its job for about 9 years.  However, the 19" Samsung LCD 720p I have in the bedroom makes the wife and I want to upgrade.  Plus the cable jack is going bad on her, the signal through it is bad causing B/W picture when its used or bad signals with garbled picture.  I'm stuck using the 1 set of RCA jacks it has.  Anyways, I've done some homework, set a budget, but I'm looking for opinions.

Requirements:
$1000 or less budget - pretty strick with this
37 - 42"
Plasma - preferred over LCD
1080p, no 720p (for reasons explained later)
Must be available at a local retailer, i.e. Best Buy etc. for pick up.

In a fairly short amount of time, I will be building an HTPC for internet access/movie - bluray/music etc playback on this HDTV.  1080p's resolution makes a quite a bit easier to use software like MediaPortal and general Windows use when needed.  A PC Input/VGA plug on the TV is not required since the motherboard I am using has an HDMI plug.

What I've found through some digging and is readily available at local stores here.  I realize my want for a Plasma at that screen size, 1080p, and price is fairly difficult, thats why I would settle for LCD, but have not a lot of experience with them (as in watching sports/movies/other stuff), other than the small bedroom one I have.

If I do go with LCD, 120hz is out of my price range at that screen size.  I much prefer the color and blacks to a Plasma.  Anyways, these are two I've found.  I'm open to any opinions.

Panasonic Viera 42" 1080p Plasma
TC-P42S1 (not the P42U1)
~$1000
Specs etc
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889187115&Tpk=p42s1

Samsung 40" LCD - 60hz
LN40B550
~$950
Spec etc
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889102259&Tpk=ln40b550
I prefer the Samsung brand, but their Plasmas are out of my size/price range.  Also, this TV offers more color options etc.

Yesterday I did visit some big box retailers before I picked these two out.  So I have not hunted them down in store to see what they really look like.  I've only read reviews.

[crazyivan]

I had my eye on a 40" sony bravio lcd 1080p the last couple months. But my computer blew few weeks ago so there went that idea. o yeah the price was right around 1000. I think I was looking at samsungs too.

[whels]

Dad just got this 1. very good pic and color. Heis happy with it.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_05775509000P?vName=Computers+%26+Electronics&cName=Televisions&sName=Flat+Panel

[Waffle]

I've had good luck with the Vizio line.. available at Walmart / Sam's / Target.

main page: http://www.vizio.com/

42"-49" products: http://www.vizio.com/productCatalog.aspx?id=1504

the 42's are around $700-850

[Masherbrum]

Panasonic Plasma's are tops in this price range.   I would consider on having you drop the extra jack on a 1080p Panny, as opposed to buying an out of date 720p.   

If you're going LCD, I strongly recommend a 37" Samsung over any other brand 42".   

I would avoid Sony TV's at all costs, they are overpriced and use the cheapest components available out of ANY brand out there.   

[Fulmar]

The Panasonic I picked out and as listed above, is a 1080p.

[Masherbrum]

The Panasonic I picked out and as listed above, is a 1080p.

Oversight on my part Fulmar, I apologize.   

Plasma's have a better picture than any LCD.   Provided you have a darker room, the black levels are ALMOST as good as a traditional CRT, but not quite.   LCD's "blacks" are never "black", regardless of tweaks made or attempted.   

I'd go with the Panny.   

[crazyivan]

Oversight on my part Fulmar, I apologize.   

Plasma's have a better picture than any LCD.   Provided you have a darker room, the black levels are ALMOST as good as a traditional CRT, but not quite.   LCD's "blacks" are never "black", regardless of tweaks made or attempted.   

I'd go with the Panny.   

Someone tould me to go LCD. My question is, Is a LCD more reliable long term? Also can you use plasmas as a CP monitor?

[Masherbrum]

Someone tould me to go LCD. My question is, Is a LCD more reliable long term? Also can you use plasmas as a CP monitor?

Ivan, you can use the current generation of Plasmas as a PC monitor.   Most folks still dog them from the 1st two generations that had severe burn in issues.   

I don't see a huge advantage anymore over "reliability" either, as compared to the first generation of plasma's that "leaked".   It was new technology at the time and took some time to iron out the wrinkles.   They've done it.

LCD vs Plasma, is a "Ford vs Chevy" BS war to most.   All I can do is try to properly and without bias give honest advice with personal experiences.   Although I will rip apart Bose and Sony at a moments notice.   Those two are the lone exceptions, because they are a waste of money, at the expense of "slick marketing and piss poor quality". 

[Rich46yo]

I have an LCD but if I had to buy today I'd get a plasma. Colors are lovely with plasmas.

Mind you Im very happy with my 42" Toshiba LCD 1080I. Im a videographer and Im still in awe of some HD content. Mainly nature shows and sports.

At the time Panasonic LCDs were hot and a good value. I dont see how you could go wrong with a Panasonic. But do go shopping and keep an open mind. Buy the set whose picture you really like.

[Soulyss]

While LCD's have come a long way in the last couple years, bang for the buck plasma will yield a better image IMHO and Panasonic makes a solid panel.  

[Fulmar]

The Samsung LCD 19" I have in the bedroom is nice and bright with pretty good colors.  The only thing I would worry about with LCD's is this 60Hz vs 120Hz business.  Every time I walk into Best Buy and I see the TV display that has the split screen of 120 vs 60 I can never notice any real difference.  Maybe its just me or maybe I didn't stare at it long enough or maybe the content they were showing (non sports) was the issue.  I do love me some Football.

[DREDIOCK]

 As a contractor I go into alot of peoples houses.
And while there are a few high def TVs that have a great picture Panasonic and Samsung are two of them.
The High def TV of any kind plasma or LCD that I've consistently seen have the best picture from house to house, under different lighting conditions is the LG's.

Thats what I wanted. But it was just out of my budget for the size I wanted (50")

Alll that being said. Someone over in NK gave me some really good advise when I was looking for mine.
Get the best one you can afford. And once you get int into your house  when its not sitting next to 20 other TVs to compare it to.
Its gonna look great no matter what.

I ended up getting a Vizio and am completely happy with it. This July I'll have had it two years and I still go "wow"

Also you may notice that if you go into different stores. the same TVs may look different from one store to the next.
I noticed in one store a panisonic that looked better then a Samsung. and in another store it was reverse. Same brands, same models.
What some stores often do is tweak the pictures on the sets they are trying to push.
And there are all sorts of things you can do to set the TVs up for a better picture

[TheflyingElk]

Vizio Has been good to me, 50 inch Plasma is all I could ever want, Battle of Britain is Awesome on a big HD screen.

[Fulmar]

I went with the Panasonic TC-P42S1.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889187115&Tpk=p42s1

I'm very impressed with it with good stock speakers.  A noticeable gain in black performance compared to my Samsung LCD.