50" Panasonic VIERA TC-P50U50 1080p Plasma HDTV $600 + Free shipping (expired)

Quote from BIGFOOT_PI : no, just an age where people that give a crap about their media setup get a multi-HDMI receiver(4 to 8 hdmi INs), making it so they technically dont need more than 1 hdmi input on the TV. ANd in that preferred scenario, think of the 2nd hdmi port as a backup in case one dies. if you dont have a newer multi-HDMI receiver then look into it. Why would anyone buy a 50" plasma and NOT already have a minimum 4 HDMI surround setup? If one is cheap/frugal,the panasonic 1022-k is $249 right now at newegg and has 6 HDMI in. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Pro...17410-L02C

2 inputs is pretty weak. That is really the absolute minimum since I will plug in a mobile device to the TV directly to view things in a pinch. Much easier that dealing with my receiver.

Totally agree that a video switching receiver is the way to go but this 2 HDMI In model is pretty bare bones even for users that have that type of a receiver. Then again it's only $600 and for many this would be a 2nd or 3rd type TV.

Quote from chong67 : Like the price but Plasma gives off so much heat. At the front, at the back, at the top. It is competing with me on hot summer days.

I bought the Panasonic VIERA TC-P50S30 for $600 last BF. It doesn't put out much heat and the picture is really phenomenal -- you won't want to go back to LCD once you've seen a plasma.

Can anyone tell me how this model stacks up against the TC-P50S30? These model names are so confusing.

Quote from Kelter : great deal but im really looking for 3D ready so i think ill pass

3D is going nowhere. Skip it.

Quote from YadGadge : Quote from Tigerlilly50 :sears also had the toshiba for 299. how can you go wrong for kids room or just an extra tv? You can't be too wrong at 299. I wasn't saying the 299 one is a bad choice, at that price it is a really great deal, the Toshiba is especially great. 720p is fine, and most people will never know the difference. For myself I often hook up computers to TVs, so 1080p is really nice for the extra pixels in that case. Also, I've had issues with cropping on 720p TVs when using it as a monitor (edges of videos get cut off etc), haven't had that with 1080p.

I still remember when I bought the first plasma tv for 9,000 and the silly thing blew up after three years. Just love the 299 price for a spare room tv. wouldn't want it in the family room but the grandkids would love it in their rooms.

Quote from 198four : Only 2 HDMI? Are we living in the stone age?

Nah. Just the A/V receiver age with plenty of HDMI.

Edit: Ooops. Didn't read ahead before posting. Had already been mentioned. So, nevermind!

Quote from bjsguess : 2 inputs is pretty weak. That is really the absolute minimum since I will plug in a mobile device to the TV directly to view things in a pinch. Much easier that dealing with my receiver. Totally agree that a video switching receiver is the way to go but this 2 HDMI In model is pretty bare bones even for users that have that type of a receiver. Then again it's only $600 and for many this would be a 2nd or 3rd type TV.

and many receivers have a front HDMI for just such a purpose,, but yes- the initial impression of "2 HDMI" inplies cost cutting... but what did one expect for $600?

Quote from Invisiblemoose : I bought the Panasonic VIERA TC-P50S30 for $600 last BF. It doesn't put out much heat and the picture is really phenomenal -- you won't want to go back to LCD once you've seen a plasma. Can anyone tell me how this model stacks up against the TC-P50S30? These model names are so confusing.

It is funny why I never get out of LCD. I read LCD is better than LED because it has better uniform backlight? Those LED backlight have problems.

So I dont know what to get.

Quote from chong67 : It is funny why I never get out of LCD. I read LCD is better than LED because it has better uniform backlight? Those LED backlight have problems. So I dont know what to get.

LED is LCD. I think you mean ccfl backlit LCD vs LED backlit, but I was under the impression that they're pretty much all going to LED backlit now.

Also, it's the edgelit LED that seems to have the most issues with uniformity. Full array LED is more uniform, but it isn't as thin so it's not as popular with people that seem more interested in looking at their TVs from the side than the front...

Quote from 198four : Only 2 HDMI? Are we living in the stone age?

No, but it's the bronze age. I have one of the first bronze age TVs has ONE HDMI, but it's not 1080p, just 1080i. Never hooked up a device during most of its life, but years later, discovered the limitation.

Component Cable, now that's the stone age!

S-Video or Composite Cable, ice age?

Quote from SaneLemming : LED is LCD. I think you mean ccfl backlit LCD vs LED backlit, but I was under the impression that they're pretty much all going to LED backlit now. Also, it's the edgelit LED that seems to have the most issues with uniformity. Full array LED is more uniform, but it isn't as thin so it's not as popular with people that seem more interested in looking at their TVs from the side than the front...

I see. So few years ago they are called LCD. Now its called LED?

The only way to tell if a LED is full array is by their thickness?

So dont buy thin LED and you will not have this problem?

Quote from chong67 : I see. So few years ago they are called LCD. Now its called LED? The only way to tell if a LED is full array is by their thickness? So dont buy thin LED and you will not have this problem?

They are all LCD. LED refers to the backlighting system. Older systems used fluorescent tubes, newer systems use LED lights. If there are LED lights in a full array behind the LCD then it has fewer issues making even light, but it is thicker due to the number of LED lights. If there are LED lights along the edge, it is thinner but has more issues illuminating evenly.

Just so people aren't too confused and to stay on topic, this set is plasma which is not really related to LCD at all. And plasmas have much much better lighting and contrast in comparison to LCDs -- they don't use any backlighting at all. The individual pixels of plasma make the corresponding phosphor glow, sort of like old CRT sets made phosphor glow. So black can be true black with no light behind it.

Quote from chong67 : I see. So few years ago they are called LCD. Now its called LED? The only way to tell if a LED is full array is by their thickness? So dont buy thin LED and you will not have this problem?

No, LED is simply a type of LCD. There are still LCD displays that do not utilize LED technology.

You can't necessarily tell wether or not a LED is full array simply by their thickness. There are some relatively thin full array LED's just like there are thick edge lit displays. However, as someone alluded earlier, typically full array displays are thicker than edge lit displays. The only way to know for sure is to look at the manufacturer's specs.

Again, you can have thick LED displays that are edge lit and will still have a uniformity problem. Best bet is to look up reviews from trusted reviewers and most importantly check out the TV in person.

Thank you Original Poster. Discover Card 5% Cashback on Amazon and no tax makes this a better deal than at Sam's Club with Tax.

Glad to upgrade from 2006 industrial Plasma which has ZERO HDMI inputs, since they sold it w/o HDMI and made you buy an add on HDMI card if you wanted one. Six years later and those add-on HDMI cards are only going higher in price, it was more worth it to buy a new TV.


There is nothing better than this deal this Black Friday season, excellent stepping stone to wait for this $10,000 OLED TV to come down in price:
http://www.lg.com/uk/tvs/lg-55EM960V-oled-tv

Bummer it doesn't ship to my address...
Just found out Costco has same thing for 599 + tax
but tax is worth it cuz of 90 day return and 2 yr warranty.

Quote from chong67 : Like the price but Plasma gives off so much heat. At the front, at the back, at the top. It is competing with me on hot summer days.

Yes, but it will keep you warm during the winter