If you watch mostly TV that may not matter much, but if you largely use your system for critical film watching you may be in for a big disappointment. I suggest bringing your own DVD or Blu Ray disc with you – one with which you are very familiar – and choose a scene that tests a systems ability to show shadow detail.

The best reproduction available is still to be found on one of the better – and now nearly extinct – rear projection CRT displays such as the no longer made Pioneer Elite models. But flat panels are getting better all the time and they are far more consumer friendly.

-ds

I waited for a full year before I bought my set — so I could read up more on the topic and see if prices would fall a little more. But even my TV-indifferent wife said after a while, “just buy one!”

I remember when I was looking for an HDTV and what a huge pain it was. I actually put off getting one for over a year, because the SED sets were going to rule the world. Don’t get me started on what a mistake that was. This one time I wish I was more skeptical of technology that is around the corner.

I also recommend that no one really care about the technology curve. Every year the panels get better, the video circuitry gets better, the features are increased and improved, and so forth. Just buy it and enjoy HDTV, because even a mediocre HDTV set is much better than that 27inch standard def set.

I didn’t know about the dark room with the projector. I choked on the price and install issues.

Do you know what the biggest hurdle I had with my new HDTV was? Figuring out what I was going to do with my center channel speaker. I spent way too much grey matter time trying to figure out that puzzle.

As for Mr. Swann — he’s a really smart fellow. Knows his HD stuff inside and out and also is very skeptical of the latest fads. That’s something that’s rare of late. It’s his opinion that people like the status of a beautiful flat screen, and to an extent I agree. Am working on a feature story that touches on a state of the art new condo building, and each unit comes with a flat-screen TV built in. Clearly they think there’s some status afforded this technology.

People ask my advice about this at work all the time and I tell them all the same thing, buy the largest television that your viewing room will hold and that you can afford. The biggest regret people have in their HDTV purchase isn’t image quality or price, it is that they bought a television that was too small. Us tech types get too wrapped up in contrast ratios, resolution, etc. All those differences dissappear after spending a couple of weeks with the set and you just get used to your televisions picture.

One other word about the projector, is that guy kidding, status symbol. I don’t want to say that is idiotic, but come on. Here is what keeps people from buying a projection set:

1 – Where are you going to mount it and for most folks the install is not a DIY option.
2 – Price, if the screen costs 1000 dollars, then how much do you expect to pay for the projector? He brushed that off with some very bad advice, which would make me skeptical of anything he says. What he didn’t mention is that top of the line projector has the best image quality hands down, but expect to pay 10,000 dollars for the projector.

That being said, I much prefer plasma. I picked up one of these earlier in the year, and it’s amazing. And at just under $1,250 for a 42 inch, 1080p plasma (with free delivery), you can’t do better than Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-Viera-TH-42PZ85U-42-Inch-Plasma/dp/B00142JKRW/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1219243207&sr=8-2