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Panasonic VIERA TC-P50ST30 50-Inch 3D Plasma HDTV – Full 1080p – TV Review

April 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Panasonic 50 Inch 3D Plasma TV

While the TC-P50ST30 is a middle of the road offering from Panasonic, that doesn’t mean it’s not any good – quite the contrary, actually. You still get plenty of features like internet connectivity, 3D picture, and superior black level performance, but at a price that won’t break the bank like so many high end 3D televisions.

And one of the nice features of the latest plasma TVs is the reduced power consumption so they don’t use as much electricity as they used to.

Also, one of the little known facts about the newer generation of 3D TVs is that they actually have superior 2D performance over standard HDTVs.

So if you’re looking for a nice plasma screen for your home or man cave for less than $1500, we think this one will be great for all but the most discerning and demanding of consumers.

Just click the “more information” link to see the price – we’re not actually allowed to show it to you unless you “ask.”

Panasonic VIERA TC-P50ST30 50-Inch 1080p 3D Plasma HDTV

Panasonic VIERA TC-P50ST30 50-Inch 1080p 3D Plasma HDTV Rating:
List Price: $1,299.95
Sale Price: $899.00
Availability: unspecified

Product Description

Panasonic VIERA TC-P50ST30 50-Inch 1080p 3D Plasma HDTV

Details

  • Full HD 3D
  • Infinite Black 2 Panel
  • VIERA Connect Wi-Fi Ready
  • VIERA Image Viewer H.264 with 3D Playback
  • Your display may be ready for 3D playback, but you'll still need a device to read 3D content. This can be a cable box with a subscription to a 3D channel, a 3D Blu-ray Disc player, or a PlayStation 3 system.

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Used HDTV Buying Guide – Plasma TV – LCD TVs

December 3, 2010 By 1 Comment

Used HDTV Buying Guide – Plasma – LCD TVs

In the world of HDTVs, you’ll find plenty of used TVs for sale on online marketplaces like eBay and locally on Craigslist.   However, buying a used HDTV is a minefield and needs to be navigated very carefully.

If all you need is a cheap CRT TV, then buy all means, hop onto your favorite classified site – you can probably pick one up for $25 or less (I’ve seen people giving them away if you’ll come pick them up).   HDTVs, however, are a different animal entirely.

One of the main pitfalls in this market is the asking price.  While on eBay the prices are market driven, local classifieds are not.  The problem is that most people tend to remember how much they paid for the TV and don’t realize how much the market has changed over the past few years.

Keep in mind that a 47” LCD TV that cost $1800 just two years ago now costs under $700 and you’ll get a better contrast ratio and more bells and whistles (like built in WiFi and more HDMI inputs) on the new unit.  Can you see why the used HDTV market is such a minefield?   New equipment is quite simply better and cheaper… oh yeah, and it lasts longer too!

No matter what, remember these basic rules:

  • Used Plasma TVs should be 2008 and later – don’t bother with earlier models (the only exception would be a Pioneer Elite Kuro)
  • It should be significantly cheaper than a new one based on size, brand, and features (My rule of thumb is 50% cheaper than current generation models… at least!).  Remember you’re not getting a warranty and repairs don’t come cheap.
  • Most problems on HDTVs happen during year one or after year five – stick to that golden four year window when you can.
  • If looking at LCD, make sure it has at least a 120hz refresh rate.
  • If a plasma, ask about any burn in.
  • Ask to see the TV playing a movie, preferably a Blu-ray action movie.

Here are some tips specifically for purchasing online and buying locally:

Buying A Used HDTV Online

If you look on online marketplaces like eBay for a used plasma TV or used LCD TV, you’re likely to find plenty of choices.  However, by the time you pay for shipping on the unit, in many cases you could have just purchased a brand new one for just a bit more.

If you must, make sure that the seller is shipping the item in its original packaging.  HDTVs are bulky, heavy, and fragile.  Trust me, as someone who sold neon signs on eBay for a while in the early 2000s, the bulky, heavy,  fragile trifecta is the nearly impossible to ship safely.  If the person is an amateur at packaging, the situation is even worse.   If they at least have the original packing materials, the TV at least stands a chance and it’s the only way that FedEx or UPS will even accept a damage claim.

Buying A Used HDTV Locally (preferred)

These days you’ll probably find the best deals on Craigslist and the best selection.
If you’re going to buy a used plasma or LCD TV, this option is highly recommended over buying online as you’ll only have to drive it across town and you don’t have to worry about how UPS will treat the package or whether the seller has the original packaging any longer.

You can also frequently see the unit working before you buy it (I wouldn’t buy one that I couldn’t see working).  If a unit has issues, don’t bother, most parts for HDTVs, especially plasmas are enormously expensive so unless you’re buying it for parts to fix your own, you’re far better off getting a new one.

While my recommendation is to always purchase “new” when you’re shopping for your next plasma or LCD TV, I hope this guide will help you if you have your heart set on buying one that is used.

If you decide that you’re instead looking for a cheap LCD or cheap Plasma TV that’s new, here are a few good ones:

Cheap LCD TVs:

LG 42LD550 42-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV with Internet Applications LG 42LD550 42-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV with Internet Applications
Average Rating:
158 total customer reviews...
VIZIO E420VL 42-inch Class LCD HDTV 120Hz 1080p VIZIO E420VL 42-inch Class LCD HDTV 120Hz 1080p
Average Rating:
61 total customer reviews...

Cheap Plasma TVs:


Average Rating:
total customer reviews...
Panasonic VIERA TC-P50G25 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV Panasonic VIERA TC-P50G25 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
Average Rating:
201 total customer reviews...

Cheap Plasma TVs:

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What Size HD TV Should I Get For My Room – Plasma – LCD – LED

November 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Whether you’re thinking about buying a Plasma TV, LCD TV, or LED TV, one factor you should consider is what size will work best in your room.

Get a TV that’s too small and it’ll look tiny in the room, get one too big and it will overpower the room and be unpleasant to watch.

In this guide, I’ll just give you the quick rule of thumb for getting the size of your HDTV right. Yes, I know your budget will play a role in what you can get, so be sure to read my cheap LCD TV buying guide, and recommendations for best budget LCD TV and best budget plasma TV.

That said, the rule of thumb is to take the number of inches away from the TV you sit and divide by 3 for the minimum size and divide by 1.5 for the maximum size.

For example, let’s say you sit 10 feet

Handy Dandy HDTV Sizing Chart:

Distance From TV   Mininum Size   Maximum Size
6′                                    26″                         46″
8′                                    32″                         63″
10′                                 40″                         80″
12′                                  46″                         96″
14′                                  52″                         112″
16′                                  65″                         128″

I’ve found people typically sit between 10-14 feet from their televisions except in bedrooms which would mean a 40″ TV at a minimum and a 112″ TV at the maximum. From a practical standpoint, a 50 or 55″ in television should meet your needs nicely without breaking the bank. 65″ TVs are easily available for large rooms but tend to run in the $4,000-$5,000 price range which I know is more than most people are planning to pay for their main HDTV but still much cheaper than the larger models. Anything bigger than 65″ and the price tends to get out of hand quickly (we’re talking $20,000 and up once you get into 80″ models and up).

The short answer for getting the right size TV is that in most cases it’s hard to get a TV that’s too big unless you plan on using it as a computer.

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How Long Do Plasma TVs Last?

September 9, 2010 By 1 Comment

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Best Budget Plasma TV

August 26, 2010 By 3 Comments

If you’re looking to get a lot of TV for not a lot of money, then this post is for you.

In this post, I’m going to focus on the best budget plasma TVs as I think your money goes a little further with plasma than with LCD or LED technology.

720p or 1080p

In this post, most of the TVs I’ll discuss feature 720p resolution.  It’s still considered HD, but it doesn’t have the same resolution as high end plasma and LED TVs that have a resolution of 1920×1080.  For a 42 inch display, 720p is quite acceptable and you’ll still get a good picture on a 50 inch display as well.

50 inch or 42 inch screen

One of the easiest ways to save yourself a couple hundred bucks (or more) in the HDTV market is to opt for the smaller 42 inch screens.   If you have a small to average size living room, a 42 inch screen will be plenty big.  If you have a large family room or you’re setting up a dedicated home theater room, you’ll want to go with at least 50 inches.

Best Budget Plasma TV – The Contenders

Samsung PN50C450 & PN42C450 – Editor’s Choice

If you’re looking for a quality plasma TV but don’t need a lot of bells and whistles, then the Samsung PN50C450 (50 inch) and Samsung PN42C450 (42 inch) plasma displays are the ones I recommend.  While they’re only 720p resolution, the sub $700 price tag (50 inch) and $550 price tag (42 inch) more than make up for it.  You’ll also get a good combination of blacks and picture quality.

LG 50PJ350 & 42PJ350

The LG 350 series comes in a close second and if you want a lot of features to make picture adjustments, these are the TVs that you’ll want to consider.  LG has a reputation for packing a lot of upscale features into their budget TV offerings.  You’ll still get good picture quality (720p resolution) and at less than $700 for the 50 inch model, you’ll get a great deal.  The 42 inch 42PJ350 will run you about $500.  (You should be able to get free shipping from major online retailers)

Panasonic TC-P50C2 & TC-P42C2

Panasonic currently produces the best high end plasma TVs, but their budget offerings lik the TC-P50C2 (50 inch) and Tc-P42C2 (42 inch) are still good choices for the budget conscious consumer.  The image quality and blacks are above average though you’ll get very few features, limited connectivity, and you’ll probably want to get a separate sound system as sound quality on these TVs aren’t very good.  Again, these TVs feature 720p resolution and will run $700 and $525 respectively.

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