42" HD Ready Widescreen Plasma TV at ALDI (merged)

Woody

I wrote this in another forum about this very Plasma screen:

Caution: I am no specialist - I am sure others are. So, I could be talking out of my bottom - it's a common occurance.

However, as I understand it, HDTV broadcasts are going to be in 720P and 1080i.

720P requires a native pixel resolution of 1280 x 720 (the "p" stands for progressive scan - i.e. all 720 horizontal lines drawn in one 60hz pass)

1080i requires a native pixel resolution of 1920 x 1080 (the "i" stands for interlaced - every other horizontal line drawn in one 30hz pass)

So, you are going to be somewhat defficient in the pixel department - as Pete and Dud would say...

While watching HDTV on this screen, the inbuilt electronics would need to DOWNSCALE the image to fit.

You can still watch HDTV on the TV for sure, but you are gambling that the downscaling electronics and image processing (Philips, for example, calls it's version of this - "PixelPlus") are good enough to provide you a decent image - good enough that the price differential between a screen with native HDTV resolution and/or really good image processing and this one makes it so large that you still think you got a good deal.

It says that it is "HD" ready because it does have the electronics to display an HDTV picture - and additionally, it has an HDMI connection - which is good.

There are loads of web resources for HDTV - but a good and very readable place to start is http://www.hdtvuk.tv/

mclaren_2

Aiadi wrote:

I am not sure but I think that you are mistaken here. It won't cope with 1080p and not (i) as (p) is the real HD and (i) uses some digital trickery or something like this. I know this as my monitor copes with 1080i but not 1080p. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

it will not show 1080 as there is not 1080 lines on the tv - there is only 1024 lines. it will show a scaled down version of 1080i - but for sport, 720p is the best rather than 1080i. Also, 1080p is far 2 expensive for most people, tv sets are about to come out and will cost a few thousand

devild_2

seanparkin wrote:

Once again, the duh brigade jump in thinking they know it all...

At least they are not being arrogant. If you want to clarify/correct something then do it without being rude.... obviously no one knows as much as you think you do (oops let a bit of sarcasm slip in )

devild_2

Only kidding

terrierlady

any thoughts please on this set , 42 inch plasma the flyer said its hd ready and i wondered if anyone has just brought one or knows of the brand.£999 special offer price.

Clasics

No idea how good it is, but the brand is Tevion (which, I believe, has links to Medion?). https://www.avforums.com may be your best bet for info as to it's quality...


Edit: There's a thread here:

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=351323&highlight=aldi

Further edit: Seems like there is a problem with random 'blackouts' with this plasma and a few of the users on avforums are returning their sets for a full refund. Apparently the Tevion help desk say this problem is 'very easy' to rectify? If so, may be an idea to wait until Aldi try and offload these returned sets (with blackout problem sorted) at a 'silly' price later? Just a thought...

terrierlady

thanks for putting on the link to the av forum, seems the blackout issue is indeed widespread. Might be worth waiting to see if the issue is resolved. Hereford store had 4 left today when I visited my daughter.

leesmithg

terrierlady wrote:

any thoughts please on this set , 42 inch plasma the flyer said its hd ready and i wondered if anyone has just brought one or knows of the brand.£999 special offer price.

Thats a lot of money.

However I will wait for a few years till they hit £300, then I can afford one.

gromituk

Good idea - as everyone will be watching standard definition pictures on them 99% of the time anyway, and, as has been pointed out, the upconversion process will leave you with a fairly nasty picture.

mclaren_2

leesmithg wrote:

Thats a lot of money.

However I will wait for a few years till they hit £300, then I can afford one.

not for a 42" plasma...... they can vary from £1500 - £3000 for the 42" so tis cheap but not a money saving idea lol