Plasma vs LCD is a hard battle to pick a side. There are pros and cons to both. The only real difference when deciding is based on size.

They don't make Plasmas under 40", so if you want smaller you have to get a LCD. If you want something like a 60", then a Plasma would be alot cheaper than the same sized LCD.

LCD HDTV displays will have a higher resolution per same size comparison than plasma. The lowest resolution of a 40 inch LCD will be 1366 X 768 - easily full HD resolution in 1080i or 720p. A 42 inch HD plasma has a resolution of 1024 X 768. While this is not truly an HD resolution, it's close enough so that it's difficult to know the difference. A 50 inch plasma TV will have a resolution of 1366 X 768, while a 45 inch LCD displays 1920 X 1080 (1080P) resolution.

Those extra pixels and the production process of LCD HDTVs cost more money to produce. Expect to pay a third as much more for a similar size LCD TV than a plasma display.

The best way to pick? Choose a size, then compare them in person, and pick the one that looks best to YOU.

I'm not sure what Douche was trying to say when he said:

Quote:

If a TV boasts 1080I or P, its pretty much a set resolution, what REALLY effects it is the connection you use. HDMI is a hell of a lot better then, Component Cables IMO.

There is a difference between 1080i, and 1080p:

Movies (and most TV shows) are shot at 24 frames per second (either on film or on 24-frame-per-second HD cameras). Every TV sold in the United States has a refresh rate of 60 hertz. This means that the screen refreshes 60 times per second. In order to display 24-frame-per-second content on a display that essentially shows 60 frames per second, you need to make up or create new frames. This is accomplished by a method called 3:2 pulldown (or, more accurately, 2:3 pulldown). It doubles the first frame of film, triples the second frame, doubles the third frame, and so on, creating a 2-3-2-3-2-3 sequence. (Check out Figure 1 for a more colorful depiction.) So, the new frames don't have new information; they are just duplicates of the original film frames. This process converts 24-frame-per-second film to be displayed on a 60-Hz display.

HD DVD and Blu-ray content is 1080p/24. If your player outputs a 60-Hz signal (that is, one that your TV can display), the player is adding (creating) the 3:2 sequence. So, whether you output 1080i or 1080p, it is still inherently the same information. The only difference is in whether the player interlaces it and your TV deinterlaces it, or if the player just sends out the 1080p signal directly. If the TV correctly deinterlaces 1080i, then there should be no visible difference between deinterlaced 1080i and direct 1080p (even with that extra step). There is no new information—nor is there more resolution, as some people think. This is because, as you can see in Figure 1, there is no new information with the progressive signal. It's all based on the same original 24 frames per second.

In the case of Samsung's BD-P1000 Blu-ray player, the player interlaces the image and then deinterlaces it to create 1080p. So, you get that step regardless.

Two caveats: Other Blu-ray players can output 1080p/24. If your TV can accept 1080p/24, then it is adding the 3:2 sequence, unless it is one of the very few TVs that can change its refresh rate. Pioneer plasmas can change their refresh rate to 72 Hz, and they do a simple 3:3 pulldown (showing each film frame three times). This looks slightly less jerky.

If you're a gamer, then there is a difference, as 1080p/60 from a computer can be 60 different frames per second (instead of 24 different frames per second doubled and tripled, as with movie content). It is unlikely that native 1080p/60 content will ever be broadcast or distributed in wide numbers.

[quote="Douche McCallister"]

Knyte wrote:

I have a problem with your post, my 42' Plasma has a resolution of 1920X1080, and it's older then new ones, so not sure if it still holds true. I was saying that if a TV boasts 1080P or 1080I the difference between two sets with the same resolution, should be nil being that they are both of the same type. (Plasma and LCD)

I belive your right, after doing some more price checking online. A year or two ago, this is what I found to be the case when I was shopping around.

Also, the main difference in connections:

Component, (ie the 5 RCA plugs: Red, Blue, Green, Red audio, White Audio) can carry a maximum resolution of 1080i/720p.

HDMI and DVI are the only cables that support full 1080p. Also, HDMI, has the audio encluded in it as well, instead of seperate plugs.

Where the hell is a Sam's Club?

Must be an east coast thing.

"There is not a club within 50 miles of your search criteria."

And, shipping would be an extra $150.

Good price though. Another good place to look is Newegg.com. Alot of thier HDTVs have free shipping to your door.

Oregon. Hence, why I asked if Sam's Club was an East coast store.

Yeah, I just looked it up under wiki. It appears that Costco is the West Coast equivilent.