Looking for a new TV

[Electro]

I am looking for a new TV. I am looking for a 40-46" for under 750 (before taxes). The reason this is my price range is I'm going to be purchasing two for the house. I want to get two of the same model. Anyone have any recommendations?

[Kurp]

Panasonic VIERA 42" 1080p Plasma $750

I have a similar TV, although of a different, slightly more expensive line. It looks great and I'd recommend it to anyone. I didn't have to pay sales tax (not sure about your state.) The shipping was free and it arrived in under a week.

[Electro]

I've heard that plasmas have a sharper pictures (newer ones) but don't have a long life expectancy. Is this true? I've been wanting to stay away from Plasma because of all the bad I've heard. I have not heard anything too great about them tbh. Then again I don't know many people with a Plasma.

[Kurp]

Many manufacturers rate plasma TVs at 60000 hours until half-life. Even if you halve that to 30000 that's 1250 days of continuous operation or over 13 years at 6 hours per day.

That's going off what manufacturers list, but even half of what they claim is a long time. Technology will probably advance enough where you would want to purchase a new TV well before the time where a plasma would 'wear out.'

[kareface]

I've heard that plasmas have a sharper pictures (newer ones) but don't have a long life expectancy. Is this true? I've been wanting to stay away from Plasma because of all the bad I've heard. I have not heard anything too great about them tbh. Then again I don't know many people with a Plasma.

Plasmas are easier to burn in images on, weigh more, don't work as well as LCDs in brightly lit rooms and use more power the LCDs. Other then that, in every other measurable way plasmas are better. Image quality, color reproduction, black levels, artifacting and screen tearing, viewing angle, everything that matters to the quality of the image is better on a plasma. As long as you don't do anything that would create burn-in or watch TV with the sun behind you I would go with a plasma over an LCD any day of the week.