[John Valentine]

Thanks for that information. Based on your post, I can tell you that the next time I am at Best Buy, I am going to look at these new Panasonic plasmas.

I love it when things are improved, and if there have been improvements in plasma TVs, I want to know about it! Thanks.

[eddie willers]

if there have been improvements in plasma TVs, I want to know about it! Thanks.

I was shocked too.

Long story short...an old customer finally moved into his new house taking his old $11,000 Pioneer Elite 65" plasma out of storage to put in his new place. He made a horrible mistake of wanting to put this (I guess 250~300lb) monster over a fireplace (with huge mantle) 10 ft. in the air.

Luckily, I told him let's test this before we get 4 extra vatos, 2 stools, and 2 ladders and probably drop and break this thing. Smart to test since the $11,000 Pioneer Elite 65" plasma was shot.

Since he was hot to trot I told him I would accompany to the local HH Gregg.

The whole way over I am trying to talk him OUT of a plasma due to the weight. I knew it was really a disservice to him since one of the main advantages of a plasma over an LCD (whether LED or CCT backlit) is that a plasma will retain full brightness and color from virtually any angle while an LCD only shows its best when viewed straight on. (Think of how your laptop monitor 'grays' out as you adjust it up or down). I honestly believed that a TV of the weight of his original could not be mounted by anything short of building scaffolding or renting a Genie air-conditioning lifter.

When I saw those stunning new Panasonics and that they were maybe one-third the weight, I said..."Go for it".

Yeah....it still took 4 extra vatos, 2 stools, and 2 ladders but that new 65" went straight up and and looked great....even with the necessary 20°+ angle.

And though the picture was way superior to that $11,000 Pioneer Elite, he walked out with it for $1,700 plus tax!

[BlueMondaySkipper]

I have 4 Panasonics in my house. Two 50" plasmas and two 32" LCD. They are all WAAAAYYY better than old tube TVs. One thing no one mentioned is the remotes. After having poor designs on previous TVs from the lesser brands I really like the Panasonic remotes. You can actually work them in the dark without looking.

Panasonic plasmas are simply the best thing out there. The difference in the colors and the viewing angle are huge. To make black on LCD TVs, they block the backlight to keep it from shining through. On the Panasonic plasmas, they make black by shutting off the pixel. Big difference.

Good luck