Since I have had very little free time for the past year, I haven't kept up to date with the latest and greatest in tech, so I didn't hear about the disturbing news that Panasonic stopped making plasmas. This would have been a major enough shock, but it was compounded by HOW I stumble upon this fact last week: While reading about SAMSUNG'S announcement that they, TOO, will stop making plasma TVs after November of this year!
Samsung to end plasma TV production this year - CNET
Talk about a major judo chop to the balls. This is the most devastating event since Andre Agassi shaved his mullet. It's a videophiliacs nightmare.
I'm really not ready financially to be splurging on a nice plasma, but with the top 2 brands calling it quits, I might have to. As I've discovered this week, Panasonics are already gone (save for some resellers that are marking up prices beyond MSRP), and Samsung doesn't have a ton of options right now. I'd like a 60", possibly bigger if I can get one at a good price, but it looks like this years Sammy 60" 1080p plasmas use PenTile displays, so they're not "full 1080p". Most people won't notice from viewing distance, but if this is going to be the last plasma I'll have the option of purchasing new, I'd rather not go with makeshift manufacturer cost-cutting workarounds.
What I'd really like to go with is the 64" PNF8500, but considering they're sitting at $2400 just about everywhere, that's not a realistic possibility right now. Think I might shoot for the 64" version of the PNH5000, which is actually a new model for 2014.
64" Class Plasma H5000 Series TV PN64H5000AFXZA | TVs
They're at $1300 now, and I'm hoping they come down a bit more in the next couple months, but at the same time, I don't want to risk what happened to a lot of people waiting on Panasonic plasmas to drop (ran out of stock instead). We shall wait a bit and see. But this is a sad day indeed.
Samsung to end plasma TV production this year - CNET
Talk about a major judo chop to the balls. This is the most devastating event since Andre Agassi shaved his mullet. It's a videophiliacs nightmare.
I'm really not ready financially to be splurging on a nice plasma, but with the top 2 brands calling it quits, I might have to. As I've discovered this week, Panasonics are already gone (save for some resellers that are marking up prices beyond MSRP), and Samsung doesn't have a ton of options right now. I'd like a 60", possibly bigger if I can get one at a good price, but it looks like this years Sammy 60" 1080p plasmas use PenTile displays, so they're not "full 1080p". Most people won't notice from viewing distance, but if this is going to be the last plasma I'll have the option of purchasing new, I'd rather not go with makeshift manufacturer cost-cutting workarounds.
What I'd really like to go with is the 64" PNF8500, but considering they're sitting at $2400 just about everywhere, that's not a realistic possibility right now. Think I might shoot for the 64" version of the PNH5000, which is actually a new model for 2014.
64" Class Plasma H5000 Series TV PN64H5000AFXZA | TVs
They're at $1300 now, and I'm hoping they come down a bit more in the next couple months, but at the same time, I don't want to risk what happened to a lot of people waiting on Panasonic plasmas to drop (ran out of stock instead). We shall wait a bit and see. But this is a sad day indeed.