Topic: Plasma TV's

[Clive]

OK so we come to London for a few days and end up in Homebase, Wickes and Curry's.  Makes a change from M&S I suppose.    Curry's are doing a 42" Samsung Plasma telly at 50% off.  My son who knows everything says they only last 3 years but my cousin who is a hi fi enthusiast says that he hasn't heard any bad reports about them and has one himself.  Any comments (especially negative) would be appreciated as it's still a lot of cash to fork out even with a 50% discount.

[Rodders]

Clive, just make sure you take out the 5-year extended warranty.  This sounds like one of the few occasions on which the extra outlay will be a worthwhile gamble!   8)

[Whiskas]

I briefly worked for a company that sold them and as far as I'm aware they were pretty good. Don't know if they only last 3 yrs though.

[Simon]

Well, personally I've never had any Samsung equipment, because I've never considered them to be at the top end of the market as far as build quality goes, but if it's at the right price, and you can get an extended warranty, it might be worth considering.  

I don't know if it's the same model, but Richer Sounds are doing a Samsung for £2199 - SEE HERE[/url].

[Clive]

I hate extended warranties and that would bump the price up by a lot of money.  My son claims that the picture quality deteriorates after 3 years and of course you can't take it to your local repair guy to get it fixed.  I really don't know what to do about it.  Your words are very encouraging Whiskas.  I think I'll take a second look at it tomorrow.

[Clive]

That is substantially cheaper than Currys but of course it may be an older model.  The Currys model has 160 degree vision but thats all I noticed.  That will be the first thing I'll check Simon.  Thanks very much for that.

[Simon]

Just make a note of the model numbers, Clive.  Hope you get a good deal - I shall be extremely jealous because I would like one, but unfortunately it keeps slipping down the priority ladder!  

[Clive]

My cousin has a 62" model which set him back £12,000 a year ago, but the 42" is far more reasonable.  I will certainly makea note of the model number though.

[Simon]

The Richer Sounds one does not include a tuner[/b], so check that out with the Curry's one too, Clive.  If there's no tuner, you wouldn't be able to watch terrestrial TV without a Digi-Box.

[Clive]

The Curry's one includes a tuner and two very smart satellite speakers, but that doesn't justify the £800 extra does it?

[Simon]

I suppose it depends if you have a Digi-Box or not.  If you don't, and have a TV with no tuner, you will have to either sign up for Sky Digital, or get one of the new Freeview boxes for £99, but the service is not available in some areas as yet.  :-";"xx

[Clive]

Yes I already have a digi box.

[Simon]

Well, if you have a digi box, then you could theoretically live without a tuner.  You would obviously get a better picture quality with Digital anyway, so maybe it's questionable as to whether it's worth paying an extra £800 for a tuner?  I think you'll have to trust your instincts on this one, Clive!  Is there a Richer Sounds near you, so you could look at both of them?

[Sandra]

There was a expert guy on the radio a couple of weeks back discussing audio and visual stuff. He advised against getting a plasma TV at the moment due to the pixels burning out after a few years.Apparently its ok to lose a few but after you lose so many you will get gaps in the screen that make it look terrible.When that happens its not repairable except by replacing it with a new one  

[Clive]

That is obviously what my son is on about Sandra.  Decisions decisions.