I would hold for a 1080p. True, that most sources are no higher the 720p or 1080i, but blue-ray and PS3 uses the 1080p and my kids (spoiled I know) complain that the 65"DLP is no 1080p for the PS3 and the blue-ray movies it plays. It wasn't available when I got the set. The price is pretty close anymore, I would keep 1080p as a minimum needed option.

Pricegrabber

Check out this site. It's showing all LCD TV's 40" and larger sorted by lowest price first.

Better television, same crap programming.

I haven't bothered "upgrading" and still have a CRT that I watch maybe an hour every week or two on when I'm really bored.

When the programming stops sucking, I'll worry about upgrading.

I am thinking of a 42" LED to use as a computer monitor though. That'd be cool.

Plus they are so thin! :eek:

$750 at BJs for a 47 in 1080 120hz Vizio

IMHO, 720P is plenty

I will admit that I haven't shopped displays in a few years, but when I was looking I found the picture on a good plasma to be more "filmic" than on a good LCD. Since I mostly watch DVDs (uprezzed) my goal is to get as close to film as possible. Plasmas (at least a few years ago) tended to have blacker blacks, which has been one of the gold standards for display quality. The Pioneer Kuros used to be the "must-have" display if you wanted to watch movies.

Likely because the jutter/flicker on the plasmas is so much more prominent (and film is 24 fps) . . .whereas the good LCD's not only refresh 1000% faster (240hz) they also interpolate the frames between.

It is weird how movies loses a certain 'movie' quality w/o the flicker. ...w/ a good 240hz LCD, it's a bit like you are watching the filming of a movie.

A 720p plasma will get you great picture quality for everything can put on it for a great price.

After doing the research for myself it will be the plasma until they come up with something better. 58" Panasonic THX plasma in the house with fantastic picture and very black blacks. Check out the comparison of LCD/plasma TV's on the link below.

Here is a link for a comparison of lcd vs plasma from LCD TV Buying Guide. The 240hz LCD sets introduce their own set of issues with picture quality an excerpt from the article found here. LCD TV vs Plasma TV Which is Best? from LCD TV Buying Guide

"LCD TV manufaacturers have worked hard to overcome the motion lag issue. Last years models saw the introduction of 120Hz refresh rate (up from 60). This year many models were introduced with 240Hz refresh rate. This refresh rate has drastically improved the response time. However, it also introduces unwanted video information by sharpening the picture background information and taking out necessary blur. This may seem like a positive, but with 90% of your viewing material, it is not. Depending upon the manufacturer, we advise turning off the 120Hz or 240Hz feature with all but live sports programming."

Prices (where I live)

42" 720p Plasma (name brand) $580-$700

40" 1080 p 60 Hz (name brand) $700

42" 1080 p 120 Hz (none name brand, Insignia) $800

42" 1080 p 120 Hz (name brand, LG) $1,400

I am humming and hawing up to the $800 mark. I don't want to miss out on a significantly better TV for $150.

Usual caveat. . . Unless something has changed: The only devises pushing 1080P are Xboxes, PS2, and HD DVD players when playing HD movies. Standard movies played on a DVD player are 480P that get upgraded by the player to 720P or 1080i. Broadcast TV in the USA is either 720P or 1080i. I am not sure what DirecTV is pushing these days.

Like Nostatic said, plasma generally has a richer color set and much better blacks. Burn in is a thing of early generation sets. LCD's are better in very bright rooms and sometimes with action sports.

720P or 1080I are still viable resolutions.

do not be swayed by 1080i. it is not better than 720p. it's entirely a marketing gimmick. 1080i shows u two alternating sets of 720p pictures.

Further evidence that 720p isn't a bad idea:

AppleInsider | Next Apple TV to be renamed iTV, drop 1080p, gain apps - rumor

I just picked up this tv today since I have been shopping around for a few weeks:

Sam's Club-*$797 after $100 Instant Savings* 40" Sony LCD 1080p 240Hz HDTV

For less then $800, it has a boatload of option, the most of which was having a wifi or ethernet connection to my home network. 1080p and 240hz refresh isn't to shabby for this price also. I understand the reason some have for staying away from 1080p. This is my 4th current hd set and 2 of them aren't 1080p since they are for mostly TV watching. What I don't get is that some think that 1080p resolution is a fad or something. The basics are that you are buying a TV with superior resolution, just like a computer monitor. It is true the 720p and 1080i's are cheaper, but its mostly because they aren't as good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-JXfyvlPh0

Also found this to fuel the 720p vs 1080i topic

I'll get rid of my current tv when it dies, and the same for the next one w/o a compelling tech shift (vr, etc).

When I want to cheat (usually over winter break) and have big movies in my living room, I bring home a 4000 lumen projector from work. Have the perfect wall for it, works like a champ.

ahhh. . . what!?

My local Costco now has 46" Sony Bravia's 1080p 120 Hz for $799 after rebate.

I think I know what I'm getting...it's only a $200 premium.

Just got a 55' Samsung LED LCD with the 1080p and 120 hz and it is stunning. My jaw hurts from it dropping on the floor after watching an HD broadcast.

whoops. typed wrong letter. "1080i is two sets of 720p pictures" not 1080p

1080p = awesome

Still wrong. If you can, watch the youtube clip on my last post. It is two sets of 540 scans compared to one of 720p. The clips makes the arguement for 720p being superior and I tend to agree.