[Chef Tony]

Considering Samsung pn50a550 and Panasonic th50pz800u. Both get good reviews, but the Panny is a few hundred $ extra.

[Shadus]

I like Samsung LCDs better than their plasma televisions. Panasonic really does make the best plasma televisions out there. Both are nice televisions however and if you're upgrading from a non-hdtv you'll appreciate the picture on both.The biggest draw for plasma tv's is the wider viewing angles available if you have multiple couches and the better picture quality. It's offset by burn-in problems and lower quality black reproduction.

[shjOlds_442]

Unless you are just sold out on plasma TVs, I wouldn't brother. Because LCDs last longer and are cheaper.

[panatech]

Panasonic Plasma have less than 1% failure rate in the first two years and less than 2% failure on models 2 years or older. The next closest model is 4-5 times that, and its not Samsung. Panasonic has also held the market share on Plasmas for over 5 years, basically Panasonic sell more Plasmas and they fail less often.

I am not saying that you will have a problem with a Samsung Plasma, but less likely to happen on a Panasonic Plasma.

Hope this helps in your decision.

[panatech]

Originally Posted by shjOlds_442

Unless you are just sold out on plasma TVs, I wouldn't brother. Because LCDs last longer and are cheaper.

LCDs are still based on light bulb technology. Light bulbs fail. LCDs have a back light to get such a high contrast ratio which will fade over time. You can hope to have an LCD last 3-5 years. A plasma, specifically Panasonic Plasmas have a 100,000 hour life expectancy, if you avg 8 hours a day on a Plasma, 100,000 is just over 34 years. But LCDs are cheaper because of this, LCDs also loose resolution quality on anything over 37", hands down Plasmas are better.