Is the Gateway 42" Plasma TV Worth it?

johnnymk · 11-11-2002, 09:08 AM

That price for the Gateway plasma TV seems pretty decent. Every time I go to Best Buy and Tweeters, I look at the plasma TV's and am totally impressed.
Think they will come down in price anytime soon?
I was also thinking that by buying an extended warranty, that if the TV does go bad in a a couple of years, that you could get the latest technology for just a few extra bucks.

ufcrusher · 11-11-2002, 04:39 PM

I dont know the specifics on that particular Plasma, but I do know that with a Plasma, you definitely want to get the extended warranty on it. When I worked at Good Guys, we had a lot of customers who spent $10k plus on the plasmas only to have them go bad...and i do mean a lot. THe other thing to consider is getting a plasma from Costco, so you have the lifetime return policy. Just make sure that you keep the receipt, that way if something ever does go wrong, you can just return it, and get your money back.

Another thing is, I wouldnt buy it if it isnt HD capable. Why spend that much on a tv that is going to be useless in a bit.

johnnymk · 11-11-2002, 05:23 PM

OK, I went to the local Gateway store today to check it out. It appears to be a price which will be going on fairly long. It is HDTV capable. The wall mount is $200, if I recall. And the extended warranty-three years-is $399.
It didn't seem like it had the quality of some of the TV's at BestBuy, including the Philips, but it just may have been the way they had it set up in the store.
I asked the salesman if it could be used as a computer onitor and he said it could. However, is burn-in a possiblity with plasma TV's?

Leon · 11-11-2002, 05:47 PM

Yes, plasmas are susceptible to burn-ins.

jaygattis · 11-12-2002, 08:57 AM

I checked into the Gateway plasma more. It is an EDTV - Enhanced Digital TV. Which means it only has 480 lines of resolution compared with a full HDTV with has 1080 lines. Full HDTV Plasma displays are at least twice as expensive. I think I'd get a 50-60" projection full resolution HDTV for the same price instead. Unless you really really need to save space, or want a 42" monitor b/c you are blind or want to impress your geek friends. They have 0% interest until 2004 financing option too.

-Jay

johnnymk · 11-12-2002, 09:15 AM

Thanks for the info. I knew my eyes weren't fooling me. I figured something was lacking in that set.

Apex · 11-12-2002, 01:00 PM

There are currently absolutely 0 HD output capable 42" plasma screens. The lowest definition to be considered HD is 1280x720, also known as 720p.

The highest resolution 42" plasmas are:

1. Panasonic PT-42PHD4-P (1024x768 native res)
2. NEC Plasmasync 42MP4 (1024x768 native res)

Then, there's the 43":

1. Pioneer PureVision PDP-4330HD (1024x768 native res)

johnnymk · 11-13-2002, 06:46 AM

Does the number of pixels have anything to do with quality? Their brochure states 852 X 480 Native Pixels. That's approximately 400,000 pixels, right?

Apex · 11-13-2002, 06:14 PM

Yeah. The higher the number of pixels, the higher the quality of the picture given a high resolution input, though it's not a 1:1 correlation.

852x480 is exactly enough for full resolution DVD.

attgig · 11-14-2002, 01:26 PM

if you're still thinking about it....the gateway plasma is the sampo one that they sell at cotsco...

go buy it at cotsco, and i think that one includes the wall mount.

no crazy delivery charges either.

Apex · 11-14-2002, 01:39 PM

Don't forget to add the $199 tuner card if you buy the Costco one.

11-11-2002, 09:08 AM	#1
johnnymk Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: May 2000 Location: LEVITTOWN< PA> USA Posts: 13,621	Is the Gateway 42" Plasma TV Worth it? That price for the Gateway plasma TV seems pretty decent. Every time I go to Best Buy and Tweeters, I look at the plasma TV's and am totally impressed. Think they will come down in price anytime soon? I was also thinking that by buying an extended warranty, that if the TV does go bad in a a couple of years, that you could get the latest technology for just a few extra bucks.

11-11-2002, 04:39 PM	#2
ufcrusher Admiral Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Boca Raton, FL: By way of: Poway, CA; Gainesville, Fl; Penn Valley, Pa. Posts: 5,680	I dont know the specifics on that particular Plasma, but I do know that with a Plasma, you definitely want to get the extended warranty on it. When I worked at Good Guys, we had a lot of customers who spent $10k plus on the plasmas only to have them go bad...and i do mean a lot. THe other thing to consider is getting a plasma from Costco, so you have the lifetime return policy. Just make sure that you keep the receipt, that way if something ever does go wrong, you can just return it, and get your money back. Another thing is, I wouldnt buy it if it isnt HD capable. Why spend that much on a tv that is going to be useless in a bit. __________________ Welcome my son, welcome to the machine...Where have you been? It's alright we know where you've been....

11-14-2002, 01:26 PM	#10
attgig Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: the burbs of baltimore Posts: 11,924	if you're still thinking about it....the gateway plasma is the sampo one that they sell at cotsco... go buy it at cotsco, and i think that one includes the wall mount. no crazy delivery charges either. __________________

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11-11-2002, 05:23 PM	#3
johnnymk Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: May 2000 Location: LEVITTOWN< PA> USA Posts: 13,621	OK, I went to the local Gateway store today to check it out. It appears to be a price which will be going on fairly long. It is HDTV capable. The wall mount is $200, if I recall. And the extended warranty-three years-is $399. It didn't seem like it had the quality of some of the TV's at BestBuy, including the Philips, but it just may have been the way they had it set up in the store. I asked the salesman if it could be used as a computer onitor and he said it could. However, is burn-in a possiblity with plasma TV's?

11-11-2002, 05:47 PM	#4
Leon Administrator Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 3,219	Yes, plasmas are susceptible to burn-ins.

11-12-2002, 08:57 AM	#5
jaygattis Plebe Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: California Posts: 2	I checked into the Gateway plasma more. It is an EDTV - Enhanced Digital TV. Which means it only has 480 lines of resolution compared with a full HDTV with has 1080 lines. Full HDTV Plasma displays are at least twice as expensive. I think I'd get a 50-60" projection full resolution HDTV for the same price instead. Unless you really really need to save space, or want a 42" monitor b/c you are blind or want to impress your geek friends. They have 0% interest until 2004 financing option too. -Jay

11-12-2002, 09:15 AM	#6
johnnymk Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: May 2000 Location: LEVITTOWN< PA> USA Posts: 13,621	Thanks for the info. I knew my eyes weren't fooling me. I figured something was lacking in that set.

11-12-2002, 01:00 PM	#7
Apex Can you hear me now? Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Here Posts: 5,506	There are currently absolutely 0 HD output capable 42" plasma screens. The lowest definition to be considered HD is 1280x720, also known as 720p. The highest resolution 42" plasmas are: 1. Panasonic PT-42PHD4-P (1024x768 native res) 2. NEC Plasmasync 42MP4 (1024x768 native res) Then, there's the 43": 1. Pioneer PureVision PDP-4330HD (1024x768 native res)

11-13-2002, 06:46 AM	#8
johnnymk Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: May 2000 Location: LEVITTOWN< PA> USA Posts: 13,621	Does the number of pixels have anything to do with quality? Their brochure states 852 X 480 Native Pixels. That's approximately 400,000 pixels, right?

11-13-2002, 06:14 PM	#9
Apex Can you hear me now? Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Here Posts: 5,506	Yeah. The higher the number of pixels, the higher the quality of the picture given a high resolution input, though it's not a 1:1 correlation. 852x480 is exactly enough for full resolution DVD.

11-14-2002, 01:39 PM	#11
Apex Can you hear me now? Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Here Posts: 5,506	Don't forget to add the $199 tuner card if you buy the Costco one.

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