3 Different Prices but are they the same TV?

ipad

http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/5492774/art/samsung/ps42c450b1wx-42-freeview.html

http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-13-43D450&pages=1&prod=43D450&brands=SAMSUNG&image=

http://www.harveynorman.ie/samsung-42-inch-4-series-plasma-tv.html


Powercity's is a 43inch and has 4 ports it looks like... Can't spot anymore differences really between them all.

Am I missing something? Which one should I go for?

Cheers.

ZENER

The Pixmania one doesn't mention an MPEG4 Tuner which is required to get Irish Digital channels after the big analogue switch off next year. The Powercity site mentions this feature and claims the set is Saorview approved as does the Harvey Norman site.

Also have a read about others experience with dealing with Pixmania plus the hassle of sending the set back should it go faulty. The price difference between Pixmania and Powercity isn't enough to put me off buying from the bricks and mortar store. Also you could haggle with Harvey Norman to get the price down if you want - times are hard so they'll be keen to make the sale within reason.

Nice TV by the way !!
Ken

DjFlin

None of these TV's feature full High Definition capability. I'd try find one that can pump 1080i if I were you.

ipad

cheers for the responses, appreciate it.

djflin, can you recommend one that does that's under €550?

DjFlin

ipad wrote: »

cheers for the responses, appreciate it.

djflin, can you recommend one that does that's under €550?

I couldnt, sorry. I got a 40" Samsung two years ago, and it cost a bit more than that.

You may want to consider investing a little more. Look at it from this perspective;

Now that HD is in full swing, its the norm, so anything that cant do it, isnt worth considering. TV is at a point now, where it has entered a new format, and while 3D is fluttering about, its not going to be mainstream for quite a while. Chances are, your new TV is going to last you at least 10 years, so make the initial investment a good one. Go for a quality brand (LG, Samsung), and go for an LCD (Or LED, but they're much pricier), avoid Plasmas.

When your looking at the HD compatibility of a TV, look for phrases like "Full HD", not "HD Ready". A fully HD screen displays 1080p resolution, also written as 1920x1080 pixels.

Good luck in your hunt
If I see anything nice I'll be sure to post it.


EDIT:

This looks like a good one. If your willing to spend the extra cash.
http://www.currys.ie/Product/SONY-Bravia-KDL40CX523-40andquot-Full-HD-LCD-TV/305746/339.0

ZENER

DjFlin wrote: »

When your looking at the HD compatibility of a TV, look for phrases like "Full HD", not "HD Ready". A fully HD screen displays 1080p resolution, also written as 1920x1080 pixels.

Not entirely accurate !! HD Ready means the set is capable of displaying all resolutions up to and including 1080p and Component but does not have a tuner capable of receiving HD broadcasts. Full HD means the set includes a tuner capable of receiving HD broadcasts. For the OP this means he needs a set which is Saorview compatible (Mpeg 4 decoder) to receive RTE1/2, TV3 and TG4 after the switch off next year and/or capable of decoding HD streams such as RTE HD should it happen.

If the OP opts instead to buy a separate HD Saorview set top box then this feature is rather pointless and not worth spending extra on. Most modern TVs have an Mpeg 2 decoder built in (DTV) which will allow the UK channels to be decoded and displayed given a good enough signal from the antenna. Not sure how many of these are in HD, so up to the OP to decide if this functionality is desirable. Of course if the OP uses UPC or Sky TV then all of this means nothing. The UPC or SKY box will do all the decoding and the TV becomes simply a monitor. If the set can display 1080i or 1080p and has HDMI connectivity then that's all thats needed.

I agree with the choice of LED/LCD over Plasma though !

Ken

DjFlin

ZENER wrote: »

Not entirely accurate !! HD Ready means the set is capable of displaying all resolutions up to and including 1080p and Component but does not have a tuner capable of receiving HD broadcasts. Full HD means the set includes a tuner capable of receiving HD broadcasts. For the OP this means he needs a set which is Saorview compatible (Mpeg 4 decoder) to receive RTE1/2, TV3 and TG4 after the switch off next year and/or capable of decoding HD streams such as RTE HD should it happen.

If the OP opts instead to buy a separate HD Saorview set top box then this feature is rather pointless and not worth spending extra on. Most modern TVs have an Mpeg 2 decoder built in (DTV) which will allow the UK channels to be decoded and displayed given a good enough signal from the antenna. Not sure how many of these are in HD, so up to the OP to decide if this functionality is desirable. Of course if the OP uses UPC or Sky TV then all of this means nothing. The UPC or SKY box will do all the decoding and the TV becomes simply a monitor. If the set can display 1080i or 1080p and has HDMI connectivity then that's all thats needed.

I agree with the choice of LED/LCD over Plasma though !

Ken

I dont know much about the tuners and that to be honest I've just come to find that TV's with resolutions lower than 1080 always say HD Ready, and ones with 1080 always say Full HD. Either way, the fact remains, he should be looking for one with 1080.

ipad

cheers for the responses, my mam and dad have this tv already and it's brilliant (well miles better than my current one!!) so I'm gonna get this one.

Powercity best option then?

also, how come Powercity's TV is a 43inch and Harvey Norman's is a 42inch? is that a mistake (is it the same tv) or is it a different tv?

Codpeas

ZENER wrote: »

Not entirely accurate !! HD Ready means the set is capable of displaying all resolutions up to and including 1080p and Component but does not have a tuner capable of receiving HD broadcasts.

Actually, that's the definition of the similar US "HD Ready" term and not the specs of the European certification program "HD Ready" term.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_ready

jonnygee

ipad wrote: »

cheers for the responses, my mam and dad have this tv already and it's brilliant (well miles better than my current one!!) so I'm gonna get this one.

Powercity best option then?

also, how come Powercity's TV is a 43inch and Harvey Norman's is a 42inch? is that a mistake (is it the same tv) or is it a different tv?

For anyone else that might be interested in this, now that the op has decided, the 42c450 is the 2010/2011 model and the 43d450 is the 2011/2012 model.
The 1" difference in screen size is because the newer model uses a thinner frame around the screen.