Panasonic Ends Plasma Production - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

I-Hate-Hulse · 10-09-2013, 10:44 PM

Was really quite inevitable, but still an end of an era. It wasn't that long ago the Panny 50" was a serious object of desire...

Panasonic Corp’s move to close its last plasma television factory completes a painful reckoning that has all but killed off Japan’s TV industry, once the pride of the country’s post-war rise to technological and economic power.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/techn...ticle14764684/

Dion · 10-09-2013, 10:46 PM

Better late than never.

darockwilder · 10-09-2013, 10:48 PM

Well that sucks.

Julio · 10-09-2013, 10:54 PM

Just slightly behind their time...

nik- · 10-10-2013, 12:27 AM

I have a Panasonic plasma and I just hope the OLEDs can match the black levels of a plasma since I'll be looking to replace it in a year or so.

theinfinitejar · 10-10-2013, 01:34 AM

A sad day, LCDs still can't touch a great plasma panel. Hopefully the OLED displays come down in price pretty quickly.

nfotiu · 10-10-2013, 05:49 AM

Boo. I still think they are best picture out there overall. They always seemed to be far better than the comparatively priced and sized lcd model. A couple extra inches of thickness never bothered me.

Kavvy · 10-10-2013, 07:07 AM

I don't get this. Cheaper TV's with better images no longer being sold.... makes no sense.

Erick Estrada · 10-10-2013, 07:10 AM

It appears the average person prefers the more vibrant LCD look over the best black levels. For sports I actually prefer LCD but for movies Plasma does a better job of accurate reproduction of the source material but it seems the untrained eye of the average person it more immediately attracted to a brighter screen. That said LCD's have closed the gap over the last five years or so I don't feel this is that much of a big deal.

FlamingLonghorn · 10-10-2013, 07:15 AM

I hope Samsung tries to pick up the void left by Panasonic, but I doubt it.

Bean · 10-10-2013, 08:09 AM

A little bit off topic but what happens if you still have replacement warranty for a Panasonic Plasma tv that bites the dust in a few years?

Equivalent Panasonic or equivalent spec LED?

chemgear · 10-10-2013, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kavvy

I don't get this. Cheaper TV's with better images no longer being sold.... makes no sense.

It's sad that the Kuro standard is still even remotely a standard after all these years. They've been out of production for so long and yet they're still referenced against even now for reviews.

TV companies have been pricing themselves into oblivion for years. People have the expectation of super cheap sets while the various companies pile up loss after loss.

It's funny, people point to the bloodbath in the TV market as to why electronics they can't afford should be cheaper!

HotHotHeat · 10-10-2013, 09:59 AM

That's really interesting. I bought a VT series plasma from them last year, it was widely viewed as one of the best TVs on the market. Is there issues with plasma technology supporting a 4k resolution or something?

19Yzerman19 · 10-10-2013, 10:02 AM

Still loving my G25. Should last me many, many more years. Great set.

Esoteric · 10-10-2013, 10:15 AM

It's a shame, their VT and ZT panels are great pictures. I was considering getting one when I purchased my latest TV, but got a great deal on the Samsung F8000 65", which has great picture and a low input lag, so I had to pull the trigger on that!

Vulcan · 10-10-2013, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esoteric

It's a shame, their VT and ZT panels are great pictures. I was considering getting one when I purchased my latest TV, but got a great deal on the Samsung F8000 65", which has great picture and a low input lag, so I had to pull the trigger on that!

I think the latest Panasonic plasmas can become items to be held onto like the old Kuro's. I bought a 55" model last year as I don't trust the LCD models in larger sizes and the Panasonics are generally considered the best TVs out there right now. I don't think I'll be changing it until new tech or the Ultra TVs come down in price. It is strange that Panasonic plasmas while giving a better picture and being cheaper then LCDs, should go out of business.

Sainters7 · 10-10-2013, 11:43 AM

Too bad they burn out so much quicker like they do, so it was inevitable. And I definitely prefer LED's for TV. I don't know what it is about gaming though, but I swear my 360 games look better on my old, burning out Samsung plasma than our newer LED. The colours just seem so much warmer.

To Be Quite Honest · 10-10-2013, 11:47 AM

I love my LED monitors. 27w of power is pretty cool.

PsYcNeT · 10-10-2013, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sainters7

Too bad they burn out so much quicker like they do, so it was inevitable. And I definitely prefer LED's for TV. I don't know what it is about gaming though, but I swear my 360 games look better on my old, burning out Samsung plasma than our newer LED. The colours just seem so much warmer.

Plasmas haven't had burnout issues in 5 years. Recent plasmas last just as long as LCD TVs.

Esoteric · 10-10-2013, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I think the latest Panasonic plasmas can become items to be held onto like the old Kuro's. I bought a 55" model last year as I don't trust the LCD models in larger sizes and the Panasonics are generally considered the best TVs out there right now. I don't think I'll be changing it until new tech or the Ultra TVs come down in price. It is strange that Panasonic plasmas while giving a better picture and being cheaper then LCDs, should go out of business.

I agree - I wanted to get the VT panel, but it's just so expensive in Canada (lowest I've seen up here is $3,500, on sale now at MemEx), where you can find it for $2,300 in the US. My Dad is looking for the VT right now, just waiting for the perfect price.