Here we go again.... GT50 with screen burn...

[MrW]

Sounds to me that you have made your mind up...VT65.

Oh my heart has, but my head.... it hasn't

The plus points of a Panasonic are that I know what it looks like mounted on the wall (and so does my wife! ) , I know how it operates as a media server with my NAS and MBPr and iPad and iPhone.

Whilst the Samsung is capable of communicating with all of these (badly apparently with iOS devices for some perculiar reason! ) I haven't managed to find anywhere that can show me how it works on a network.

It's like you said earlier in this post, can I live with the issues if this PDP goes the way of the last 2?

In essence the answer is no.

Maybe I should just do without a TV and get a refund? (and stare longily at the wall mounted bracket and cables channeled into the wall!)

 

[Oldboy]

I'm afraid I don't do apple anymore so I can't help there, I just hated how apple locked you in to just their devices...it drove me nuts!

I do have a NAS drive and laptop plus a Nexus 4 phone and the TV works effortlessly with all of these. All you do is scroll right on the smart hub to the last page where all your media is accessible, it's child's play stuff. It shows everything on your network.

I will charge my 4th gen iPod and see If that plays ball with the TV but I doubt it simply because of the ongoing legal action between the two. Will report back with how I get on.

 

[MrW]

I'm quite happy with apple products but know what you mean @oldboy

The Samsung rep in JL at the weekend suggested I'd get limited interaction from the iPad/iPhone, so maybe I should use the £200 Reward Cashback to buy a Galaxy Note. I really don't need another tablet in the house, but I had to give him 10/10 for trying!

I also note that the iOS app scores a lowly 2 out of 5 stars on the appstore, and everyone who has downloaded it is moaning about it! It's a no brainer that Samsung are hardly likely to be apple fanboys in the software department!

In my opinion it is a real shame that very few (if any) shops have the ability to really demonstrate a TV. It's as if time has stood still for them as they only do now what they did in the days of CRT, which is show either terrestrial TV on all the TV's in the shop via an aerial splitter, or run a DVD/Blu Ray/HD to all TV's showing the same content (take note Currys, I'm not sure how Panasonic, LG and Samsung feel about you playing the latest advert for Sony 4K TV"s on a loop in your shop to every TV...!)

With Smart TV's being the 'latest' thing, you'd expect at least some shops to have their TV's linked to broadband, or maybe I'm expecting too much when looking at TV's over £1500??!!

Edit:

Plus I'm looking at the functionality of these:

http://www.whathifi.com/forum/accessories/harmony-remote-guidance-required

So tablet/smart phone interaction probably isn't that essential!

 

[bigboss]

All I can say is that my 32-inch Samsung wirelessly plays media from my NAS drive without any problem.

 

[bigboss]

.....and for media from iThingys, I've got a jail broken Apple TV2 (which also plays media from my NAS / MBP / Win 8 laptop).

 

[strapped for cash]

I'm having tomorrow off, and will be ringing JL.

Did you call John Lewis, BBB?

 

[MrW]

Thanks @bigboss

I'd guessed it would be stress free

Like I said though, it's a shame that people like JL and the like seem unable to demonstrate exactly where your hard earnt is actually going.. other than on a 'gogglebox' !

 

[MrW]

Black Friday looms....

is tomorrow 'the' day?

 

[Deleted member 2457]

Black Friday looms....

is tomorrow 'the' day?

Could be.

 

[bigboss]

No decent deals at JL.....

 

[MrW]

nothing to speak of out there

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

I'm having tomorrow off, and will be ringing JL.

Did you call John Lewis, BBB?

The wife kind of talked me out of it, but I've changed my mind again. There is a strong red/pink tint in the centre third and in a section on the left of the screen, it's very noticeable, and no engineer could deny it.

I think with this, and the dse still catching my eye, it's time to ring JL and get the problems sorted, or take a little journey down to the MK store, and speak with someone there.

 

[michael hoy]

Back in stock:

http://www.johnlewis.com/panasonic-viera-tx-p50vt65b-plasma-hd-1080p-3d-smart-tv-50-freeview-freesat-hd-and-voice-recognition/p425728

I wouldn't game on it though.

Why, I have a VT30, do play games through it and no IR or screen burn.

 

[Deleted member 2457]

Back in stock:

http://www.johnlewis.com/panasonic-viera-tx-p50vt65b-plasma-hd-1080p-3d-smart-tv-50-freeview-freesat-hd-and-voice-recognition/p425728

I wouldn't game on it though.

Why, I have a VT30, do play games through it and no IR or screen burn.

I think the last two models are more prone to it, they even come with warnings even on reviews. Had some on my GT50, and seen lots of other people struggle too.

 

[strapped for cash]

The wife kind of talked me out of it, but I've changed my mind again. There is a strong red/pink tint in the centre third and in a section on the left of the screen, it's very noticeable, and no engineer could deny it.

I think with this, and the dse still catching my eye, it's time to ring JL and get the problems sorted, or take a little journey down to the MK store, and speak with someone there.

Do it BBB.

I'm struggling to put up with my VT65's mild uniformity problems. If they were accompanied by the GT50's vertical bands, which of course I'm all too familiar with, there's no way I'd keep the television.

I'm still debating whether I'd be better off with a Samsung F8500. Sure, the VT65 produces slightly deeper blacks; but watching in anything other than a batcave the difference will be negligible.

The Samsung isn't flawless, but it doesn't suffer from uniformity problems like the last three generations of Panasonic plasma. I think I'd be less distracted by the Samsung's faults.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

I guess JL will want to fix the problem rather than give me a replacement, which is the bit I'm dreading, and one of the reasons I have been putting off dealing with it

The PS51F8500 looks a great tv, but I don't want my channel choice being dictated by the fear of IR, as it is now. I've been so careful with this tv, and I still have a faint image in the top right hand corner, that just will not go.

I think I'm going to move away from plasma all together, though what tv I'd get next is anyones guess.

 

[Son_of_SJ]

I think I'm going to move away from plasma all together, though what tv I'd get next is anyones guess.

As Oldboy has done, and he seems very happy with his Samsung 55F8000 (I think that's the model he now has).

 

[strapped for cash]

I think I'm going to move away from plasma all together, though what tv I'd get next is anyones guess.

As Oldboy has done, and he seems very happy with his Samsung 55F8000 (I think that's the model he now has).

I can understand the decision. I can't make the move to LED myself.

As apparent, I hate screen uniformity problems; and I've never seen an evenly lit LED panel.

Off-axis viewing problems would drive me up the wall, too. If you calibrate a TV to saturate colours correctly, and those saturation levels drop off when you sit off-axis, it negates the calibrator's efforts to some degree, and your investment in calibration.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

I'd be getting well ahead of myself to even contemplate what my replacement would be, but the 55F8000 is probably top of my list, though nowhere near the top of my wifes.

Viewing angle isn't a problem, as we view head on, and having seen a 55" and 65" close up recently, I didn't notice any uneven backlighting issues. My biggest reservation with the 8000 would be getting a natural looking picture.

 

[strapped for cash]

I'd be getting well ahead of myself to even contemplate what my replacement would be, but the 55F8000 is probably top of my list, though nowhere near the top of my wifes.

If it must be a Japanese manufacturer, there's always the Sony 905. There were a couple of contributors to this forum that seemed to think it was pretty good. I forget their names now.

My biggest reservation with the 8000 would be getting a natural looking picture.

You can probably guess my answer here.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

I'd be getting well ahead of myself to even contemplate what my replacement would be, but the 55F8000 is probably top of my list, though nowhere near the top of my wifes.

If it must be a Japanese manufacturer, there's always the Sony 905. There were a couple of contributors to this forum that seemed to think it was pretty good. I forget their names now.

My biggest reservation with the 8000 would be getting a natural looking picture.

You can probably guess my answer here.

She's no fan of Sony either. :doh:

Oldboy has moved from plasma to the F8000, and is a lot happier now, and the reviews are all good, even from the plasma loving HDTV boys.

First things first though, ring JL and see what they have to say.

 

[strapped for cash]

First things first though, ring JL and see what they have to say.

I've no argument there.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

Oh sure, the 50" seems just right - until you replace it with a (slightly) bigger one! But I acknowledge that I'm biased, I used to have my 50" Pioneer in the kitchen, until I thought it looked a bit small so it was replaced by a 60" LG.

Time to update your system information then SoSJ.

 

[MrW]

Welcome to the I don't know what to do club BBB!

F8000 looks good, but cost differential is significant.

JL are almost certainly going to go down the repair route with your TV BBB, so get ready for a bit of a 'ride'

You may also end up like me with a partial refund, which doesn't help buying a new TV

I'm still pondering. VT65 looks good, but can I live with the issues a 3rd time (if they present themselves?)

 

[Deleted member 2457]

I think the Samsung 51F8500 is the answer for most people. It isn't that expensive either. Why not go that route?