Panasonic PZ81 - Anyone seen one?

[admin_exported]

...apart from WHF staff that it.

It's June and Freesat is here, but I've not seen a PZ81 in any shops. Even a quick Google doesn't turn up much.

Has anyone actually seen one of these illusive TV's?

 

[Anonymous]

Not seen one in the shop, but my bro says they have gone to Mass production last week and should be in shops within a week or so. the Panasonic site suggests that they will be in stock come the 15th of July, but I suspect you will see them in shops like currys etc.. long before then.

Personally I'm waiting for my PZ800 to arrive :| been a week and a half now grrr.

 

[Anonymous]

Gosh, I hope they get them in before the 15th July. The 5 year guarantee is running until the 31st July and it would be nice to pick one up (at a decent price) before then.

I'm looking forward to a tv with Freesat built in ...if only so that I don' t have to use my Fortec receiver

It does appear like the latest round of Panasonic 8x series plasmas are the most anticipated TV's ever! The waiting is driving me nuts *scream*

 

[Simon Lucas]

The TH-46PZ81 test will be posted on this very website later today (or possibly tomorrow - we're really quite busy...)

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="AAJ"]
...apart from WHF staff that it.

It's June and Freesat is here, but I've not seen a PZ81 in any shops. Even a quick Google doesn't turn up much.

Has anyone actually seen one of these illusive TV's?
[/quote]

yep! Saw one a week ago on monday at the panasonic shop in salisbury. Looked that great i ordered one!

clive

 

[Clare Newsome]

Click here for our test of the 46in Panasonic Freesat TV.... or the TH-46PZ81 to give it its full name!

 

[Anonymous]

The $64,000 dollar question remains unanswered, does it have the edge over the PZ80 or PZ85 ? Is it smarter to opt for one of those and buy a Freesat HD recorder in a month or two ? If I take that route and spend £300 or less on an external box then I'll have saved a few quid for more functionality.

I'm still no closer to making a decision after the review so can we have some comparisons please

 

[Anonymous]

If you're going to go Freesat then you probably need the ability to watch one channel and record another.

The PZ81 on its own wont do that. You have to wait for a Freesat Recorder.

So, I would go for the Z80 and a Freesat reccorder when they come out. (or even the PX80 if you want to save more money.)

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="Clare Newsome"]
Click here for our test of the 46in Panasonic Freesat TV.... or the TH-46PZ81 to give it its full name!

[/quote]

Just what I was waiting for, many thanks! Well, actually, I was waiting for the 42" version, but I'd be surprised if it wasn't in the same level of class as the 46".

Now it's just a case of finding where/when you can actually buy one...

 

[professorhat]

Hang on - has anyone considered the fact that to watch Freesat while recording another, you'll need two Freesat tuners? Who says the first set of PVRs that come out will have this? And also, it's very possible that you'll see two sorts of Freesat PVR, one with one tuner and one with two - the one with two obviously being more expensive.

So, by going with the PZ81, you'll definitely have one Freesat tuner, that way, you have the option of buying a Freesat PVR with only one Freeview tuner (possibly saving you money when you buy this). Also, if you buy a PVR with two Freesat tuners and the PZ81, you can record two programs at once and watch another channel on your inbuilt PZ81 (something I do on occasions with Freeview).

I'm not trying to persuade you to get the PZ81, I just think this should be considered before you make your choice.

 

[Anonymous]

Can the TV pick up non Freesat channels? i.e. those broadcast on Astra2 and Eurobird that aren't listed in the Freesat lineup. I'm quite liking Scuzz and lord knows how I'll live without LUX HD ...

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="professorhat"]

Hang on - has anyone considered the fact that to watch Freesat while recording another, you'll need two Freesat tuners? Who says the first set of PVRs that come out will have this? And also, it's very possible that you'll see two sorts of Freesat PVR, one with one tuner and one with two - the one with two obviously being more expensive.

[/quote]I was working on the assumption that as all Freeview PVRs now have twin tuners (I couldnt spot any with one tuner, even the £90 cheapies) , then any Freesat PVR would do likewise. But then who really knows?

If you really want Freesat right now, I would go for the Z81, and later on purchase a Freesat recorder. But the cheapest option could be to wait and buy a Z80/Z85 + Freesat twin tuner recorder. Who knows?

 

[professorhat]

[quote user="rewerb"]I was working on the assumption that as all Freeview PVRs now have twin tuners ... then any Freesat PVR would do likewise[/quote]Indeed, but then the Sky HD box only has one tuner...

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="professorhat"]the Sky HD box only has one tuner...[/quote]

Jeeez.....is that the same box that costs £200 and £10 a month to watch? Murdoch and Jobs must sleep together! For Christmas I would like a triple tuner, 500gb, piano black dav-is10 sized freesat PVR........oh and with one of those little blue lights. Please.

 

[Anonymous]

Yea, this had crossed my mind. With a PZ81 you've always got that tuner built in.

It's likely you'll be able to pick up a PZ85 with a FreeSat tuner for less than the PZ81 (if the 'not yet available' prices of the PZ81 are anything to go by). However, it would be nice to get a TV that'll do FreeSat straight out of the box.

My old telly only has an analogue tuner, so I have to use an external box for any Freeview reception. I'd rather not go through that faff again with a new one (for FreeSat).

Come on Panasonic, I've got money burning a hole in my wallet... get them TVs out now!

 

[Clare Newsome]

[quote user="professorhat"][quote user="rewerb"]I was working on the assumption that as all Freeview PVRs now have twin tuners ... then any Freesat PVR would do likewise[/quote]
Indeed, but then the Sky HD box only has one tuner...[/quote]

Wrong - the Sky HD box has twin tuners. You can record two separate shows at the same time, while watching a third from the hard disk. Or watch one live show while recording another.

 

[professorhat]

Then my friend lied to me (I hate it when he does that!). Apologies for the misinformation folks