Samsung HP-T4254 - 42 Widescreen Plasma HDTV - 720p - 15,000:1 Contrast Ratio - Black

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Samsung HP-T4254 - 42 Widescreen Plasma HDTV - 720p - 15,000:1 Contrast Ratio - Black

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Samsung HP-T4254 - 42 Widescreen Plasma HDTV - 720p - 15,000:1 Contrast Ratio - Black

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another Samsung because I love the TV.
The reason for the 2-star rating is due to the hassle of returning TV. I was told by Amazon cust svc that someone from Eagle/CEVA would contact me within 2-3 days to pick up the TV. After one week, still no word from them. I HAD TO CONTACT THEM, waited all morning for 4 hrs to talk to the "correct" person to schedule a pick up.
I don't think I would buy a big ticket item from Amazon again. They have great prices, but if I get a defective product again, it is so much headache to return it.

Samsung HP-T4254 - 42 Widescreen Plasma HDTV - 720p - 15,000:1 Contrast Ratio - Black

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set.... I love this TV!!! The picture is mesmerizing...with INCREDIBLE contrast. I have a heard a few grouse about the sound, but I have no complaints. Did I say the picture was incredible? It makes me want to watch TV just for the sake of watching. Plenty of controls to adjust virtually every aspect of the picture and sound...with decent presets, though a search of the net gave me some good recommendations. The anti-burn-in feature (pixel-shift) is nice...and there are plenty of inputs. I tried the HDMI connection, but got numerous Piracy-Blackouts from my Cablevision Scientific Atlanta box. Using the component cables gives me an equally stunning picture with none of the hassles...and the cables (35') were much less expensive than their HDMI counterparts...
Using an HDMI to DVI cable, and an accompanying audio cable (glorified headphone extension cord), I am able to use the Samsung to watch computer downloaded videos, connecting my PC to my Samsung. As if I wasn't glued to the set enough.

Based on my bad/good experience, I have to say Amazon made the process a pleasure..Samsung support seems fabulous...and I can't say enough about the set. The picture is so sweet, glare-free, with delicious, smooth blacks....(15,000 to 1 contrast) it makes me want to cry!

Only minor complaint is that I can't jump directly to an input (right?), but have to cycle through the options to choose between, cable-box, Tivo, PC, DVD player, VCR and a few others (inputs can be "named").

I should be flogged for nit-picking. This TV gives me the best picture I have ever seen. Period.

Bravo!, Samsung, Bravo!

Samsung HP-T4254 - 42 Widescreen Plasma HDTV - 720p - 15,000:1 Contrast Ratio - Black

...

on the Samsung 4254. Going in, I was convinced that I wanted an LCD because of my concern that the plasma might suffer 'burn-in'. I read in many places that this is not a real concern with current plasma sets. In the end, the decision to go with the plasma came down to the picture quality. I watch sports and movies and the plasma sets just produce a better image. There is far less motion-blur,the colors are more vivid and the viewing angle is wider.

The second disadvantage of plasma technology is that the screen is shiny (just like a standard CRT TV). The matte LCD screen is certainly less prone to problems with glare although the viewing angle can't match what you get with a plasma set. My 'Man-Cave' is in the basement with very little ambient light so this was not a concern for me. Also, the Samsung 4254 comes with some form of anti-glare coating.

720P vs 180i and 1080p

More dots on the screen mean better clarity and finer detail. The newest plasma and LCD sets come with support for the highest 1080p resolution. The Samsung 4254 is a 720p set. Should you be concerned that you are buying old technology and that it might be better to pony-up the difference in price (about $400) for a 1080p set? A good question. There are two facts that I considered before going with the 720p set.

1. Broadcasts do not support 1080p as it takes up too much bandwidth so even if you buy a 1080p set, your TV viewing will not be improved. To use the potential of 1080p requires an HD DVD player ($500) and HD DVD's. (about $30 apiece). Also, it is unclear which HD format for DVD's will rule the market (HD or Blu-Ray).

2. Viewing a 42 inch screen, the difference between the 720p image and the 1080p image is not discernible. See for yourself. If you have the extra money and the space, consider spending the difference for a larger screen. As the screen size increases, the difference in image quality between a 720p set and a 1080p becomes more visible. Numbers aside, let your eyes be the judge.

A few facts about HDTV:

If you are buying an High Definition (HD) TV set (Plasma or LCD, you need to have an HD signal to see the full benefit of the HD set. In fact, if you don't have or plan to get access to an HD signal and you plan to use the set for TV viewing, my advice would be to stick with a traditional CRT TV. Most broadcasting is done in standard definition (SD) and most programming is in SD although more and more content is being created and broadcast in HD. SD programing is formatted to fit the old 4:3 TV screen format. It is possible to stretch this content to fill your new HD screen but it comes with some distortion. Alternatively, you can view the SD image using less than the entire screen. You will not see those stunning images when the program you are watching is SD. SD content looks best on your old TV set but it shows well enough on an HD screen. The Samsung 4254 offers three options for viewing SD content.

Digital Cable is not HD:

Cable systems offer 'Digital Cable' while this is an improved signal, it is not High Definition. My cable company offers a tier of HD stations with their Tivo-like DVR. For $13 per month I get about 10 HD channels (ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, PBS etc)and I get the DVR (which is very cool). To receive the benefit of HDTV, my cable bill will be about $70. Even if you have subscribed to HD stations, you will find that some programming will be shown in SD. In a couple of years, all broadcasters will be required to support HD. New programming generally is done in HD.

The Samsung 4254:

The picture using an HD source, is stunning, if anything better than what you see in the box store displays. The set was easy to set up, it has a swivel stand. I am not nuts about the shiny black bezel but it seems to be the rage these days and it is hard to avoid. I like the plain low-key styling and the size is perfect for my viewing area.

The set virtually programs itself. It recognized and stored all of my cable channels. The color settings were easy to adjust using the remote. The speakers were a source of complaint. I didn't notice any real problem but I connected the set to my surround-sound speakers which is what most people would do.

The manual is clear and complete.

I bought this set over others like the Panasonic 42 75U because of the picture, the available connections and the price. I have always had good experiences with Samsung products. Once you have decided between and LCD or a plasma set all you really need to do is look at the image quality. I did stay away from off-brand sets because I would be concerned with long-term reliability. Any TV is only as good as the parts it is made of. Generally, you get what you pay for.

Accessories to Consider:

If you watch DVD's and don't want to spend $500 on an HD DVD player, get an upconverting DVD player (around $100). It will play standard DVD'd and process the signal so that the picture quality is nearly HD. Also purchase an HDMI cable to connect the player to the 4254. You DO NOT need to buy the $100 cable. I bought a $10 cable from an Amazon link and the picture is fine. The HDMI cable is the high end HD connection. It carries both audio and video signals. Use HDMI cables between your components that support this standard. My surround sound receiver does not have an HDMI input so I used an optical cable to carry the audio from the TV to the receiver.

I will revise this review if needed. I hope this is of some help for those entering the world of High Definition.

Long story short, I am absolutely happy with the Samsung 4254 and with the purchase experience from Amazon.

Samsung HP-T4254 - 42 Widescreen Plasma HDTV - 720p - 15,000:1 Contrast Ratio - Black

...

on the Samsung 4254. Going in, I was convinced that I wanted an LCD because of my concern that the plasma might suffer 'burn-in'. I read in many places that this is not a real concern with current plasma sets. In the end, the decision to go with the plasma came down to the picture quality. I watch sports and movies and the plasma sets just produce a better image. There is far less motion-blur,the colors are more vivid and the viewing angle is wider.



The second disadvantage of plasma technology is that the screen is shiny (just like a standard CRT TV). The matte LCD screen is certainly less prone to problems with glare although the viewing angle can't match what you get with a plasma set. My 'Man-Cave' is in the basement with very little ambient light so this was not a concern for me. Also, the Samsung 4254 comes with some form of anti-glare coating.



720P vs 180i and 1080p



More dots on the screen mean better clarity and finer detail. The newest plasma and LCD sets come with support for the highest 1080p resolution. The Samsung 4254 is a 720p set. Should you be concerned that you are buying old technology and that it might be better to pony-up the difference in price (about $400) for a 1080p set? A good question. There are two facts that I considered before going with the 720p set.



1. Broadcasts do not support 1080p as it takes up too much bandwidth so even if you buy a 1080p set, your TV viewing will not be improved. To use the potential of 1080p requires an HD DVD player ($500) and HD DVD's. (about $30 apiece). Also, it is unclear which HD format for DVD's will rule the market (HD or Blu-Ray).



2. Viewing a 42 inch screen, the difference between the 720p image and the 1080p image is not discernible. See for yourself. If you have the extra money and the space, consider spending the difference for a larger screen. As the screen size increases, the difference in image quality between a 720p set and a 1080p becomes more visible. Numbers aside, let your eyes be the judge.



A few facts about HDTV:



If you are buying an High Definition (HD) TV set (Plasma or LCD, you need to have an HD signal to see the full benefit of the HD set. In fact, if you don't have or plan to get access to an HD signal and you plan to use the set for TV viewing, my advice would be to stick with a traditional CRT TV. Most broadcasting is done in standard definition (SD) and most programming is in SD although more and more content is being created and broadcast in HD. SD programing is formatted to fit the old 4:3 TV screen format. It is possible to stretch this content to fill your new HD screen but it comes with some distortion. Alternatively, you can view the SD image using less than the entire screen. You will not see those stunning images when the program you are watching is SD. SD content looks best on your old TV set but it shows well enough on an HD screen. The Samsung 4254 offers three options for viewing SD content.



Digital Cable is not HD:



Cable systems offer 'Digital Cable' while this is an improved signal, it is not High Definition. My cable company offers a tier of HD stations with their Tivo-like DVR. For $13 per month I get about 10 HD channels (ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, PBS etc)and I get the DVR (which is very cool). To receive the benefit of HDTV, my cable bill will be about $70. Even if you have subscribed to HD stations, you will find that some programming will be shown in SD. In a couple of years, all broadcasters will be required to support HD. New programming generally is done in HD.



The Samsung 4254:



The picture using an HD source, is stunning, if anything better than what you see in the box store displays. The set was easy to set up, it has a swivel stand. I am not nuts about the shiny black bezel but it seems to be the rage these days and it is hard to avoid. I like the plain low-key styling and the size is perfect for my viewing area.



The set virtually programs itself. It recognized and stored all of my cable channels. The color settings were easy to adjust using the remote. The speakers were a source of complaint. I didn't notice any real problem but I connected the set to my surround-sound speakers which is what most people would do.



The manual is clear and complete.



I bought this set over others like the Panasonic 42 75U because of the picture, the available connections and the price. I have always had good experiences with Samsung products. Once you have decided between and LCD or a plasma set all you really need to do is look at the image quality. I did stay away from off-brand sets because I would be concerned with long-term reliability. Any TV is only as good as the parts it is made of. Generally, you get what you pay for.



Accessories to Consider:



If you watch DVD's and don't want to spend $500 on an HD DVD player, get an upconverting DVD player (around $100). It will play standard DVD'd and process the signal so that the picture quality is nearly HD. Also purchase an HDMI cable to connect the player to the 4254. You DO NOT need to buy the $100 cable. I bought a $10 cable from an Amazon link and the picture is fine. The HDMI cable is the high end HD connection. It carries both audio and video signals. Use HDMI cables between your components that support this standard. My surround sound receiver does not have an HDMI input so I used an optical cable to carry the audio from the TV to the receiver.



I will revise this review if needed. I hope this is of some help for those entering the world of High Definition.



Long story short, I am absolutely happy with the Samsung 4254 and with the purchase experience from Amazon.

Samsung HP-T4254 - 42 Widescreen Plasma HDTV - 720p - 15,000:1 Contrast Ratio - Black

...

on the Samsung 4254. Going in, I was convinced that I wanted an LCD because of my concern that the plasma might suffer 'burn-in'. I read in many places that this is not a real concern with current plasma sets. In the end, the decision to go with the plasma came down to the picture quality. I watch sports and movies and the plasma sets just produce a better image. There is far less motion-blur,the colors are more vivid and the viewing angle is wider.





The second disadvantage of plasma technology is that the screen is shiny (just like a standard CRT TV). The matte LCD screen is certainly less prone to problems with glare although the viewing angle can't match what you get with a plasma set. My 'Man-Cave' is in the basement with very little ambient light so this was not a concern for me. Also, the Samsung 4254 comes with some form of anti-glare coating.





720P vs 180i and 1080p





More dots on the screen mean better clarity and finer detail. The newest plasma and LCD sets come with support for the highest 1080p resolution. The Samsung 4254 is a 720p set. Should you be concerned that you are buying old technology and that it might be better to pony-up the difference in price (about $400) for a 1080p set? A good question. There are two facts that I considered before going with the 720p set.





1. Broadcasts do not support 1080p as it takes up too much bandwidth so even if you buy a 1080p set, your TV viewing will not be improved. To use the potential of 1080p requires an HD DVD player ($500) and HD DVD's. (about $30 apiece). Also, it is unclear which HD format for DVD's will rule the market (HD or Blu-Ray).





2. Viewing a 42 inch screen, the difference between the 720p image and the 1080p image is not discernible. See for yourself. If you have the extra money and the space, consider spending the difference for a larger screen. As the screen size increases, the difference in image quality between a 720p set and a 1080p becomes more visible. Numbers aside, let your eyes be the judge.





A few facts about HDTV:





If you are buying an High Definition (HD) TV set (Plasma or LCD, you need to have an HD signal to see the full benefit of the HD set. In fact, if you don't have or plan to get access to an HD signal and you plan to use the set for TV viewing, my advice would be to stick with a traditional CRT TV. Most broadcasting is done in standard definition (SD) and most programming is in SD although more and more content is being created and broadcast in HD. SD programing is formatted to fit the old 4:3 TV screen format. It is possible to stretch this content to fill your new HD screen but it comes with some distortion. Alternatively, you can view the SD image using less than the entire screen. You will not see those stunning images when the program you are watching is SD. SD content looks best on your old TV set but it shows well enough on an HD screen. The Samsung 4254 offers three options for viewing SD content.





Digital Cable is not HD:





Cable systems offer 'Digital Cable' while this is an improved signal, it is not High Definition. My cable company offers a tier of HD stations with their Tivo-like DVR. For $13 per month I get about 10 HD channels (ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, PBS etc)and I get the DVR (which is very cool). To receive the benefit of HDTV, my cable bill will be about $70. Even if you have subscribed to HD stations, you will find that some programming will be shown in SD. In a couple of years, all broadcasters will be required to support HD. New programming generally is done in HD.





The Samsung 4254:





The picture using an HD source, is stunning, if anything better than what you see in the box store displays. The set was easy to set up, it has a swivel stand. I am not nuts about the shiny black bezel but it seems to be the rage these days and it is hard to avoid. I like the plain low-key styling and the size is perfect for my viewing area.





The set virtually programs itself. It recognized and stored all of my cable channels. The color settings were easy to adjust using the remote. The speakers were a source of complaint. I didn't notice any real problem but I connected the set to my surround-sound speakers which is what most people would do.





The manual is clear and complete.





I bought this set over others like the Panasonic 42 75U because of the picture, the available connections and the price. I have always had good experiences with Samsung products. Once you have decided between and LCD or a plasma set all you really need to do is look at the image quality. I did stay away from off-brand sets because I would be concerned with long-term reliability. Any TV is only as good as the parts it is made of. Generally, you get what you pay for.





Accessories to Consider:





If you watch DVD's and don't want to spend $500 on an HD DVD player, get an upconverting DVD player (around $100). It will play standard DVD'd and process the signal so that the picture quality is nearly HD. Also purchase an HDMI cable to connect the player to the 4254. You DO NOT need to buy the $100 cable. I bought a $10 cable from an Amazon link and the picture is fine. The HDMI cable is the high end HD connection. It carries both audio and video signals. Use HDMI cables between your components that support this standard. My surround sound receiver does not have an HDMI input so I used an optical cable to carry the audio from the TV to the receiver.





I will revise this review if needed. I hope this is of some help for those entering the world of High Definition.





Long story short, I am absolutely happy with the Samsung 4254 and with the purchase experience from Amazon.

Samsung HP-T4254 - 42 Widescreen Plasma HDTV - 720p - 15,000:1 Contrast Ratio - Black

...

ability to switch the screen size in different situations. For regular TV watching it works great, but when using a computer it won't allow the computer screen to work full screen.

Samsung HP-T4254 - 42 Widescreen Plasma HDTV - 720p - 15,000:1 Contrast Ratio - Black

...

ability to switch the screen size in different situations. For regular TV watching it works great, but when using a computer it won't allow the computer screen to work full screen.

Samsung HP-T4254 - 42 Widescreen Plasma HDTV - 720p - 15,000:1 Contrast Ratio - Black

...

and the viewing angle is limited. LCDs just might win out in the future, but I still notice slow response (latency) when watching action films or sports. I think plasma still produces the best picture.

Samsung's HPT4254 looks to me to be the best value in plasma televisions.

Samsung HP-T4254 - 42 Widescreen Plasma HDTV - 720p - 15,000:1 Contrast Ratio - Black

...

buy that after experiencing both kinds of TVs, the plasma is so much more clear with fast motion, and there is so much more depth to the colors. I'm extremely happy.

The only issue I have is with the sound. It's terrible. The sound was much better on the LCDs I had here at home. I have external speakers, so the sound quality is not important to me, but if you care even a little bit about the sound quality, I would consider buying even some low-end bookshelf speakers. Anything will sound better than the speakers built in to this thing. The speakers on my 5 year old 27" tube TV were better. I still gave it 5 stars, even with this sound issue because if you're in the market for this type of TV, you'll likely have some sort of surround setup and the speakers won't matter. Buy this TV for the picture and the price.

Go see for yourself.... the depth of color and clarity are unmatched in my opinion.