Panasonic

[the graduate]

Hello Everyone,

I purchased an expensive, out of date, HD-ready 32'' Panasonic LCD.

The picture quality is brilliant and unmatched...I am unashamedly over the moon with my buy.

I want a Panasonic plasma TV now. When will we be getting Panasonic TVs at compitative prices. The previous plasma S10 series sold for R18 999, but in Europe its an entry level panel selling for less than 800 euros....this is not on!

Anyone with some inside info? I heard that there was some trade embargo between Panasonic SA (P.SA went bust apparently) and Panasonic Japan due to some old trade agreement between the two entities....will it be sorted out?

 

[Wasp_21]

Hello Everyone,

I purchased an expensive, out of date, HD-ready 32'' Panasonic LCD.

The picture quality is brilliant and unmatched...I am unashamedly over the moon with my buy.

I want a Panasonic plasma TV now. When will we be getting Panasonic TVs at compitative prices. The previous plasma S10 series sold for R18 999, but in Europe its an entry level panel selling for less than 800 euros....this is not on!

Anyone with some inside info? I heard that there was some trade embargo between Panasonic SA (P.SA went bust apparently) and Panasonic Japan due to some old trade agreement between the two entities....will it be sorted out?

AFAIK, Panasonic still not sorted out. Watch out for Panasonic Plasma though, although they have awesome PQ etc, they have an elscalating power supply, which increases the brightness of the screens, making them grey instead of black. The new range have the same setup, but is "refined". But up to you.

 

[the graduate]

Yep, I read about the power supply issue with consumers complaining of elevated black levels on Panasonic plasma panels. Panasonic issued a statement saying nothing's wrong. Be that as it may, it would be awesome if Panasonic was readily available....

 

[greg_SA]

Just in case you aren't aware... Audio Vision has some Panasonic plasmas available... but that's it AFAIK, they aren't backed by Panasonic SA.

 

[the graduate]

Just in case you aren't aware... Audio Vision has some Panasonic plasmas available... but that's it AFAIK, they aren't backed by Panasonic SA.

Audiovison...aah...that's where I got my overpriced machine...anyways, their service was great and I think they somehow won me over....

What I heard was that Audiovision found some loophole in the agreement between Panasonic SA/Japan and are therefore using this to import TVs...not sure how true that is..

42'' are all sold out...new ones coming in end of April.

 

[greg_SA]

Audiovison...aah...that's where I got my overpriced machine...anyways, their service was great and I think they somehow won me over....

What I heard was that Audiovision found some loophole in the agreement between Panasonic SA/Japan and are therefore using this to import TVs...not sure how true that is..

42'' are all sold out...new ones coming in end of April.

AFAIK, they just imported directly from Japan (maybe not even from Panasonic directly, maybe a distributor or something)... so you could think of them as grey-imports. Are all the 42" Full HD and HD Ready plasmas sold? I wonder if the models they get will be the same as before? C10 and S10?

Cheers
Greg

 

[titeroper]

I have it on good authority that the 2010 range will arrive end of May:
If you want to look at these forthcoming models (not all will be here) coming best place to visit is www.panasonic.net - European 2010 products page.

Highlights include:

LED IPS LCD displays - up to 42 inches - much better blacks and lower power consumption - I think it could be the sleeper LCD hit this year. I also have the 32 inch IPS LCD and its fantastic.

The big draw will be the plasma VT20 range -full 3D HD, faster phosphor decay - so almost KURO level blacks for 2D picture, with 3D thrown in as a bonus.

Best bet if your budget is lower is the G20 range, with improved black etc.

P.S A great review of the 42G20 plasma is up on www.hdtvtest.co.uk. Check it out and try and be patient

The rising blacks issue has been - "lessened" for the 2010 models but still there - now the steps in voltage increases are more graduated vs the 2009 panels.

Me, I'm going to be in-line for the 50G20 model come June for some HD World Cup action

 

[the graduate]

I have it on good authority that the 2010 range will arrive end of May:
If you want to look at these forthcoming models (not all will be here) coming best place to visit is www.panasonic.net - European 2010 products page.

Highlights include:

LED IPS LCD displays - up to 42 inches - much better blacks and lower power consumption - I think it could be the sleeper LCD hit this year. I also have the 32 inch IPS LCD and its fantastic.

The big draw will be the plasma VT20 range -full 3D HD, faster phosphor decay - so almost KURO level blacks for 2D picture, with 3D thrown in as a bonus.

Best bet if your budget is lower is the G20 range, with improved black etc.

P.S A great review of the 42G20 plasma is up on www.hdtvtest.co.uk. Check it out and try and be patient

The rising blacks issue has been - "lessened" for the 2010 models but still there - now the steps in voltage increases are more graduated vs the 2009 panels.

Me, I'm going to be in-line for the 50G20 model come June for some HD World Cup action

Well, I'm in for the P42G20 model...this is selling for about 900GBP. Seems to be the pick of the bunch on a budget.

I'm just waiting for local pricing because I can order it from Germany at about 1000 euros (including VAT) and have it transported here with a friend who goes there on a weekly basis. According to him, with the VAT I get back at the airport, it almost covers the VAT here plus about 20% import duties. If I can get it landed here for about R12k, I would have scored immensly. If I'm buying a grey-import from Audiovision, I might as well import myself.

 

[the graduate]

AFAIK, they just imported directly from Japan (maybe not even from Panasonic directly, maybe a distributor or something)... so you could think of them as grey-imports. Are all the 42" Full HD and HD Ready plasmas sold? I wonder if the models they get will be the same as before? C10 and S10?

Cheers
Greg

I suspect that these are the ones coming in. This is why I'm not on paying the price of a G or V series model for a S-series model. If a HD-ready Samsung will cost you R8k, I'll pay a grand premium for the Panasonic. No more! They should bring in the X-series panels, G-series and V, VT series....I think these will sell well...