Plasma NEC 42PD2 video inputs?

[ChristianT]

I have a simple HD question. I have the opportunity to purchase an NEC 42PD2 plasma display from by a now defunct dot-com for a ridiculously low price. I don't currently have HD tv, but would get it if I bought this screen. My concern is with the vidio input capabilities. Is this screen capable of displaying high definition? The specs on their website are greek to me but are as follows:

Computer Signal Compatibility VGA 640 x 480 @ 60, 72, 75 Hz
SVGA 800 x 600 @ 56, 60, 72, and 75 Hz
Wide VGA 848 x 480 @ 60 Hz
Macintosh 640 x 480

Viewing Angle 160 degrees horizontal and vertical

Standard Video Compatibility NTSC, PAL, SECAM, 4.43 NTSC

Input Terminals RGB 1 (Analog) 15-pin mini-D-sub x 1
RGB 2 (Analog) 5 BNC (RGB/HV) with loopout
RGB 3 (Digital) DVI 24 pin x 1
Video 1 Composite BNC x 1 with loopout
Video 2 S-Video 4-pin DIN with loopout

I have until Monday to make up my mind about this plasma. This dispay was used for only 6 hours at a local presentation , so the price ($2300) is almost too good to pass up.

Thanks for your help,

Christian

[JonMarsh]

Hello Christian

This display is, strictly speaking, not an HD display. It's native resolutions is 848X480, which is sometimes called wide VGA. It's fine for displaying progressive scan DVD, or HTPC DVD video set to 848X480 (widescreen format). Std 4:3 VGA is 640X480, hence 16:9 is 848X480.

It is SDTV compatible, which is 480 progressive; in the ATSC formats that's called Standard Definition TV. True HD displays should handle either 1280X720P or 1920X1080i. Typically they will be native, or close to native, at one or the other resolution, and convert to the other. Some, like a Sony 10HT, which has 1366X768 panel resolution (Wide XGA), has to convert everything to that resolution.

If you watch a lot of widescreen DVDs, this would be a nice display. It will work well with standard NTSC signal I expect, also, other than the low level gray scale problems (some noise, not fully black) that these displays sometimes have. It will probably look better out of the box than a typical RPTV in that range, but the RPTV with setup may produce an unltimatley higher fidelity picture, as they are quite adjustable; the plasma systems sometimes aren't.
But of course, you can't beat the space saving benefit, and the generally sexy looks of the plasma screens.

Best regards,

Jon




Earth First!
_______________________________
We'll screw up the other planets later....

[Andrew Pratt]

well I guess jon beat me to it...yeah what he said

[ChristianT]

Jon,

Thanks alot for the reply. After reading your post, I can see clearly how video display resolutions compare to computer monitor resolutions which I am familiar with.

I also noticed on the NEC website that the 42PD2 is a commercial display designed for digital signage and public display, and the 42MP2 has Wide XGA 1360x765 for HD.

I called the dot com to decline and they lowered the price again to $2000. The cheapest I can find it for is $5300. Hmmm.

Thanks Again,

Christian

[JonMarsh]

Well, Christian, it comes down to how big a deal $2K is to you, if it's not fully what you want. It sounds intriguing for that money- and this is a new, not used or B-Stock display at this price? Have you seen one anywhere? A lot of the clothing stores in some local malls are using displays like this, and some are available in places like Good Guys- you might be able to preview a similar model. It could be tempting- the only drawback quality wise is the reproduction of dark grays and blacks. For a display in a room with moderate ambient light, that may not be very critical- it could be a real hoot. Diplays like this were originally 10K+. If it will handle a native wide 1365X768 wide XGA signal, it would be great with an HTPC setup.

Good luck with your choice.

Best regards,

Jon




Earth First!
_______________________________
We'll screw up the other planets later....

[George Bellefontaine]

Two thousand is a lot of change if the monitor isn't exactly what you want. If HDTV is what really interests you, that two grand would go a long way toward the purchase of a HDTV set.Still the idea of a thin plasma tv that you can hang on the wall intrigues me.




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