Bought 50" U series today at RM5,5xx (free BD45 BlueRay player, Akemi Comforter & 2+3extended Years warranty).
Retail price for BD45 - RM800; Comforter - 1xx; 3 years extended Warranty - 4xx.
Effectively, TV costs only RM4,1xx via Credit Card one off payment / CASH.
Never save on warranty as most Plasma could easily last >5 years.
My old Panasonic plasma 42" is entering 4th year now; parts replaced twice in year 2 and 3 for free!!!

Imagine this price can not even get u Samsung Series 5 LED 40" TV which retail at RM5,999???? with 2 years warranty.

Will update everyone after delivery next Friday.

Samsung do produce good plasma in terms of picture clarity, USB connectivity and pixel correction but I somehow trust Panasonic's durability & service response.
Chances that u have 2 diff sets of TV to compare next to each other at home is remote; therefore, go for the bigger model i.e. 50" which is cheaper some more!
Irrespective of Panasonic / Samsung, our eyes tend to attune to the only set that you watch at home everyday and you'll like its quality and fell in love with it; just like woman.

I have compared both 42" and 50" panasonic side by side with their BRay demo disk and was amazed that the new 50" show no difference in terms of color clarity / depth.
Usually the 40" show better clarity / deeper color (RGB) but somehow the new 50" show now difference as compared to the 40"; meaning, no lost of clarity and depth.
If your viewing distance suits 50", you'll regret later if you decided for the 40".

Package TV price is always more attractive and if you decided not to take the freebies, there is no price advantage.
My workout price of RM4,1xx for the TV alone is merely psychological in nature to please own decision.

Received P50U20K yesterday after 1week placed order but the Bluray Player BD45 is still outstanding.
TV does not come with S-Video input (if you are still using non Astro Beyond Decoder).
Quite reflective but tolerable if you control your room light.
Since no Bluray player, tested TV with my existing Pioneer DVD upscale to 1080i and quality out-performed my previous 720p 42" plasma.
Tested Avatar, Transformer and Last Samurai with room light off and TV produce excellent clarity. Wonder if I need to switch to Bluray??
TV sound is quite impressive on Astro.
As mentioned earlier, if you have no 50" to compare side by side, the quality improves day by day and you'll fell in love with; just like woman.

It is Panasonic business / marketing strategy to allocate a unit of each model as Display / Showroom unit for selected dealer or their (Panasonic) approved location. Ethically, this Display / Showroom unit shall be displayed at approved location to allow consumers (like u & me) to view. Like Carrefour, such unit is permanently displayed and not for sale. Harvey, Best, SH, HSL, ESH, TBH ..... and other approved Panashop will keep their unit (per required duration) to ensure consumers (like u & me) get to look at it.

For RM4k, this unethical dealer is selling his allocated unit thus depriving consumers (like u & me) from viewing such TV at that location.
I would suggest this culprit to be black listed / disqualified by Panasonic in order to protect consumer's right to view such product.
Imagine, if these unethical dealers are selling at cost and make no money, who is then going to rent big outlets at shopping malls to show us the latest products. Everytime I walk into HN, Best, SH ....... I am proud of my contribution (profit to the company) to the well deserved group of young people who earn their living there.

RM4 for P50U20K + Bluray Player is a scam.

Per Star paper today, there will be a Pana 3D TV roadshow at the Curve. If the U20 package (with free BD45 Blueray Player + HDMI cable) is available, chances that you could get 2-300 reduction is possible depending on payment mode ie. Cash / Credit Card (1 off payment) / Credit Card (Easy Payment). Ensure that you extend your warranty to 5 years if price is right e.g ~RM400.

Initially I was worried that this basic BD45 Blueray player will not play BD from China; however, after getting few for testing, both local + China BD are playable.
Also, DVD D9 played on this player produced excellent picture and I was wandering whether it is necessary to spent further to convert my DVD9 collection to BD???

Cons: Basic and not impressive box design, U20 is a bit reflective (must control room lighting), no USB on U20 and BD45 (i.e. HDD / Thumbdrive connectivity).

Samsung is also a good Plasma and provide good HDD / thumb connectivity but Panasonic is very durable and has good after sales service.

Unless you have the luxury to compare two 50" TVs side by side at home, you will end up loving the one and only that you watch everyday; just like woman.

I love Mai Kai Tan for his frankness and this forum is great with people like him around i.e. treat forummers as friends i.e. if offensive, don't worry, say sorry.

If BD45 is a bundle item i.e. FOC with TV, grab it. BD45 is a basic but excellent Bluray player; sorry no thumbdrive. May not need one if you have HDD player.
I have been using BD45 for more than a month and all Uncle Ho's BD/DVD9/DVD disks can go through with flying colors. Alredi cold stored my old DVD player.
If you have only one TV to look at everyday, your eyes will attune to it and you'll love it day after day; just like the woman you love...................

Agree with Mai Kai Tan; where got "Frogs Jump on the Street Everywhere" (Cantonese - KAP NAH CHUI KAI TILL).

Congrats! you got a unit with the Vendor's only display unit price (usually ~25% RRP @RM6,499)
No wonder HN is not displaying this unit at their outlet; 50U is displayed instead.
Insurance at HN is a bit high but who cares, as long as you get a surprise, why not.

It is a bit unethical to show your receipt publicly as this will attract discomfort among other dealers.
You need not challenge Mai Kai Tan as long as you know that the truth will prevail.

If you look at how much space Panasonic is getting in the display area as compared to LG, you'll know LG and Sammy are sweetening HN with hugh commission and A&P (Ads & Promotion).
Pana's margin to dealers are quite thin and more Panashops concept store will be their priority now; just like Sony. HN is scalling down on Pana maybe due to this??
Also, was told that Desa Home is not even Pana Dealer and they got their units from Pana Dealer s opposed directly from Pana Malaysia. Is it thin margin or bad paymaster? All dealers knew.

RM5499 is a bit expensive but try negotiate RM300 down or 5 years warranty.

I am using 50U20 now and frankly speaking if u do not have the luxury to compare another TV next to it at home, your eyes will attune to your beloved set that you watch everyday. If you play full HD movies with PMP / Bray Player BD45, picture quality of U20 is as good. BD45 is a damn perfect entry level Bluray player and it plays any damn VCD / DVD (some cannot even run on my previous Pioneer DVD player) / BD that i bought.

Comments on Black level are rubbish if you do not watch your movies / astro in a dark room and you are not willing to to pay more or you cannot find such set at your location. Also, I hate to say this, do not try to be sifu and listen to forrumers (who may not be qualified to perform calibration) and screwed up your set default calibration unless it is perform by Panasonic. Panasonic strongly advise against it and it may void your warranty.

If you talk about picture quality and connectivity, V20 and Samsung FHD are definately better; however, your requirements are availability and price?? Same question, Pioneer Kuro also have better Black level but can you get it at your location or are you willing to fork out such price?. U20 is a bit reflective I admit but I adjusted my room lighting and my eyes got use to it now.

Calibration too; but, that depends on the eyes of the beholder.
In Audio / video, what is nice to someone may not be necessary the same to everyone.
However, the best wine is still the wine that you like best; irrespective of price.

P50U20K at RM36xx?? Must be new ones and PM me cos I'll get few more at that price.
If true, grab it cos there is nothing wrong with the video quality on P50U20K.
Watching 50" as compared to 42" is like two different world in 16:9; 42" is just too small.

Reminder to Young forummers - Don't make uncle angry.
If you do not have good eyes sight, there are all same.
Only Anfieldude can tell the difference.
I do not have 2 TVs side by side compare, so my unit to me is the best loh!

It is a compliment.

Notes on Model differences:
I love D24 durians and presumed they were the best until Uncle Ho bought some Musang King back to Macau & Hong Kong.
After having tasted Musang King ("Mau San Wong"), your taste bud will forever changed and you will not go back to D24.
Not everyone like Musang King or D24 thou and we cannot assume they are the best etc. Mat Salleh or some HongKies hate them.

V series is the "Mau San Wong" while U Series is D24. Both are watchable i.e. you won't get blinded / depressed by watching them.
The differences are price and preference. Unlike durians, changing TV is costly and you shall decide what you want.
XO and Kampung durians are other options i.e. Samsung / LG ..............


This post has been edited by vincentboleh: Aug 23 2010, 03:47 PM

Right behind SS2 Police Station and must go early as demand is too good and sell fast; always ask them to select for u ~RM22/kg.
At Saturday night, there is a stall just right in front of SS2 Hawker Center stair case selling RM18/pack.
Musang King flesh is usually small, like dog shit, dry and in darker yellowish; if packed, must open and check to ensure they are not mixed with XO / D24 which are brighter yellowish.

After this post, I'm afraid everyone will rush there before you. Ha! Ha! Ha!

The one in front of your house is called D24!
But let us know your outing as Plasma talk when mixed with Durians will add further flavor to the bored forum.

For Anfiledude or other Calibrating sifus as well:
Any advise on calibrating video output from AV Receiver e.g. ONKYO TX-SR608 to Panasonic Plasma TV for non-Bluray source (but Full HD via Media Player). Or should you just calibrate the TV itself for improved video quality? Or any AV Receiver with capability to calibrate video output to TV with improved video quality?

Seconding Idoblu; smart choice.

Been 1 of the first few users of 50U20K since May'10 and here are my comments:
(1) TV is a bit reflective; need to place TV at location with lesser reflection e.g. no opposite wall lighting or darker wall / curtain.
(2) If fancy about USB link for movies, internet, network connection, etc, forget about this TV.

I placed my TV in a TV Room where lighting is kept ideal and reflection minimum to obtain optimal PQ performance. For ASTRO without Beyond, this TV performs excellently at viewing distance ~12 feet. For Bluray movies or FHD movies via PMP, I notice no inferior in PQ quality since there is no TV side by side for comparison.

On a frank note, V Series has sharper / brighter PQ quality; price difference of ~RM1,800 should not be a deterrent.
Market is flooded with 3D TV / LED (55in - 60in) now and their prices are coming down so fast e.g. Sammy 63 ~RM14,000 and Sony LED ~RM16,000. I now feel that it is not the issue of U / V Series; it is the 50in that is now small to my accustomed eyes.