Hi Guys, I'm planning to watch movies with PC and connect to Pana 42PV80H via VGA input.

Appreciate that if someone can answers my questions here:
i) I just wonder why the resolution for this 42PV80H is 4:3 (1024 x 768) but not in 16:9 resolution like LCD tv 1366 x 768?
ii) Since this 42PV80H resolution is 1024 x 768 (4:3), what's the maximum resolution that can display when connect to PC? Is 1024 x 576?
iii) Is the maximum resolution is up to 1024 x 576, then when I watch those 720p movie all will be lower to 576p, am I right?
iv) any different on resolution if I connect via HDMI from PC?

I really need help/advice/guide on this, because my planning is watch movie with PC, appreciate that. Thanks.

1. Well, for plasma, it is normal for the resolution to be 1024 x 768. I think i asked the same question more or less awhile back. Some members explain about it last time. So, it shouldn't be a problem.
2. My laptop only have resolution 1024 x 768. Can play HD movies no problem, but sometimes got lag a bit. Connecting it to plasma still looks good to me. If you have VLC player, you can adjust the aspect ratio. Look a bit stretch in my laptop but on the plasma looks good.
3. why would it show at 576? it would definitely show in 720p.
4. Dunno....couldn't answer that.

p/s: Any misleading statement feel free to correct them

hm...my projector is only 1920 x 720, but i am able to set it at 1920 x 1080 when i set it to extend display in my ati control center. so i guess will be the same case as the 42PV80H

so i think it wont be a problem? >.<

1) after searching previous thread a bit, go to this link. Barricade explain quite a bit in detail. View post 1997:
http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/782935/+1980
But like you said, if it is 1024 x 768, shouldn't it be 4:3 as well? Anyways, don't really care bout that cause as long as it is giving me good pictures, I happy already.

2)I am using dual screen at 1024 x 768. So if you laptop resolution is higher, maybe you should change the resolution to something that fits. I think the pv80 should be able to display 1024 x 768 max. Why not you just buy a vga cable and test it yourself? If you can afford rm3k for a tv, why not another rm10 hehe..

3)The thing about resolution, no need to worry so much lah. Just use something that the tv support will do. My laptop is 1024 x 768 with 4:3, but the plasma is 1024 x 768 but 16:9. I dun see any stretching in the plasma. But whenever, I plug it to my 19' LCD tv, it looks blurry a bit. Font looks nicer on the plasma. However, when watching movies, not really noticeable about the stretch. Because the movies itself have their own resolution right?

4) Thought this might help. Last time I use vga cable to play xbox360. Then, bought a hdmi cable. I couldn't see any different. Same goes to the component cable. I think it may have some differences, but hardly noticeable. The only obvious thing that you can notice is that the cables look much neater

just wondering if your laptop set the VGA out 1024x768 (XGA signal), this signal go into the TV, is there black bars on the left/right side? if yes, then there is no horizontal stretching.
if No black bars on the side, then considered the XGA signal has been stretched.. or maybe Zoomed in (if the top/bottom portion of the XGA desktop is not seen anymore)

not sure cos I don't own this TV, but any help to answer whether the XGA signal is stretched or in original 4:3 ratio when displayed on this PV80 TV..

i have LCD TV connect to PC. resolution get 1920 x1080@60hz...
mostly watch 720p mkv tv series.. look good..
nothing wrong..

all depend on what file... if the files is lower resolution..
it will either look pixel or got black bar there...

OK, I did a few experiments to play HD movie on the plasma TV to get the best picture quality.

Hardware:
Plasma TV: Panny PV70H (1,024 x 768)
DVD player: Philips of course (upscaling to 1080i)
Media Player: Sarotech DVP 260X (Full HD)
Computer: Dell Inspiron 9400 (1920x1200 if I'm not mistaken).
Connection: All HDMI (for the Computer is DVI to HDMI)

Software files
Files are MKV and Hi-res avi.

Here are the experiments done and the results:
1) Burn BDrip to DVD:
Good, clearer than original DVDs...I'm talking abt Speedy DVD..not those RM150 ones...no money to get those.

2) Play BDrip movies from the Computer:
No good, slight flickering repeatedly every few seconds...also, very leceh to start up windows etc, furthermore, my lappy doesn't come with remote control. Setting up the resolution is also troublesome...project abandon...
Image was clear..as clear as BDrip to DVD..but the slight flickering wasted everything. Image from computer is also abit bigger than screen size, so the 'Start' button can't be seen.
Flickers only with DVI to HDMI cables, if using RGB it doesn't flick...but for me the HDMI connection looks much better. Color also looks more natural...but I hate so many settings...again, one of reason abandon project. Wife (who is a casual gamer) can't play games while I watch TV.

3) Use a Media Player to play HD stuff:
Not so cheap...media player and hard drive will cost abt RM850 to get...
Image...priceless!!...Super clear...I didn't know my plasma can output such clear pictures...details like cobwebs, smudge windows, hair etc are very noticeably. Play 99% files flawlessly (with the latest firmware updates of course)

End of the day..for me, forget abt upscaling DVD players or using high spec computers...get yourself a Media player....if my HD ready panny is that good, I wonder how the Full HD Panny will perform!

One thing that I always here is 'the source is very important'....yes i agree 100%

There are many Media players out there, from branded to China brands...depends on your budget
Of course if got the money can always go for Bluray player.

Hi,

To answer the question on how a 1024X768 plasma is a 16:9 display is because they are using rectangular pixels and not square pixels. So if you are viewing a 16:9 movie on it, it will not look wierd. I cannot confirm how the output from a computer will look like for now.
Sorry

yup..my lcd tv is cheapo..only support 60hz..no 100hz..
now using DVI-VGA cable..
try before HDMI cable..much better..sharp color on 720p..
below that..everything is pixel..you dont even want to look at that..
so use DVI-VGA...not too sharp until can see pixel

I'm using Sarotech DVP 260X. The current happening now is the Western Digital WDTV for budget users and the DVICO for Hi end. Mid end is Popcorn A110 or something.
Can play MKV??....of course canler....so far, all the 720~1080P mkv files can be played, even Hi res 720p avi files.
Only full movie 700mb mkv files cannot be read...I dunno why....why these are rare movie files.
TV series in HDTV X264 are breakfast for the media players

BUT...most of these players are not equip with a DTS decoder (cause of increase cost for the license)
So you will need to get a Home theater as well. Make sure the HT can sockets for the digital-in from the media player.  Example, I wanted to get the WDTV, but it only has a 'Optical' Digital out but my HT has 'Coaxial Digital' in...so I had to buy a Sarotech 260x.
Price? WDTV RM400, Sarotech abt RM650 Popcorn abt RM1000, DVICO abt RM2000.
You will need a Hard drive as well for those...so its another easy Rm200~400 depending on the capacity.

China brand ones I dunno the quality or support....Quality and support 'is' everything!

It may seem expensive to you, but worth while. Before this I always thought 720p/1080p files are useless on my Panny 1,024 x 768 . But i was wrong...they make a difference alot....
If you are asking me if I was using a computer...Primary is for the plasma....cause if I can remembered I had to off the display for the DVI to HDMI  to work.

why need media player? can't just play from laptop & stream through HDMI to TV? *noob*

Hi Guys, I'm planning to watch movies with PC and connect to Pana 42PV80H via VGA input.

Appreciate that if someone can answers my questions here:
i) I just wonder why the resolution for this 42PV80H is 4:3 (1024 x 768) but not in 16:9 resolution like LCD tv 1366 x 768?
ii) Since this 42PV80H resolution is 1024 x 768 (4:3), what's the maximum resolution that can display when connect to PC? Is 1024 x 576?
iii) Is the maximum resolution is up to 1024 x 576, then when I watch those 720p movie all will be lower to 576p, am I right?
iv) any different on resolution if I connect via HDMI from PC?

I really need help/advice/guide on this, because my planning is watch movie with PC, appreciate that. Thanks.

oops... sorry la bro... me dunno anything about watching movies from PC to TV. me only watch bluray so far.. 

Hi Guys, I'm planning to watch movies with PC and connect to Pana 42PV80H via VGA input.

Appreciate that if someone can answers my questions here:
i) I just wonder why the resolution for this 42PV80H is 4:3 (1024 x 768) but not in 16:9 resolution like LCD tv 1366 x 768?
ii) Since this 42PV80H resolution is 1024 x 768 (4:3), what's the maximum resolution that can display when connect to PC? Is 1024 x 576?
iii) Is the maximum resolution is up to 1024 x 576, then when I watch those 720p movie all will be lower to 576p, am I right?
iv) any different on resolution if I connect via HDMI from PC? Any limitation resolution for VGA input to plasma / LCD TV?

I really need help/advice/guide on this, because my planning is watch movie with PC, appreciate that. Thanks.

Let me try to answer your questions:
i) it is older technology
ii) just set your PC output to 1024x768
iii) yes, your mkv will be output as 1024x768, not sure about 576p stand for
iv) if only 1024x768 resolution, there is should be no different between HDMI and VGA interm of resolution, but my own experience showed that HDMI connection give better PQ compare to VGA for movies. Not much different between HDMI and VGA for anime files.

hope this help.

Answers:
1) No stretch on the screen: Panny has 3 modes for viewing...16:9, 4:3 and 'Just' meaning 4:3 pulled to become a 16:9 at the sides
2) No
3) The answer is same as what you see on your computer LCD panel
4) HDMI wins with movies...but I abandoned PC->TV due to slight flickering issues converting from DVI to HDMI...now I'm using media player
5) I dun think so...so far OK with me..
6) By all means get a 50inch..even at 9 feet....not all movies at full screen 16:9 ratio, half of them still have some black bar top and bottom, and worst is, some movies come in 2.39:1. So you'll be getting big top/bottom bars. So 50inch become 40 inch in real viewing.

I assume it is just his preference.

(Strictly Pana PV80 vs LG PG60) Design-wise and features the LG beats Pana. However the image retention problem on PG60 is a bit obvious (disappear slowly). Whereas on the Pana the IR disapper more quickly. Also, the after-sales Pana is better than LG (based on experience with customer service). Warranty, Pana offers 5yr while LG used to offer 2-yrs but recently offered 5yr.

the specs you listed seems similiar to the Neo Plasma announced earlier by Panasonic ... If that is true then it won't be cheap

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Added on February 26, 2009, 2:55 pm
Besides the points by aiz1j, comparing PV80 & PG60 side by side, I noticed images in PG60 have more details and is sharper but the IR and reflection for PG60 is really kind of serious by today's plasma standard.

and if you had read the earlier posts, probably you would notice how I disgust the LG's customer service, so I won't repeat that here ..

I too remember. It was 2007. 50 inch Panasonic was RM19,999 whilst other brands were half the price. It was definitely wrongly priced as it was only US$2000 at that time in the US.

Then when they launched the PV80, suddenly it went to RM9999.

What a joke!