RSS FeedHP PL4272N Plasma HDTV Review
July 10th, 2007Filed Under: Home Theater Reviews, Plasma and LCD Displays
Looking for a value priced plasma TV in the 42 inch size range? Check this unit out.
Resolution 1024 X 768
Inputs 2 Component, 3 HDMI, RGB, VGA
Tuner Single HDTV
This unit has a great picture for this price range, and is a worthy plasma contender.
The HP PL4272N is an excellent buy. Yes, you can do better by spending several hundred, or several thousand, additional dollars. But for solid performance at a price that will please your wallet, take a close look at this one.
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July 12th, 2007 at 10:07 pm
Hey HT Dude,
Please do us all a favor by not talking about non-1080 displays. People buying displays of 42″ or larger should be getting 1080p displays these days.
There’s no excuse for buying 720P at that size or larger these days.
Plenty of 1080 displays to choose from. Prices aren’t much different and yes quality of a good 1080 display is that much better than a 720 display.
Plus most content these days is in 1080 anyhow.
So help people out by telling them good 1080 displays as opposed to pointing to 2 year old stuff.
Thanks
July 17th, 2007 at 7:29 am
Hi Alex,
I respect your opinion, but I don’t agree. Unless viewing at 4-6 feet (or less), I think most people would be hard pressed to tell the difference between 720p and 1080p sets, side by side, on a 42 inch display. (All other things considered equal, of course.)
Image quality is not measured by resolution alone. Contrast, color saturation and accuracy as well as optional features are all important factors when considering a display choice, not just resolution.
I’d rather have a 42″ 720p with superior contrast and color, than a 1080 unit with just more resolution.
You also have many 720p sources, which a consumer may solely be dealing with. (OTA broadcasts, HD Content providers, Xbox 360, etc.)
In the end, if someone can save 100-200 bucks or more by going with a lesser spec because there is no perceptible difference, they are making a smart buying decision.
- HT Dude
July 24th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
HTDude,
What about all the bad reviews of this system, e.g. http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-and-plasma/hp-pl4272n/4852-6482_7-32313265.html?tag=sub or http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=666442&highlight=PL4272N.
Apparently, this model has been discontinued because of problems with the TV. Just contact HP customer service, and they will tell you there has been a multitude of problems with this set.
July 25th, 2007 at 7:44 am
Well, the single user report of a faulty set on cNet would not worry me. Sometimes a consumer electronics piece will be defective.
The thread you linked is about the PL4260N and PL5060N models, from last year.
This is the new 2007 model PL4272N, and I don’t see any complaints for this set in that thread.
Do you have a source on this model being discontinued?
July 25th, 2007 at 8:23 am
I am very interested in this TV and may be purchasing one very soon. I saw the one user review on this TV that was negative and unfortunately that happens with all sets every now and then. Actually even the old version had great reviews and about a 85% excellent vs. negative review on CNET as well so I am not sure why this other guys is so intent on blasting a quality product that can go up against alot of current sets on the market and best them in testing results. See HOME THEATER MAG review dated 7/2007. I see one retailer show this set as discountinued…I think it was CDW website but I called HP and they didnt say that at all. Thanks
Dave
July 26th, 2007 at 11:23 am
Swing-
If you read the review in full you would have seen that the customer states “When I did have a screen it was great!”. You can’t base a TV’s rating off of one unhappy customer nor can you base it off of a defective unit.
If that were the case I guess xbox 360 is the worst gaming system ever created. They’ve had what - thousands of returns?
July 30th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
There is now a total of three user reviews on CNET including my own positive review and one new additional postive one. FYI.
August 2nd, 2007 at 5:53 pm
I just got this Plasma and ITS GREAT SO FAR! WOW!
December 24th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
Hi
I’ve had the PL4260N for 6 months so far and no issues. The PQ is v good especially considering the price.
Doesn’t the PL4260N support 1080? An above comment said it doesn’t but cnet review and HPs own website said it does support 1080, maybe I’m missing something.
Steve
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:00 pm
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April 12th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
I wish I had seen this site before I purchased an HDTV from HP.
I had problems with this tv, but unfortunately thought it was service related. Spent months working with the cable service provider to eventually find out it was the tv tuner and other components that were failing.
It took many painful calls and emails to HP to get them to give me a replacement unit. They shipped me a refurbed unit which ended up failing within 30 days!
More calls, more emails to HP….more pain. While I did end up with a replacement, the model HP finally sent was of lower $$$ than the one purchased. But at least this 3rd tv seems to be working.
I also learned none of the local HDTV service providers will touch an HP HDTV! They say that HP takes too long to provide them components.
I also learned from HP support that in California they only have one authorized repair provider, which is located in Bakersfield. To clarify, it might be ok if your HP HDTV fails while in warranty - but I doubt many Californians would want to pay to ship/drive their tv to Bakersfield for service. I suspect the same happens in other places.
It appears clear to me that HP shouldn’t be in the HDTV business.
www.unhappyHPcustomers.blogspot.com