Productopia | Plasma TV

We've all seen stories like this one about folks who've cancelled their cable or satellite TV service in favor of getting television programming over the air or via the web, either for free or at reduced cost . That many people are considering such a move comes as no surprise, given the state of the economy and that cable bills can run well over $100 per month for anyone desiring more than just the basics. This article at WalletPop.com explores just how much cord-cutters can save. On the other side of things, research indicates cancelling the cable subscription is probably not yet right for everyone. Whether it's right for you depends on factors like what you watch, how much you watch, the quality of your Internet connection, and even where you live. ConsumerSearch already has a number of reports that lay out some of the considerations for you, including brand new reports on video streaming services, and on digital media players that bring those services to any TV. Let's pull all of that together so you can see whether cutting the cord to your cable or satellite TV provider will work for you and your family.

Last year, reviewer after reviewer declared that Panasonic plasma TVs offered the very best picture quality among sets in their class. The reason was great black levels that approached -- but not quite surpassed -- those of Pioneer's legendary and unfortunately discontinued Kuro plasma TVs. Then the unthinkable happened. As we blogged about here in the past, seemingly overnight, those great black levels retreated to the realm of only very good, leaving owners infuriated -- even more so when CNET reported that the black level retreat was by design. Flash forward to this year, and as noted in our just updated report on plasma TVs, Panasonic's plasma TVs again capture the picture-quality flag in the eyes of many. But, are last year's black level woes a thing of the past or a preview of coming attractions?

In separate press events in New York this week, Samsung and Panasonic officially announced that 3D-capable TVs and Blu-ray players are now on sale, with even more models expected over the coming months.  Despite the hoopla and some rosy projections over how many sets will be sold this year and in years to come, there's still more than enough skepticism to go around. Some new bumps in the path to 3D have also surfaced, such as concerns that Samsung's first 3D Blu-ray players might not actually be able to show content in 3D. For now, at least, we have a clearer picture of what 3D will actually cost early adopters, and that's a mixed bag.

If you've shopped for gear for a home theater, you've probably noticed that upconversion is a standard feature in lots of different types of equipment, including DVD players, Blu-ray players, LCD TVs, plasma TVs and even many home-theater receivers. For those unfamiliar with it, upconversion (also called upscaling) is the process used to transform standard-definition TV images to high-definition resolutions. One of our readers, Robert, recently wrote in to ask: "In a home theater, what component is best for performing upconversion, and is there any benefit in doing upconversion more than once?