<ul><li><a href="http://www.plasmatvbuyingguide.com/plasmatv/panasonic-th42pwd6uy-review.html">http://www.plasmatvbuyingguide.com/plasmatv/panasonic-th42pwd6uy-review.html</a</li></ul>

<center><img src="http://im1.onecall.com/Image%5fProducts%2fsamsung%2fHLP5063W%2ejpg"></center><p>
There are many larger sets that are close in price for better performace.

You can find this TV for less than this place<ul><li><a href="http://ww1.onecall.com/PID_22991.htm">One Call info</a></li></ul>

if not, how can I tell?

It means it only does 480P - it down converts 780p and 1080i.

Here is the info from your website:

Model: Panasonic TH-42PWD6UY / TH-42PD25UP Plasma Television
Description: 42-inch EDTV Plasma Display, Widescreen 16:9 Format
Resolution: 853 x 480 (WVGA)

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/102/dsc00642.jpg"></center><p>for the best setup.

But I elected to go for something in the corner because of the cost of HDTV plasmas and LCDs.

but I would pay to have it professionally calibrated - this will help prevent it from burning in logos and dimming too soon<ul><li><a href="http://www.plasmatvbuyingguide.com/plasmatv/panasonic-th37px25up.html">INFO</a></li></ul>

You might want to go to a local place and look at both models before you decide. The other one is only ED, but it has a 4000:1 contrast ratio versus the 3000:1 of the HD one you linked here. The higher contrast ratio presents a picture that seems more detailed than it is (i.e. that it is closer to HD than ED). I looked at the ED model compared to several HD monitors, including Pioneer and the Panny HD models, and that particular Panny ED model seemed to have 90% of the HD picture at 50% of the price.

in fact most TVs have a native resolution - and convert to the other standards to it.

ED really sucks. If you watch it at all you can tell.

And technically, if a display has at least the resolution to do 720p (1280x720 pixels minimum) it's considered an HD device. It doesn't have to have 1080i-native resolution (1920x1080) to be considered truly HD.

ED displays don't really "suck" -- it's not as pretty as a true HD-rez display, but an ED device downscaling 720p or 1080i still looks way better than any standard def content could ever hope to, so it's not like ED is a waste, as long as the price is in line with what you're getting.

resolution - The cost difference is not that much. It is better to save up for a HDTV model.

One should not let the wow of plasma sway ones choice

Not about the plasmas listed above per se.

I'm a front projection guy, and a 720 or 1080 native projector is still an expensive proposition at this point. There are several ED-resolution projectors on the other hand that throw fabulous, big pictures and are pretty darn cheap.

panisonic makes decent plasma tvs... we used to carry them in our store.

Considering my DLP ED-rez projector cost only $900, I'm happily enjoying my 92" image until HD projector prices come down a bit. ;-)

Just pointing out that it did not support 1080i, but it technically is HD since it supports 720p. Whether ED sucks or not, one needs to consider their viewing sources. If you watch mostly cable, satellite or DVDs, then the picture is probably going to look a lot better on an ED set. A crappy 480i signal upconverted to 720p can look pretty pathetic. A 720p or 1080i signal down coverted to ED still looks awesome, and standard cable and sat. sources look great. If you are going to hook your PC up to it, then a 720p set probably makes more sense.

Also, you need to think about how the image will be presented. If you have a 480p image on a 720p set, unless it is scaled the image will be windowboxed (black bars on the sides of the image, and possibly the bottom.) The scaling to full screen most likely will degrade the picture somewhat. If you have an ED set then no scaling is generally required. Also in this context, keep in mind that the HD set you are thinking of is 37" versus the 42" of the ED set. For a 4:3 image, if you don't scale then you are left with a picture about the size of a 30" tube tv (given a 37" wide screen). And with plasma, if you don't scale you have burn-in to worry about.

If you have not done so already, go out and look at this Panny ED set compared to the cheaper HD sets before you make a decision. I think you will be surprised how good it really looks in comparison, and that is mainly due to the high 4000:1 contrast ratio and not the resolution.

I just went through this process, and the Panny ED was on my short list even though I wanted an HD set. I ended up getting a Mitsu DLP because I wanted the bigger screen size and potential computer/gaming use (and no burn-in issues), but I still think, and a buddy of mine agrees, that the Panny ED had as good a picture.