Should I buy a used 50" Pioneer KURO PDP-5020FD?

jimbo1421

There is a used one of these listed on Craigslist nearby which is tempting me, since my 12 year old 37" Sharp Aquos is breaking up, showing lots of vertical lines. The asking price is $200 and includes the sound bar (which I don't need), manual, and remote control. This would fit with my current program sources, Netflix Blu-Ray disk by mail, OTA TV (including baseball), and occasional internet video, for the foreseeable future. 4k disks or streaming will be a long way off.

This plasma TV must be nearly 10 years old, so what are the pitfalls of buying a plasma that old? What should I inspect for that would tip me off that it would die soon?

If it did need repair, is that still possible at this age?

Another option that I have been considering is a new 49" TCL 49S517 for about $380. Has anyone had the opportunity to compare one of these with a similar plasma?

Jim

tonyb

Personally, I wouldn't...why? Power supply, they have a shelf life on those older plasmas and aren't cheap to replace. Your better off going with a 4k set in todays market. Even a used one, if money is tight.

F1nut

No

mantis

Anytime you buy anything used your at the risk of it failing shortly afterwards. Used is used no matter how you look at it.
But the sheer quality of the picture the Pioneer's reproduce is something to see on a daily basis to really understand why they where the best on the market.
For $200 what do you really have to lose if it works now? It could work for a year or 5. That might be plenty of time for you to get ready to invest into 4k or even hold out for 8k.

Conradicles

I would buy it if works well.

tonyb

There's a difference between a used 15 year old TV and a 2 year old one.

If your 12 year old TV you have now is going south, why buy another the same age ?

jimbo1421

My thanks to all who answered. While I am very tempted, I decided I don't need any more problems in my life right now, even if she is gorgeous.

Does anyone have any experience with the 49" TCL models?

Jim

tonyb

Nope, no experience with one. If you look at Bestbuys ads, you'll see you have plenty of choices in that price range.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/promo/tv-deals

rooftop59

https://www.cnet.com/reviews/tcl-65r617-2018-roku-tv-review/

My buddy has the 55 in version of this and it’s a great tv for the coin.

jimbo1421

After reading this: https://boingboing.net/2019/01/11/telescreens-r-us.html, about the Orwellian capabilities of Smart TVs, the old Kuro is looking better. I went so far as to read the EULA from TCL where I found this bit of legal nuttiness:

If you do not agree to this EULA, you do not have the right to use the Television or the Software.

So, not only do we watch TV, the TV watches us. Next innovation, the "always on" feature with camera. But, unlike the telescreens on Airstrip One, ours have HDR and 2160 resolution. Yippee!

tonyb

jimbo1421 wrote: »

After reading this: https://boingboing.net/2019/01/11/telescreens-r-us.html, about the Orwellian capabilities of Smart TVs, the old Kuro is looking better. I went so far as to read the EULA from TCL where I found this bit of legal nuttiness:

If you do not agree to this EULA, you do not have the right to use the Television or the Software.

So, not only do we watch TV, the TV watches us. Next innovation, the "always on" feature with camera. But, unlike the telescreens on Airstrip One, ours have HDR and 2160 resolution. Yippee!

I think the key there is to avoid the TV's with the built in camera. Your not going to avoid data collection even on a dumb tv, your cable box is still collecting it. Your smart phone is probably collecting most of any device. You could go back to using the old rotary phones.....nahh. Though I must admit, always wanted that rotary phone in the shoe from that show "Get Smart".

Any device connected by wifi or hardwired to the internet is collecting data. Your music servers, phones, appliances, thermostats, smart meters, cars, credit cards, I-PASS, Alexa type devices, PC's, tablets, game consoles, security systems. Even when you use a service, that data is sold on you. When your out in public, your being watched and listened to. Schools are sharing data on your kids, Doctors/Hospitals.

Trick is, to limit the data your willing to share. Unless you want to live in a cave, off the grid, it's impossible to completely avoid it these days. So when it comes to TV's, simply get the ones without the mic and camera.

tonyb

https://www.theblaze.com/news/2018/11/25/google-wants-sensors-and-cameras-in-every-room-of-your-home-to-watch-analyze-you-patents-show

Interesting article on Google patents. One of which may include imaging tech that can recognize and identify others in the room. I'm sure it will come with a required "software upgrade" for your device.

EndersShadow

If you never setup the "Smart" part, or connect it to your wireless, then its not really collecting much data from you. I have a Panasonic TV with all kinds of programs..... never used them as they are duplicative of what I have already on my Xbox One, Cable box, etc.

Also I'd like to congratulation you on reading the EULA. Most people dont.

And as @tonyb mentions, your data is already being collected by at least one thing (if not multiple) in your house/on your person. Cable box, cell phone, netflix, hulu, google chrome, IE, facebook, etc.....

krazypolk

No more doing coke in front of the tv for me from now on.

tonyb

Not completely true Dan. Case in point....FB. You can disable locating services on your phone, but it's still tracking you. Think they are being put under investigation for that.

tonyb

krazypolk wrote: »

No more doing coke in front of the tv for me from now on.

No more spankin' the monkey either...LOL

pitdogg2

tonyb wrote: »

Not completely true Dan. Case in point....FB. You can disable locating services on your phone, but it's still tracking you. Think they are being put under investigation for that.

yes you can disable locating services but the phone still must ping towers which is also a locating type system just not nearly as down to the GPS foot by foot measurement in the locating services.

My new smart TV will never be hooked up to the internet. All the features I need will be by HDMI, Optical or coax ports.

jimbo1421

I limited my internet connectivity to my computers and iPhone, and just turned off the Oppo BDP. I don't think I will miss anything there besides automatic notices of firmware updates and the cover art from Gracenote. But I can check the firmware occasionally myself, and stare at the CD cover for as long as I like. At my age it is probably a good thing that my iPhone knows where I am, so I left that location minder on.

One commenters on that boingboing article noted that, when their internet connection is turned off, their TV constantly nags them to turn it on. Another says

…it was constantly trying to second-guess the resolution and aspect ratio of incoming video from their cable connection, changing when a commercial plays, and then not switching back afterwards, resulting in everything else being stretched and/or cut off.

I dropped cable 20 years ago, have no desire for streaming services, and avoid social media, and think that the Internet of Things is mostly idiotic. I don't want to talk to my devices. In other words, I am a curmudgeon. A dumb (or brain damaged) TV for me.

jimbo1421

Does anyone else have a TV that nags or behaves badly when the internet is turned off?

tonyb

jimbo1421 wrote: »

Does anyone else have a TV that nags or behaves badly when the internet is turned off?

Don't know really, never actually tried it that way. I leave mine connected for the youtube and Netflix for the wife. Other than that, it's used for mostly cable tv viewing.

Different strokes and all that.

Derm

jimbo1421 wrote: »

I dropped cable 20 years ago, have no desire for streaming services, and avoid social media, and think that the Internet of Things is mostly idiotic. I don't want to talk to my devices. In other words, I am a curmudgeon. A dumb (or brain damaged) TV for me.

Jimbo, you are not alone my friend.
I consider myself to be on top of tech but just because something new comes along doesn't mean it is good or useful. Alexa and Siri for example. Valid arguments on both sides for sure. Social media?....better to not go there.lol

tonyb wrote: »

I think the key there is to avoid the TV's with the built in camera.
Trick is, to limit the data your willing to share. Unless you want to live in a cave, off the grid, it's impossible to completely avoid it these days. So when it comes to TV's, simply get the ones without the mic and camera.

Good advice.
You can also cover the camera eye and mic port on a smart TV as you can on your computer.

I do not buy TV's with cameras.
I even am rocking a 10 year old LG plasma and the picture is awesome to this day.

kevhed72

Every TV and projector I have owned has had limited capabilities handling darker scenes and blacks....for that reason, I would roll the dice on th Kuro to experience the fabled black handling capabilities. On a side note...our primary non PJ TV is a TCL P series which we like for the money we paid. But, it does have limited blacks IMO. Some day I have to break out the calibration disc and blu ray player to actually calibrate it. Game of Thrones has some pretty challenging dark scenes which are hard to see at times.

jimbo1421

A number of unforeseen expenses have popped up, so the new TV purchase is on hold. Bummer.