Viera TH-P42X20Z Advice

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magicgeoff

19 posts

Geek

#96172 21-Jan-2012 15:47

Hi All

Recently i viewed this older Panasonic Viera Plasma at a friends place and was impressed. Together with Skys HDI service I felt the image quality was excellent even though it is an X20.

Does anyone know if this TV can be hooked up to the internet and used for skype?

I understand it is a few years old, doesnt have 3D or a neoplasma screen. But has this TH-P42X20Z model been well recieved over the years with generally good reviews? Any known faults?
(Im just looking for a cheaper TV, that will do me well for a few years)

Thanks

Would appreciate any advice on this

magicgeoff

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#571698 21-Jan-2012 17:35

The TV has no network capability...
But, you could buy a Panasonic DMR-BWT310GN-K BluRay player to go with it. It would in turn up-scale (improve) and DVD's you want to watch, play BluRay's... AND allow you to connect to your wifi network (or via a LAN cable) so you can utilise DLNA functionality, use the YouTube app and buy a Panasonic Skype camera to plug in and video chat with friends / family.

All in all, it's an entry level plasma, how much are you going to spend on it?

magicgeoff

19 posts

Geek

#571734 21-Jan-2012 20:17

Hi Dunnerfella

Thanks for the advice. To be honest I was originally looking at a Viera P42ST30, which I know is a superior TV and I may well go ahead and purchase.

Ive also viewed the older x20 as previously posted and didnt think it was that bad.
What do you mean by no network capabilities?

To hook up the internet to any Panasonic Viera, have I got this right - you need a router, TV dongle and Pana Skype Camera. And even then only can use UTube, Facebook, Skype and a selected few other sites?

Regards

MG

bfginger

1267 posts

Uber Geek

#571918 22-Jan-2012 14:57

you could buy a Panasonic DMR-BWT310GN-K BluRay player to go with it

It might now be better value for money just to get a BWT700GZ, which is at $880 vs $363.

To hook up the internet to any Panasonic Viera, have I got this right - you need a router, TV dongle and Pana Skype Camera. And even then only can use UTube, Facebook, Skype and a selected few other sites?

You only need the Skype camera for Skype. The wifi donge is only for if you use Wifi, if the TV has a LAN connector you can use that. Television web features aren't nearly as good as plugging in a laptop. Not all TVs have internet features.

Hpw much does he want for the X20?

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#572096 22-Jan-2012 19:53

The X20 has no, I repeat - no internet functionality.
It's the bargain basement TV in Panasonic's 2010/2011 range.

I'd buy a 42ST every single time a cocoanut... for every reason I could think of.
It's full HD (2,000,000 pixels vs 800,000 on the X20)
It offers lower energy consumption, blacker blacks (not greys like on the X20), networking capabilities, an anti-glare louver filter (great for bright rooms) etc etc etc.

magicgeoff

19 posts

Geek

#572529 23-Jan-2012 21:20

Nice one Dunnersfella

Decided on the ST30. I see it got down to $1300 before Xmas, want that price before buying.

Once purchased, Ill be using mysky mainly to watch sport. I know I can record with mysky.
But I see a feature of the ST30 is to record to SD. What does this mean?
Does it mean I can record to a SD Card or flash drive or an external drive?

Thanks

MG

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#572548 23-Jan-2012 22:17

It's a limited feature that only allows you to record Freeview terrestrial signals onto either a SD card or an external USB HDD. Remembering that it's only via the single, built-in UHF tuner, so you can only record the channel you're watching, there's no EPG recording, series link etc... and if you want to change channel, you'll need to stop recording.
So it's a bit of a waste - except if you find yourself without MySky and want to pause live TV.
Oh yeah, if you choose to record to a SD card or USB HDD, the TV will format your drive to a format that's specific to your TV, and only your TV, meaning you can't copy the content to your PC etc.

So yeah... not great.