Panasonic ... Not adding up here..

How can this be???...

High volume Big Box store: P54S14 - $1499
Other store: P54S1- $1499***

*** yeah i know i've seen "s1" cheaper on some online retailers sites but for this example we will compare in-store models...

Specs from panasonic.com

Moving Picture Resolution

"S1" - 1080 lines
"S14" - 900 lines or more ... ??? WTF does "or more" mean?? What is this exactly? Hopefully most come with "or more" i guess...

Panel

"S1" - G12 Progressive 1080p HD NeoPDP Plasma Display Panel

"S14" - G12 Progressive 1080p HD Plasma Display Panel ..... ok good at least it can deal with the "or more" resolution if you were so lucky to get one... no NeoPDP on this however...?? why not? I'm confused... why the 1080 if you only need 900?

Rated Power Consumption / Operating Temperature / Weight

ALL THE SAME!!!

So the new NeoPDP panels are supposed to be lighter and more energy efficient resulting is cooler operating temperatures, the "S14" does not have these panels but the T.V. has all the same specs that should be reduced on the "S1" correct?

*sigh

Contrast Ratio

"S1" Native 40,000:1
"S14" Native 30,000:1

Lower native contrast ratio now??

This is what this looks like:

1. Panasonic has put a non-NeoPDP panel in the "S14", one that is less energy efficient, runs hotter and weights more in the "S14" but end up with exact same weight, operating temp and power consumption as the "S1"

2. Panasonic is absolutely sure that you will get 900 lines of resolution in the "S14" but maybe more.. ?? and is sure you will get 1080 lines of resolution in the "S1" ... very very strange.

3. They have reduced the native resolution from 40,000:1 to 30,000:1 ...

ALL THIS AND THEY SELL FOR THE SAME PRICE IN THE STORES!!!

Why not give your "S14" dealers a discount since they are selling an inferior T.V?

I personally think that Panasonic is selling the exact same T.V. with different model #'s to certain high volume retailers to appease certain not-so-high-volume retailers??

Am I nuts?

If I were to have purchased a "S14" instead of a "S1" model would I have an inferior TV for the same price?

I'm not cheap.. I just want the best TV for the money and if the "S1" is a better TV for the same price then that is what I will buy.. this just seems very strange however.

The S14 IS inferior to the S1. The S1 uses the new NeoPDP panel and the S14 just uses a new model year panel more like 2008 model plasmas. When they rate power they are rating max power of which they can both use about the same max power. The difference is the S1 will be about 30% brighter using the same power (or the same brightness and about 30% less power). ;)

The S14 is usually for the wholesale club stores while the U1 is the lower model (below the S1) version for the large retail stores like Best Buy. What a store sells it for is mostly up to the stores which is why it is smart to shop around also. :D