Yeah, normally I'd agree with you here. But after reading all the threads on avsforum for both the 2012 models of Panasonic and Samsung, it's probably going to take my own eyes to make some sort of judgement.

I think the best thing to do right now is just wait a bit longer for the dust to settle and see what the professional calibrators have to say. Patience isn't always easy for me.

So far, it looks like Panasonic has the darker blacks, and less reflective screen, but Samsung has a sharper and clearer picture.

One person who had both, set them up side by side, and said his whole family preferred the Samsung over the Panasonic. Panasonic had some ghosting issues that were impossible to adjust away.

You definitely can not trust your eyes in most retail stores, especially the big box ones. Many stores adjust TV settings to influence what models they wish to move that week or month. This is not hearsay or assumption. This is very much common practice.

The Value Electronics 2012 TV panel shootout takes place in New York this weekend.

I'm waiting on results from this before deciding which panel to buy.

The Value Electronics 2012 TV panel shootout is over. I watched today's presentation of it in the live feed.

Results should be posted sometime tonight on www.valueelectronics.com

The 65 inch Panasonic VT50 won this year's Value Electronic TV panel shootout.

It hasn't been officially posted on their site yet, but D-Nice, one of the calibrators in the event, confirmed this in one of the 2012 shootout threads.

At this location. Message number 86.

More information on the Value Electronics 2012 shootout.

Ordered a 65 inch Panasonic VT50 today. Will be delivered on Wednesday. Woo-Hoo!

Installing the new white baseboards. Thank God for spackle and paint.

20 years from now, "I wonder what idiot installed these baseboards? Look at all the nails used."

Just get a giant play-doh press, attach a mold with a profile matching your desired baseboard, and squeeze baseboard-shaped spackle right into place. No nailing necessary.

Hey, that might even work!

Getting an appointment set up for a professional calibration in about a month from now.