visual upgrade

Today, Better Half and I went from this:

… to this:

CNET had this to say about the new viewscreen:

Panasonic’s TH-42PX80U 42-inch plasma sets the picture quality-to-value standard for entry-level plasma TVs.

I think I can live with that. The only downside we have found so far is that it does not modulate its audio output level – it is always at one volume setting. This is a drawback because I happen to own one of these, and it is designed to be a set-and-forget stereo system – you set the “master volume” on its back, and then have the television adjust the volume of its audio output. Unfortunately, the new Panasonic does not / cannot do that. I guess that gives me a good excuse to upgrade to a unit with a remote control, eh?