Remember when plasma TVs were like a jillion dollars? Panasonic is planning to bring plasma a little closer to every man (or woman).

The company just announced two new plasma HDTVs: the 42-inch TH-42PZ77 and the 50-inch TH-50PZ77. Sure they look great, but it’s the price tag that will make you want to take a closer look.

The TH-42PZ77 is $1,799.95 and the TH-50PZ77 is $2,799.95. At that price, I might actually be able to convince my parents to buy one.

Other features include an SD memory card slot, a 1920 x 1080 resolution, a contrast ratio of 10,000:1, and an anti-glare screen coating. There are also plenty o’ places to plug in external A/V equipment, including two HDMI and three S-Video inputs.

Start rolling your change; the units are scheduled to ship this month.

Rachel Cericola - Contributing Writer

Over the past 15 years, Rachel Cericola has covered entertainment, web and technology trends. Check her out at www.rachelcericola.com.