Panasonic Viera G10 plasma - When will it be launched?

I'm very eager to buy my first wall-mountable television. I watch one or two movies every weekend, and while I also watch some amount of regular television (Tata Sky), its mostly just on in the background.

So I thought that a plasma would be best for my movie watching desires. I typically turn out all lights while watching films, so a plasma would be ideal.

However, the cheapest full HD plasma available in India is (I think) a 50" Panasonic thats selling for about 1,65,000/-, which is about 50,000/- above my budget. Also, I think 50" would be overkill in my small apartment (viewing distance will be about 10 feet).

I dont want a HD-Ready TV, as I want to be able to enjoy full HD bluray. So the PV8 and PV80 are out. I looked at a few LCDs in the stores... The Sony W series (so many numbers and updates.. its too confusing) are nice. The new Samsung LED backlit LCD was disappointing. In fact the PV80 had better picture quality than the Sony W and the Samsung LED.

I've decided that I want the G10 (size I get will depend on pricing), but when?? I called a Panasonic brand store a week ago and they told me their "new" model was the 50PY850! I had to inform the Panasonic employee that the PY850 was actually a 2008 model, and he wouldn't believe me. about 2009 launches, they have no clue!

Need to buy this screen before May 21st, and I'm really irritated that Panasonic keeps making such great products for other markets but doesnt bother launching them in India until several months afterwards, or even not at all (e.g. no full HD 42" screen was launced in India in 2008 although it was available everywhere else).

well the new LED tvs have a hell of lot more contrast then the pv8/80.sure the PV8/80 being a HD ready tv will look good in SD content,but when u feed the a HD signal then the LED lcd tvs will be the clear winner,the PV80 have just a third of the contrast of the LED lcds.
the panasonic G10 also will suck in SD content,since its a FHD tv.
the pansonic g10 also has also its fair share of issues in color department and video processing department.

I'm not sure if the LED backlit LCDs are so much better than the plasma when it comes to contrast. Sure, they have very high dynamic contrast, but native contrast remains in the range of 2000:1 for the LED backlit LCD while the Panny plasma is 30,000:1 or so.

Full HD plasma will be the best of both worlds.

well first of all the G10 plasma contrast still doesn't come close to levels of pioneer plasmas and the latest and the final pioneer plasma as a ANSI contrast of around 3600:1,so all those claims of 30000 100000:1 contrast all pure crap by the manufactures.
the last year models like the sony W series itself had ANSI contrast well over 2500:1 contrast.

India is insignificant market for a lot of MNC's so it is possible that panasonic will not release G 10 in India...
In fact in Europe's plasma ban will b implemented future of plasma looks black. Even pioneer stopped introducing new kuro's...

Well even we Indians have to take some blame. It's not like good quality is always appreciated and bought/purchased by us Indians always. Only in such forum are good products recommended/discussed. Outside of this forum how many even do this. Most will not do a side by side comparison or audition. Deals and other factors will decide what gets purchased.

For instance Sony X series at the highest end of the spectrum does not get sold. PV8 at the lowest end of the spectrum also does not get sold. Spectrum here meaning cost. Yet both are great TVs, the best in fact in terms of performance/PQ. Instead other TVs/companies/manufacturers which cannot even hold a candle to either of these models have more sales in India. That's cause we Indians buy them, so it should come as no surprise that we get sold more of such stuff.

Yes its true - and that is why do not expect that all portfolio and especially premium end is available in India.
Ans still panasonic has marginal presence in India so the chances are bleak.
Some products are brought here as 100% import and available at specialised counters at exhorbitant prices.
Check sony USA and Sony Japan site you will be shocked to see the products..

The biggest issue is acessories - availabality is almost nill..