Get a Samsung HDTV and ATV or wait for the latest model?

Question

A newbie to HDTV, video and ATV.
I have almost decided to buy the Samsung 50" plasma HDTV PN50A650. But have discovered that Samsung has a new model PN50A760 with added capabilities for playing video and wireless networking.
Connectivity is an issue to me. Spending all the green on a HDTV, I do not want it to be obsolete in 4 years. What if I get a digital camcorder? Or Apple introduces a flat-rate movie-rental scheme? My options:
OPTION A) Wait a few months until the $500 premium for the new model drops.
Some excerpts for reviews of the latest 760 model:
"The 7 series can playback video content stored on a USB device while the 6 series are limited to images and audio."
(Naively, I thought that all HDTVs should be able to play back video.)
"The 7 Series can stream audio, video and pictures over your home network."
"The TV recognizes not only MP3 and JPEG files but also XviD and MPEG4 files to enjoy video playback."
"The TV can also reach out to your home network and play back photos, videos and music stored on networked computers. You'll need to install special software, included with the TV, onto your PC." This could be some very basic software. Suitable for Macs?
"While this feature seems pretty cool, it's not as good as similar functionality built into a PS3 or an Xbox 360, let alone that of a dedicated network media streamer like Apple TV. Despite being billed as DLNA-compliant, the TV won't play nice with DLNA server software like Windows Media Player 11 or TVersity, so you're stuck with the included proprietary software. Samsung's software is basic..." (Compatibility with Macs?)
OPTION B) Buy the older model and then, add ATV. The total cost will be less and I think, the video playback (through my iMac?) and networking capabilities (2Wire Wi-Fi) will be much better. But I see there have been problems between ATV and Samsung HDTV.
Isn't the combo with ATV a much more capable and flexible (and cheaper) long-term solution? Which Samsung is unlikely to match?
Thanks for your valuable advice! (Urgent for the X-Mas season!)

Answer 1

Winston, I think you're missing my points:
1) If you're interested in a device for watching HD video, then you can compare the AppleTV and Blu-Ray. You then have to look at what other features they provide, or don't provide as the case may be, and decide. I was just giving my opinion on an alternative.
2) There was no detailed information given as to what the streaming capabilities were and so I was giving my opinion again.
To say that there is little difference quality wise between current HD broadcasts (even if some are 1440x1080i) and the maximum output of the AppleTV at 1280x720 shows a total lack of experience on your part of watching HD broadcasts on a TV capable of 1920x1080, or a lack of appreciation of the better detail contained in the picture. It's like comparing AppleTV HD at 1280x720 with DVD PAL native resolution of 720x576 and saying there is little difference quality wise. But then if you look at the US market where 30fps is standard, the AppleTV cannot support resolutions higher than 960x540, and then you really are lowering the benefits of the AppleTV over DVD quality, and the difference between the AppleTV and HD broadcasts is even bigger.
I have compared video from HD broadcast at 1920x1080 with the same video converted down to 1280x720 on the AppleTV, and the loss of detail is noticeable, especially when watching on a 40" TV, not an uncommon size these days with them being used with games consoles. Before you comment, no it is nothing to do with how I convert them, there is just physically far fewer pixels available. I much prefer watching 1920x1080 through my Media PC than watching 1280x720 through my AppleTV.
Also, as we all know it happens, there is software available freely on the internet - no names will be mentioned - that allow the convertion of movies from DVD to a PC, and likewise from HD-DVD and Blu-Ray to a PC. So reality is that it's available now and with the cost of 1TB and 1.5TB HDDs so cheap, the potential for a 1920x1080 resolution video collection for playing on a 1920x1080 TV is already there. Saying it's not going to happen 'any time soon' is rediculous as it's already happening, albeit quietly, especially as talk of how to do such things is not allowed on this forum.
You keep using this phrase 'any time soon' without quantifying it. You use words like 'unlikely'. We live in a fast changing world. The world of televisions has changed dramatically in the last two years, whereby nearly all mid-priced TVs (both plasma and lcd) from about £800 GBP upwards now support native 1920x1080. Two years ago I paid over £1500 GBP for a 37" plasma supporting native 1024x720. You can now buy Sony OLED 11" TVs, which a couple of years ago were just being shown off as prototypes. In my opinion, OLED will blow away lcd and plasma tv sales within 5 years, and in my timescale, that is any time soon.
12 months ago I bought a blu-ray player for a PC, whilst people around me were going for hd-dvd. The format wars was predicted as not going to end 'any time soon' and no one could have forseen that within 6 months the whole blu-ray / hd-dvd argument would be over.
For your information, ABC in the US have been broadcasting in HD for over 10 years.
But as I keep saying Winston, these are my opinions. You're allowed yours and I'm allowed mine.