ok so my ancient tv died yesterday and it is time for me to enter the modern world of digital HD idiot boxes so what you got for recommendations?
Brands, LCD -plasma, 1080-720, all confusing to me. Just looking for some info on what you already have and if your happy with yours. P.

Professor, a lot of it depends on what you are going to be watching most. I think the technologies are so advanced for both now that there's not much of a difference. I have a plasma and love it. I really only watch movies and sports on that tv though. I still watch my older 32" regular tv with the digital cable box most of the time because it's closer to the kitchen and has a great picture. Check out the website below and most importantly, go to some stores and check them out in person. Make sure you look at them from the distance you'll be watching from at home and check out the picture from all different angles.

http://www.lcdtvbuyingguide.com/lcdtv-plasmavslcd.shtml

Some good info in this thread....may help

http://striped-bass.com/Stripertalk/showthread.php?t=53497&highlight=hdtv

I ended up getting a Sony and it is pissah

I have a Samsung 50 inch LCD/DLP TV and we love it!

You should pick a price range, and buy the best tv in that price range, you might not get the size you want but you will have a better tv. Most people pic a size and end up on the low end in terms of quality. Every manufacturer make more than 1 tv in each size, they all have different features.

I have 3 Sharp Aquos tv's. One is a 13" on the wall in the kitchen, the other is a 32" on the wall in my bedroom. I have a 52" from Magnolia in my living room I am extremely happy with the 52" , knowing what I know now I would have got a better 32" in the same brand. I have had no problems with any of the tv's either.

http://www.highdefforum.com/index.php
here is a good source of info too Paul.....for even when you do get it

Paul, I'd recommend checking out yard sales - :hihi:

No, really - we were in the market for a big screen (to us) - either a 37 or 40" Sony

Went to a yard sale at an address near Ocean Drive and tucked away in a corner of the house was a Sony 27" TV - they wanted $20 for it - turned it on (they'd had their cable turned off, so it was an antenna connection) color looked fine, gave 'em a $20 bill and ran out the door with it like it was a B&E...and it weighed 90 lbs...:laughs:

Powered sub-woofer, floor stand, etc - hooked it up to my cable and the picture was awesome

Two weeks later, yard sale 32" Sony, PIP, etc etc - perfect - $75 - but it's a beast, maybe 140 lbs. Didn't single hand that one - so if ya find one, bring a helper. Otherwise, you'll look down and find your scrotum resting on your shoes...:laughs:

Long story, bottom line = if you can find a old school Sony for short money, buy it. We had a 27" for 20 years or something - they're great. You'll save a grand until you figure out what you want.

Brands? Sony all day long. As a semi-retired professional photographer, still the best color rendition in the biz. I can still color calibrate my Sony graphics monitor to match any lab profile and it's strictly WYSIWYG on printing a digital image, absolutely dead on the nuts accurate.

IMHO, the only close second is the Sharp Aquos.

BTW, lots of cheap 720hz Sonys out there now since 720 is yesterday's news - 1080 will give you much better reproduction values where fast motion in a scene will flicker at the old 720 rate.

Good luck

we aslo bought from amazon....saved a bunch of dough....homework is key

Well.....here we go.....


as a cableguy, I see every TV known to man....it depends on alot of things...price...what you watch.....where you watch it......have to think about lighting....some will give you alot of glare if it is a bright room....as far as brands go.....Sony, Samsung, Pioneer are a few of the better ones I see....I will tell you that you will not have as good of a picture on a wide screen HD TV if you are not watching a HD program....example....watching say....Judge Judy will look like crap...due to the fact you are making a square pixel into a rectangle....but watching a sporting event, or something like Deadliest Catch in HD will blow you away....so, depending on what kind of service provider you have ( Direct TV or Comcast, Verizon ) keep in mind what programming you subscribe for....Direct TV will need to put a HD dish on your roof, the original dish will not get HD...Comcast or Verizon offer HD programming, but you will need to upgrade to a HD Box..... 1080P is kinda the new standard for HD viewing, even though alot of programs are not broadcast in 1080P..most are 720P....Blue Ray is true 1080P....the biggest thing to look for is response time as well....5 ms ( millisecond ) or faster is recommended....anything slower and you might get a "ghosting effect" on faster moving programs...60 mghz motor speed is fine for right now....you will pay alot more for a 120 mghz motor, and most programs are not broadcast this way....LCD are my personal preference....Plasma are very nice as well, but I dont care what they say, they will burn images into the screen....and that was my biggest concern when I bought my TV.....I dont want the ESPN bottom line burned into my TV after 6 months of watching.....and I see that all the time....LED is the newest craze, and I will tell you that it is the sharpest most vivid display I have ever seen.....but you will pay HEAVY for one of those right now.....
if you are not a TV buff, and can take it or leave it.....Vizio makes a pretty nice TV for the money....

I have a 52" Samsung LCD...it has a 5 ms response time...is 1080P...and a 60 MGHZ motor....I am still blown away by it....

My biggest advise is to go to a store ( best buy or walmart or something like that ) that has alot on display and just watch them....see which ones catch your eye, and go from there using the info you gather from people....just remember, they are not watching regular tv...it is some sort of DVD to enhance the TV's.

If you have any questions, I can help you out....

OH YA....you dont need to buy a $100 HDMI cable either...they will try and sell you one...your provider will give you one for free with your service.....

PM me if you need any help.

P. can't beat the cableguys reply. I've found Best Buy has the most knowlegable
people when it comes to electronic outlets and the they don't work on commision so they're not pushing one particular company's promotion.

Cableguy is dead on.

How much do you want to spend? What will you watch? Who is your provider (and for how long)?

I have a 40" Samsung 40A550 that I practically stole in March and the quality beats much more expensive sets.

Thanks guys. Got a 50 inch Plasma today. Perfect size for the room. Bummed the sox aren't on tonite but just watched a Nat Geo on demand and luved it. Thanks for all your help and those web sites were very helpful. Glad that is over.

You Ain't getting off that easy......what did you get?

You Ain't getting off that easy......what did you get?

LOL. 50" Panasonic plasma. My friend has the exact tv and I have always luved the picture. It was a tough choice between the plasma and the LCD, LED was way too much for my pocketbook, but had to make a decision and that was it. Both are a million steps ahead of what I had. I was bleary eyed last nite from trying to figure out how to hook up all my former stuff to it, DVD, surround sound, VCR. Still haven't figured it out. Hell I read blueprints for a living and I am having a hard time getting it. I am sure there are many things this tv can do that I will never figure out. I guess I will just have to keep trying. I may drop the Cableguy a PM when I get some time to pick his brain. All I know is it is working as far as tv goes and that is good enough right now. Looking forward to the sox tonite, hopefully no rain. Thanks again guys for the info. P.

Well.....here we go.....


as a cableguy, I see every TV known to man....it depends on alot of things...price...what you watch.....where you watch it......have to think about lighting....some will give you alot of glare if it is a bright room....as far as brands go.....Sony, Samsung, Pioneer are a few of the better ones I see....I will tell you that you will not have as good of a picture on a wide screen HD TV if you are not watching a HD program....example....watching say....Judge Judy will look like crap...due to the fact you are making a square pixel into a rectangle....but watching a sporting event, or something like Deadliest Catch in HD will blow you away....so, depending on what kind of service provider you have ( Direct TV or Comcast, Verizon ) keep in mind what programming you subscribe for....Direct TV will need to put a HD dish on your roof, the original dish will not get HD...Comcast or Verizon offer HD programming, but you will need to upgrade to a HD Box..... 1080P is kinda the new standard for HD viewing, even though alot of programs are not broadcast in 1080P..most are 720P....Blue Ray is true 1080P....the biggest thing to look for is response time as well....5 ms ( millisecond ) or faster is recommended....anything slower and you might get a "ghosting effect" on faster moving programs...60 mghz motor speed is fine for right now....you will pay alot more for a 120 mghz motor, and most programs are not broadcast this way....LCD are my personal preference....Plasma are very nice as well, but I dont care what they say, they will burn images into the screen....and that was my biggest concern when I bought my TV.....I dont want the ESPN bottom line burned into my TV after 6 months of watching.....and I see that all the time....LED is the newest craze, and I will tell you that it is the sharpest most vivid display I have ever seen.....but you will pay HEAVY for one of those right now.....
if you are not a TV buff, and can take it or leave it.....Vizio makes a pretty nice TV for the money....

I have a 52" Samsung LCD...it has a 5 ms response time...is 1080P...and a 60 MGHZ motor....I am still blown away by it....

My biggest advise is to go to a store ( best buy or walmart or something like that ) that has alot on display and just watch them....see which ones catch your eye, and go from there using the info you gather from people....just remember, they are not watching regular tv...it is some sort of DVD to enhance the TV's.

If you have any questions, I can help you out....

OH YA....you dont need to buy a $100 HDMI cable either...they will try and sell you one...your provider will give you one for free with your service.....

PM me if you need any help.

Hey are you the guy who was the little kid on the FIO's commercials all grown up? You know a lot.

I love Toshiba's, great TV.

I was bleary eyed last nite from trying to figure out how to hook up all my former stuff to it, DVD, surround sound, VCR. Still haven't figured it out. Hell I read blueprints for a living and I am having a hard time getting it. I am sure there are many things this tv can do that I will never figure out.

P. no worry, if your like me you'll be all set up and ready to go by the Super Bowl. :hihi:

I gave up and had The Geek Squad come and for $90 was set free. :D

Hey are you the guy who was the little kid on the FIO's commercials all grown up? You know a lot.
:laugha:

No....I am a Service technician for Comcast, so,.....this is just what I do for a living...

P.....I can help you if you are having some trouble.

60hz, and 120 hz are refresh rates of the screen, not motor sizes

:laugha:


P.....I can help you if you are having some trouble.

Good I have comcast. When I get some time i will send you a pm if I can't figure it out. Thanks a bunch.

Paul, I am a little late as always,
I have found that LG is one of the best avail.
All the sports Bars have them , not that I know :)

Glad to see your spending some of the wifes money :)
Now make a huge jump and have her buy you a new 4x4

Paul,

Glad to see your spending some of the wifes money :)
Now make a huge jump and have her buy you a new 4x4


:rotf2:LMAO:uhuh:

i WISH