New TV time, I'm so confused!

[NW Redneck]

Our TV is packing it in and it's time for an upgrade! All our TV's to date have been CRT's, and we're looking at going to something new. Wow! Picking a TV sure has gotten a lot more confusing. Plasma, LCD, LED-LCD, rear projection, HDTV, 1080p, 2D, 3D, hard light holograms. I've spent a couple of hours researching and now I've got a headache. Anyone out there that can help me pick which is going to be best for me?

Here's what I want and what I have to work with:
42-48" screen
Hopefully less than $1200
Going in a bright room with a large window (4'X8') about 5' to the right of it's location and perpendicular to the screen
We don't have HD at the moment, but are looking at it in the near future
Not looking for the absolute best picture, but equal or better than our CRT
Used for some gaming (Wii) but not hard-core
Possibly hooking up to the computer (??)

So far, it seems like an LCD of some sort would be our best bet, but which one? Any particular features that are good to have?



I'm going to get some asprin.

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: New TV time, I'm so confused!

Here's a bit of info for you.

LCD have the matte finish, Good for big windows.
LCD you will notice in black areas it will be solid black and bright red area can appear blocky. THis is just the nature of LCD
Plasma has a shiny glossy screen. Glare in bright rooms. But you can find them in a matte screen if you pay more.

Stay away from rear projection. It's old and expensive when the bulbs/fluid burns out.

LED is real nice, but expensive.

If cost is a factor, I would go with a 1080 LCD. You will have the HD capability for future use.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: New TV time, I'm so confused!

Uh, what he said!

Seriously, in a bright room, LCD would be your best bet. I would suggest a Sony Bravia or other Sony model as their reputation is becoming rock solid in reliability. Panasonic also has a great reputation. The ones that are a little weird are ones from Wal Mart that are off brands. Any TV out there will be better than your old tube TV and just about all would hook up to a computer if you want to.

LCD's have come a long way. My uncle has recently spent 400 dollars trying to repair a plasma and he still has a dead TV. It's a Samsung, (well actually a Norcent, whatever the hell that is, but it has all Samsung parts) terrible junky thing. You can't go wrong with a Panasonic or Sony LCD tv. You can even look for 120hz refresh rate (how fast the picture updates, standard is 60 frames per second or 60hz, a faster refresh rate will be nicer with things like the ticker at the bottom of some news stations and watching fast motion like a football game.) They aren't much more now and are way better than 60hz.

The big thing is cleaning them. You must be careful when touching the screen, in fact it's best not to unless its to clean them. Remember spraying windex on the old tube TV? Don't do that with an LCD!! Wal Mart sells some nice LCD and Plasma screen cleaner in a blue bottle. It's safe and works well.

Be gentle with it, don't turn it on and off and on and off repeatedly during the day, and whatever you get should give you many years of happy viewing.

Here's a bit of info for you.

LCD have the matte finish, Good for big windows.
LCD you will notice in black areas it will be solid black and bright red area can appear blocky. THis is just the nature of LCD
Plasma has a shiny glossy screen. Glare in bright rooms. But you can find them in a matte screen if you pay more.

Stay away from rear projection. It's old and expensive when the bulbs/fluid burns out.

LED is real nice, but expensive.

If cost is a factor, I would go with a 1080 LCD. You will have the HD capability for future use.

 

[JaSla74]

Re: New TV time, I'm so confused!

I've had a plasma for years. Bought a LCD when it was time to get a bigger one & took it back after one day. IMO LCDs still lack in picture quality. LCDs have there place, but viewing angles wash out. My 42" Panny is about 3 years old & my 55" is about a year old. I've gamed many a hour on both & never had a burn in issue. As far as energy conservation my 55 was rated cheaper than the 40 something LCD.

Whatever you get, you'll never look back.

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: New TV time, I'm so confused!

Whatever you get, you'll never look back.

Very true.
I bought a 400 dollar LCD Dynex brand (Best Buy brand)
a few months later I had issues. Warranty covered a replacement tv.

Still running now. It's been about 3 years now. Wonderful. I have my HD digital cable, PS3, Xbox 360, dvd and surround hooked into the tv.
Occasionally I'll hook up my computer to the tv just to bother my wife.

Way better then my picture tube tv in my bed room.

 

[roscoe]

Re: New TV time, I'm so confused!

solder crimp, synthetic.



$700 46-50" Panasonic Plasma.

They kick butt.

Spend the leftover $500 on a smaller one for the bedroom.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: New TV time, I'm so confused!

I can't speak for LCD or Plasma, or even LED but I will say that if they still have DLP, STAY AWAY from it. I was given a 52" DLP and I don't like it. I got it cause the bulb went out twice in 1.75 years, so my FIL was just disgusted with it. It leaves ghost images on the screen when you watch DVDs that will drive you nuts! And it's picture is always blurry at first, then you can see it come into focus. "It must be the mirrors"! It does this EVERY time the camera shot changes. Very annoying.

 

[JB]

Re: New TV time, I'm so confused!

Here are a few that Consumer Reports rates as Best Buys in the 12/2009 issue.

JVC LT46J1300 46"LCD $1050
JVC LT42P300 42"LCD $850

Panasonic Viera TC-P42S1 42" Plasma $900

LG 42PQ30 (720P) $700

Consumer Reports is my buyers bible. Never biased, accepts no advertising. Do not confuse with Consumer Digest, a commercial product that is always heavily biased toward advertisers.

There may be better models available now, and at better prices, but these stood out in testing.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: New TV time, I'm so confused!

I have found the Vizio's to be an excellent value.

 

[jlinder]

Re: New TV time, I'm so confused!

I second the opinion on the Vizio brand line. Good value for the price.

One point I would like to make is that when you look at a TV they will all say they are 1080P. In reality that is what they can receive, not what they necessarily what they display.

Look for the native resolution rating. In the size you are looking at you should insist on 1920x1080.

You will not find anything other than HD on the market

 

[Alpheus]

Re: New TV time, I'm so confused!

Vizio is the best bang for the buck. Dont just take my word for it. Check out the online reviews and see for yourself...

 

[RB78]

Re: New TV time, I'm so confused!

OK, my 2 cents ... I was a computer tech for 25 years. I spent a very long time checking out these TVs in all of their formats - and did I say that I hate having to buy something, only to have to replace it within a few years?

Sony makes an excellent TV. You are paying extra for the name - and buyer beware. There are somewhere in the neighborhood of a dozen Bravia models. Most of them are made in China or Mexico. Not Japan.

Stay away from Samsung LCDs - extremely high failure rates in the 500 and 600 model LCDs. The LEDs look good so far, but they are 1st generation. You pay extra for that. Quite a bit extra. Wait for 3rd generation in anything electronic.

LG is good - has some very good models.

BUT

Best buy for anyone's money is the Vizio. They are the #1 seller in the world right now. That's because they pack more technology into their sets than anyone else, and they deliberately undersell all other brands. Their Customer Support is superb. Good luck speaking to anyone from any other manufacturer.

Don't get caught up in the whole 60-120-240Hz thing, either. I have a 60Hz (which really means 4-5ms refresh rate), and have no skip issues at all. Watching anything. You pay more for the higher refresh rates, but they are only really relevant if you're using a gaming platform. The newer PS3, etc, games are developed for the faster refresh rates - which do not reduce by half with the higher Hz ratings. Not even close. 120Hz is a hair above 4ms. 240Hz is a barely measurable hair beneath 4ms. A 240hZ TV costs a whole lot more than a 120.

You can buy a 47" 120Hz Vizio LCD from Sam's Club for less than $800.

I've had my 47" Vizio for 18 months, and wouldn't replace it with anything on the market.

Did I say that Vizio is also American made? Sony does not own Vizio, as many people think.

That's my quick 2 cents ...

 

[RB78]

Re: New TV time, I'm so confused!

Oh, yeah ... couple of more things ...

Ignore Consumer Reports. They don't disclose their technical test method to determine ratings. They are as biased as anyone on the street.

AND - the anti-glare coating on LCD screens can ONLY be cleaned with the gel cleaner. One bottle will last you years.

Hope you enjoy whatever brand you select.

Try to avoid Comcast. They are awful ...

 

[JB]

Re: New TV time, I'm so confused!

"Ignore Consumer Reports. They don't disclose their technical test method to determine ratings. They are as biased as anyone on the street."

Absolutely untrue. Test methods are regularly explained, though they are usually biased in favor of performance and value.

 

[RB78]

Re: New TV time, I'm so confused!

"Ignore Consumer Reports. They don't disclose their technical test method to determine ratings. They are as biased as anyone on the street."

Absolutely untrue. Test methods are regularly explained, though they are usually biased in favor of performance and value.

Not in technical terms, they aren't. As I said, I was as tech. They explain a test application, but not the methodology for determining results. Case in point - they identify 'their' testing for contrast ratios, but there is no standardized test for contrast ratio. Manufacturers use any set of numbers they choose, and any number of explanations for the logic of their test method. There is only one way to truly determine that ratio, and it is very expensive, requiring the use of very specific test equipment. Were Consumer Reports using that equipment they would say as much. They don't. Never have.

Another thing they don't state. They test and rate merchandise sent to them, and only that merchandise. They don't buy anything they test; therefore, it can't be an objective test.

Sorry.

 

[Whoopbass]

Re: New TV time, I'm so confused!

Did I say that Vizio is also American made? Sony does not own Vizio, as many people think.

Vizio tv's are made in Taiwan. Their headquarters are in CA as well as their tech support.

 

[JB]

Re: New TV time, I'm so confused!

"Another thing they don't state. They test and rate merchandise sent to them, and only that merchandise. They don't buy anything they test; therefore, it can't be an objective test."

Another terminological inexactitude.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: New TV time, I'm so confused!

"Another thing they don't state. They test and rate merchandise sent to them, and only that merchandise. They don't buy anything they test; therefore, it can't be an objective test."

Another terminological inexactitude.

Both of his responses seemed pretty exact to me. Very informative too. Thanks for the truth RB78. I'll be using your information when I shop in the future!
Good luck, Redneck!

 

[javsam]

Re: New TV time, I'm so confused!

Yes, thanks RB78 for another insight to this subject.

 

[NW Redneck]

Re: New TV time, I'm so confused!

Thanks for all the replys so far guys! I think I'll be going with an LCD or LED/LCD type. The Vizio's do look like a good product and good pricing, but they are only available at a coule of places up here in Kanuckistan and they don't seem to carry the entire range of models. They are definitely near the top of the list so far though.

Another question is what should I be looking for in terms of inputs? How many, what type etc.? Right now we have standard cable tv (coaxial cable), a regular DVD player, a Wii, and a surround sound speaker set. In the near future I want to get HD cable channels and a blu-ray dvd player (maybe a PS3?). What about using it with the computer? Are there special inputs needed for this? (I'm not much of a techie when it comes to computer stuff.)

Thanks again!