Recommendation for HD display

[primesuspect]

Okay, I need to get an HDTV or monitor. It's a long story, and I'm broke... but I need one.

Anyways, this will be replacing a 27" standard def, plain old, 90's technology TV. I use this display for movies and console gaming ONLY. I do not have cable or satellite TV so I have no need for a tuner or cablecard support, etc. It would be really a bonus if I could have widescreen, but it doesn't need to be huge. Just enough to be able to watch a movie from the couch across the room (8' distance)

It doesn't need to be flat panel or anything crazy. I would like to have it be able to support an xbox 360 as well as the upcoming Nintendo Wii. It does not need audio since I already have good speakers.

My budget? I'd REALLY REALLY like to spend less than $300, but I suppose I could stretch it to $400 if I absolutely had to or if there was some amazingly compelling difference between a $300 and $400 model.

I haven't purchased a TV in YEARS, so I am lost with all this new tech.

Help!

[Leonardo]

I haven't purchased a TV in YEARS, so I am lost with all this new tech. That makes two of us! Yeah, I know, this isn't helping, so just consider this a thread bump. :p

[primesuspect]

help! :D

[Black Hawk]

Not much but somewhere to start. Link (http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=hdtv&btnG=Search+Froogle&lmode=online&cat=518&a_n0=inch&a_y0=3&a_f0=20.000000&a_t0=40.000000&a_o0=3&price1=250.00&price2=400.00&btnP=Go&scoring=mrd)

You can get an HDTV for less than $400 but the thing is finding a good place to buy it from.

[Thrax]

Was looking at HDTVs the other day, and found this C|Net (http://www.cnet.com/4520-7874_1-5102926-1.html?tag=cnetfd.ld5) website to be pretty great.

[airbornflght]

and I'm broke...

That makes two of us..

your best bet would probably be a rear projection tv. I think DLP is probably still too expensive. I have been looking lately, but decided to wait another year or so.:D

[primesuspect]

anybody? I'm looking for solid product recommendations... :eek3:

[Aranyic]

I'm not going to be any help at all :p but i say hold out for one of these: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/14530698/

[csimon]

Try newegg. I'll look around.
edit\ nevermind they have nothing in HD in that price range.

[Thrax]

anybody? I'm looking for solid product recommendations... :eek3:

Read that C|NET website, newb. It's pretty much the best resource I've ever found for HD information, and I've been reading up on it too.

[csimon]

Why HD?

[Instrument Mechanic]

Try http://www.highdefforum.com/
I use themm as a trusted resource... but there is a whole lot to learn about HD before you can make a truly educated purchase.
Spending 300-400 dollars will make it tough to find anything large, and if you want to use HD capable gaming consoles, you really should buy HD. If I were looking to spend that much money I would look for something used, say a DLP from a year or two ago. I bought my 46" Samsung DLP over a year ago for like 2500.00, and now you can buy better for around 1300.00, so mine would be close to your price. As far as where to find used goods, that is tough and keep in mind any rear projection TV (RP LCD, DLP, LCOS) will need a new bulb every few years give or take.
I would look into a 32" HD CRT. They are heavy, and dont do progressive scanning (1080i only), but they are econoical and offer excellent SD picture quality in addition to HD. Buy from Costco if possible, they have a limited selection, but an excellent return policy.

[primesuspect]

In my research, I've narrowed it down to something like you said: Approximately 30" CRT HDTV.

I saw a Toshiba floor model at Costco the other day for $449. Unfortunately, I needed new tires, so I had to buy those instead :crazy:

[Hawk]

You do realize # Just because a "Broadcast in HD" icon appears on your TV while viewing, doesn't mean you are actually viewing that program or movie in HD.
In order to do that you must:
# Upgrade to HD service with your
# • Digital cable with HD
# • Satellite service with HD.
And i'm not trying to burst your buble on this topic either.
Just wanted to be sure you understood that.
And you say you don't have cable or satellite service, so how are you going to watch HDTV?

[Hawk]

P.S.
BTW, I'm checking SAMS & BJ's for you.

[primesuspect]

I'm not getting any broadcast content anyway, so I'm unconcerned with it. I will not have any "channels", either over-the-air, satellite, or cable. This is strictly a display device for all my consoles and my HTPC.

[Black Hawk]

I will not have any "channels", either over-the-air, satellite, or cable.
L A M E R :p

[Hawk]

I did find this out though which suprised me and is cool for those that are in areas without cable or satellite or can't afford it;
Broadcast HD.
HD is just about everywhere. Enjoy no fee, over-the-air HD broadcasts from ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, UPN, and WB. According to the NAB, over 1500 TV stations are broadcasting DTV. And a healthy portion of the primetime schedule is transmitted in HD!
I know my basic cable plus package is $58.00 a mnth and that adds up for a yr. Money that could be better spent elsewhere.

[Hawk]

Here's a 20" I found for $298.00 ... Akai LCT2016 20" LCD HDTV (http://www.6ave.com/product.jsp?zipz=11001&x=LCT2016&w=1)
I'll keep looking for ya prime.

[Hawk]

Here's a 23" with pretty decent specs, but it's:
$449.99 Less Rebate which ends 9/30/06:- $50.00 Final Price:$399.99.... then shipping. Olevia LT23HVX 23" / 1366x768 / 1600:1 Contrast Ratio / PC Input / LCD TV (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2205170&CatId=0)

[primesuspect]

Thanks hawk! That Akai is the right price, but I need one with component input as well. I would really like to have an HDMI port on it as well so that I can have some future-proofing built in, as I buy TVs about once, oh... every twelve years or so ;D

[Hawk]

Here's something I found at... Now are you ready for this! Best Buy! for $379.00... Insignia™ 27" Flat-Tube HDTV (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7601491&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat95100050013&id=1130981881933)
Has Inputs: 1 S-video, 1 component video, 3 A/V (1 side, 2 rear), 2 RF and 1 HDMI.

[Thrax]

I am a Best Buy employee, and I have some advice for you:

Avoid Insignia like it'd give you AIDS.

[primesuspect]

bah! but why? It's almost perfect! The specs are right, the price is right! Tell me what's wrong with it? :(

Or recommend something better :-/

[csimon]

bah! but why? It's almost perfect! The specs are right, the price is right! Tell me what's wrong with it? :(

Or recommend something better :-/
Hmmm ...he works there he must know I would say. I've bought tv's from best buy that were scratch and dent ...like a dent on the backside where no one will ever see. You can really move up a notch at that price point. Just a suggestion.
Scooze me though please I had a few with comrades after work today.:cheers:

[Thrax]

bah! but why? It's almost perfect! The specs are right, the price is right! Tell me what's wrong with it? :(

Or recommend something better :-/

Insignia is the Best Buy-developed product, our in-store, in-house brand. According to dazzling employee-only <s>propaganda</s> training that we receive, stating that Insignia products are made to the same standards as brand-name products, that's just not true.

I personally have to check more Insignia TVs, set top and portable DVD players than any other brand. No, Insignia does not sell more than other brands. I can't overemphasize how drastic the return rate is -- bargain-basement prices, basement-bargained quality.

[profdlp]

...I personally have to check more Insignia TVs, set top and portable DVD players than any other brand...
I'm not disputing that point, but how many of them are D.O.A. or go croakers on you within the warranty period?

My experience with bargain-basement stuff (and I have a lot of it), leads me to believe that in most cases it's a quality-control issue in the factory. If you don't mind the risk that you may be making a return trip to the store for an exchange, you might still be able to get a deal.

To be fair, the flip side of that coin is that some el-cheapo products manage to hang in there until the day after the warranty expires. This might be one exception to my general rule of avoiding paying for an extended warranty. In a case like this it might be a way to hedge your bet, at least as long as the price is not too awfully high.

[Hawk]

One thing I failed to mention which my brother brought to my attention was ...You may want to check out all the local pawn shops..
I have seen HDTV's that were $1000- $2000 going for as little as $300- $500.
Not to mention you can bicker the price with them.

[Hawk]

Here's a couple of factory refurbished 30" HDTV's for $299 each with $100 flat rate shipping which brings them to $399....
They have some pretty nice specs with all the I/O connections you could need.
PHILIPS 30PW8402 30" WIDESCREEN HDTV HD TV LIQUIDATION (http://cgi.ebay.com/PHILIPS-30PW8402-30-WIDESCREEN-HDTV-HD-TV-LIQUIDATION_W0QQitemZ120026834401QQihZ002QQcategoryZ11072QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#Sh ippingPayment)
PHILIPS 30PW8420 30" WIDESCREEN HDTV HDMI, Flat HD TV (http://cgi.ebay.com/PHILIPS-30PW8420-30-WIDESCREEN-HDTV-HDMI-Flat-HD-TV_W0QQitemZ120026834406QQihZ002QQcategoryZ11072QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

[profdlp]

Nice find, Hawk. :)

BTW, prime: Those are in Dayton, Ohio. You might be able to save a C-Note by driving down and picking it up yourself. Give you a chance to break those new tires in, too. :vimp:

[Hawk]

Another, But I don't think it has the HDMI port.
But it's US $345.00, with free shipping!
PHILIPS 30PW850H 30" WIDESCREEN HDTV HD TV Wide Screen (http://cgi.ebay.com/PHILIPS-30PW850H-30-WIDESCREEN-HDTV-HD-TV-Wide-Screen_W0QQitemZ120026834416QQihZ002QQcategoryZ11072QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

[Hawk]

Nice find, Hawk. :)

BTW, prime: Those are in Dayton, Ohio. You might be able to save a C-Note by driving down and picking it up yourself. Give you a chance to break those new tires in, too. :vimp:

I didn't think to check where they were coming from.
That could be a good chunk of money saved.
How long a drive is that from you prime?

[primesuspect]

Probably more than $100 worth of gas :-/

But thank you, you've definitely opened my horizons quite a bit :thumbsup:

[Hawk]

Probably more than $100 worth of gas :-/

But thank you, you've definitely opened my horizons quite a bit :thumbsup:

No problem at all prime. I'm glad to help.
I would have been searching earlier for you, but I'm still getting over the dental surgery.
Couldn't concentrate on much of anything for any amount of time because of the pain.
I'm still looking,so I'll let you know what I find.

[profdlp]

Probably more than $100 worth of gas :-/ ...
What are you driving, an Abrams tank? :scratch:

I can get from The Holy City Of Westlake to your place - and back again - for $30 (@ $2.50 a gallon). From your digs to Dayton can't be that much farther. :cool:

[fatcat]

off topic:smiles:

actually, an M1A1 Abrams tank can go 289 miles with all 4 tanks filled, ~512 gallons of diesel. diesel is ~$3/gallon here. So for the ~300 mile roundtrip from detroit to the holy city of westlake and back you're gonna need about $1500 for gas alone.:eek:

now if you want to include a few sabot armor piercing rounds to negotiate traffic on the way, the price goes way up... ~5k per round for the training version, or 8k for the real deal. the M1A1 holds 42 of them:)

[profdlp]

...if you want to include a few sabot armor piercing rounds to negotiate traffic on the way, the price goes way up... ~5k per round for the training version, or 8k for the real deal. the M1A1 holds 42 of them:)
That'd come in handy while passing through Toledo. :mouldy:

[Instrument Mechanic]

Why not look into some free credit... like a year of no payments, no financing charges. Best Buy has those type of deals, and so do many others. As long as you are fiscally responsible, it streches your usable dollars. Consider that if you have 300.00 dollars to spend today, but you want a 500.00 tv, the 200.00 over a 12 month period, is about 17.00 more a month that you have to spend. Pack a lunch a few times a week and there you go. Th e down side is that irresponsible people wont set aside extra money, and end up paying the financing charges later on... I got a Costco Amex that had six months free financing on it. Another thing to consider is that a 30inch tube will weigh up 200 lbs. Not a one man job.
Also, if you buy a TV with a Qam4 cable tunner, then you can get a few hd channels through Comcast or who ever you have service through. Not the pay channels like Discovery HD theater, but you locals (not bad). If you use air waves, then you will get a bunch of channels in HD (most people with antennas do, I dont have one myself) make sure that the TV will upscale 720p to 1080i, I believe that the xBox 360 games are 720p, but the Xbox may also do the scalling. Some HD Tvs cant use a non-native signal (1080i or 720p) because they dont have a scaller/converter/interlacer or deinterlacer.

[primesuspect]

As long as you are fiscally responsible

oh I am SO not fiscally responsible. I have horrendous credit, there is no possibility of financing.

Good point on the upscaling. I believe the 360 does 1080i, but I could be wrong about that. I know the PS3 will do 1080p, but it will be a long, long time before I have one of those.

[GHoosdum]

It cost me around $60 to do the round-trip from Cinci to Warren for SM-LAN this year, and that was at very close to $3 per gallon. Dayton is about 50 miles closer to you than my house. Of course, you'd have to stop by and pay us a visit... or at least hang out in Dayton for a few hours for lunch with me if you did drive down...

[primesuspect]

don't get your hopes up. It will be a long time before I am able to buy a TV :-/

One day I'll be able to actually leave this place and do some traveling. Sure, it may be 20 years from now, but who's counting? ;)

[shwaip]

I did find this out though which suprised me and is cool for those that are in areas without cable or satellite or can't afford it;
Broadcast HD.
HD is just about everywhere. Enjoy no fee, over-the-air HD broadcasts from ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, UPN, and WB. According to the NAB, over 1500 TV stations are broadcasting DTV. And a healthy portion of the primetime schedule is transmitted in HD!
I know my basic cable plus package is $58.00 a mnth and that adds up for a yr. Money that could be better spent elsewhere.

Also, you can usually pick up these channels with a good ol' fashioned set of rabbit ears.