I am looking into buying a new television. Any advice?

Question

I have been looking around but it is very confusing. Whats better, plasma or H.D.or both? I see bigger televisions hundreds of dollars cheaper than smaller ones. Shouldn't that be the other way around? Any input would be great.

Answer 1

Blah blah blah...... I agree with the dude who posted the Hitachi 51F59 it's a great set (still CRT based) tried and true technology. Great customer support, just all around a good value. Do yourself a huge favor, think about this PLEASE! If you have never heard of the name brand (Vizio, ILO, and those fly by nights) DON'T buy it. Chances are they will not be there if/when the set fails. Stick with the well established brands like Hitachi, Sony, Mitsubishi, Toshiba, and the like. And for goodness sakes stay away from RCA/GE/Scenium they are Chinese junks now (not boats), and you cannot get parts for them. As for the features, all HD sets already have the digital tuner in there (it's the law now). HDMI inputs component inputs, and that sort of stuff is pretty much standard equipment on the new sets. The only real options anymore are cable card slots, and memory card slots. Do you need them? only you can answer that one.

Answer 2

Ok if you have a PS3 or a Xbox 360 go with a HDTV. I would go with an LCD not a plasma. The plasma has a better picture at higher rez but I have a 720p LCD 37in HDTV I got at Sam's Club for $700 and I can't tell the difference between that and my dads 42in plamsa 1080p HDTV. So if you just want a tv for watching local channels then save some money and get a Standard Def TV, but if you have any HD; get a LCD. They are cheaper and last just as long....if not longer. Just do your homework. Hope that helps.

Answer 3

Ok HD stands for high definition. Meaning 1080 lines of resolution instead of the 480 lines of standard definition.

There are three types of high definition televisions that are worth noting.

LCD, Plasma, and DLP

As for the bigger tvs being cheaper it really depends on the technology in them. The bigger tv may not have a hd tuner in it, meaning you would have to buy a $199 box to go with your tv. It also depends on what formats it accepts. It might only accept 1080 interlaced or 720 progressive scan where as the smaller tv could be running 1080 progressive scan.

There is really a lot to know about buying a television. Believe me it is worth studying up on that way you don't get stuck with a crappy tv I bought when I was naive about the subject.... dang thing doesn't even have HDMI inputs and only two component, I got lucky and got a DVI I guess though.


Sora (guy below me) gives horrible advice. You are going to be kicking yourself if you don't get an hd-tv even if you only want to watch tv with it. You can already get local channels for free in HD, and most cable/sat offer HD channels for only an extra $10 a month. I also don't know why he would say to save up to buy a standard def tv.... standard def is cheaper than hd.

Answer 4

LCD flatscreens are a lot lighter than Plasma TVs which weigh over a 100 lbs. Nevertheless, LCD flatscreens may have limited viewing angles and can suffer from dead pixels. While Plasma TVs are very suspectible to ghosting which is the result of having a fixed image inadvertently left on the screen for a long period of time. This fixed image will literally remain as a ghost image backgrounded to the screen. Usually the solution is to install a floating screen savers which is activated when the screen is not active.

And then there are rear projection LCD's and DLP's which use mirror panels and color wheels to filter and project a very large screen image [ranging from 65" to 72" diagonally measured]. The major concern is replacement cost of lamps which usually cost between $200 - $300 and last any number of hours depending on how the TV is shut off. Failing to properly shut down either LCD or DLP units which involves leaving on the main fan running for some 20 minutes -- will result in early failure of projection lamps. And there's the added concern regarding the use of "organic" material which make up the LCD panels/mirrors and usually causes the blue panel to fade over a period of time. So you may have to look forward to purchasing a new LCD projection TV. But getting back to DLP projection TV, there is the issue of viewers seeing the dreaded "rainbow effect" which are color flashes appear in highly contrasty dark scenes. Their sighting can cause headaches and is quite annoying to the viewers. And a possible cure is to choose a color wheel which operates faster than 3X; say 4X which seems to be the threshold speed that virtually eliminates the rainbow effect.

And finally, we should also consider the "ultimate, best" TV technology: "Front Projection."

You may well want to check out another technology: DLP front projection which produces a movie-like experience of HD television, DVDs, videos and games. And according to Consumer Reports, "front projection has a superior image -- better than CRT's, LCDs or plasma."

Check out the reviews for a "92" DLP generated [front projection] TV image at amazon.com by submitting the search query: "Infocus SP4805." There are any number of customer submitted pictures of projected HDTV image(s) along with other high-quality regular DVD-movie images projected on bare white wall surfaces. And the price for a refurbished ScreenPlay 4805 is about $550 with lamps costing around $330 which will last around 4,000 hours. Also check out various reviews at Consumer Reports [November 2005 & December 2006] in which front projection is rated "superior" to plasma, lcd.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Before buying a new television, make a plan and consider factors such as price, type, and size. Impulse buying can lead to poor choices, so when you know what you want, be the smart consumer and stick to your plan.
Price
Before rushing out to your neighborhood electronics super center, take a look at your bank account, and do a little budget analyzing. A 60" Flat Panel Plasma display might dominate your nightly dreams, but it's hardly worth putting you in financial peril. Yes, many stores offer interest-free financing for up to a year, but if you can't make the payments - what then? Don't worry, no matter how much you have to spend, there's a good TV waiting for you out there.
Where It's Going - Size and Weight
Measure the space where you'll put the television. (Note: A 32" tube won't fit in a 24" space) Some televisions weigh over 100 pounds, and can be difficult to move. If you must take stairs to get to your residence, use some deductive reasoning - what goes up must come down. Factor the room size, and choose the best fit for the room before going to a store. Since stores are probably bigger than your living space, the TV will appear smaller at the store.
Type of Television
When considering price, size, and weight, you'll most likely bounce back and forth between various types of televisions. Do you want to go HD with plug and play capabilities? Do you want a flat panel or something that sits on a media stand or the floor? Knowing what type of television you want will not only narrow your search, it'll help you determine the best price within your selected group. However, it's best to visit a store to see for yourself what type you like best.
Features
Other than a great picture at an even better price, what do you want out of your television? Do you want it to be digital cable ready, have parental controls, or be compatible with your digital camera? What about better built-in audio or picture in picture? Think of a television as like buying a car when considering extra bells and whistles - you get what you pay for and the more features the higher the price.
Audio/Video Input and Outputs
This is pretty important when considering a television. A simple rule of thumb is the lower priced models don't have as many input/outputs as higher priced ones. This can be an issue if you have multiple input devices like a set-top box, DVD player, VCR, digital camera, etc. There are solutions for any wiring challenge, but it costs money to solve. Consider the cost of fixing your potential input/output issue before buying, and think ahead to possible additions.
Length of Warranty & Extended Warranties
Most manufacturers offer a one-year parts, 90-day labor warranty, but you can also buy an extended warranty through the manufacturer, retail outlet, or third party business. Warranties are important because they fix defects at little or no cost to the consumer. Extended warranties can be expensive, and before buying one, contact your home insurance or credit card company to see if they offer some sort of added protection by paying an extra premium or by purchasing with their card.
Where to Purchase
Do you want to buy from a local retail outlet, through the manufacturer, or online. Retail outlets are nice because you can see your model before taking it home, and you meet face-to-face with the sales person. Buying online or through the manufacturer is similar in that you're usually buying from home. While manufacturer prices are often higher, online stores offer some of the lowest prices. Regardless of where you buy, consider delivery charges and restocking fees if the item is returned.

Answer 6

damaging reception on Channel 5 shows a vulnerable sign, the two simply by aerial or which you reside in a damaging reception section. you ought to consult others who proportion the television sign (and neighbours) then probable organize for an improve of the aerial or distribution approach - an amplified splitter may well be required. A desirable type freeview field would make some distinction yet don’t waste your money in the previous checking community reception. you additionally can look outdoors and make confident that the aerial is pointing interior an identical direction as others around. In vulnerable areas, a intense benefit aerial would be required, often extra factors, consistent with possibility with X factors, and on an prolonged pole. look on the others interior the neighbourhood.

Answer 7

Choose between 2 or 3 tvs and get the one with the best specs. Make sure they have a service center in your area and get an extended warranty.

Answer 8

OH FOR THE LOVE OF PETE!! All these answers....DRONING ON AND ON......
---- ----- ------ ---- ----- ---- -- --- -- - - -
Just get the Hitachi 51F59.....get it and be done with it...

It's $900 and just as HD 1080 as the $2500 units....

But you can't hang it on the Wall.....
Oh Boo hoo, I SAVE $1500 but I can't hang it on the WALL? What will my friends think of Me?

Then you save even MORE when you have to get it repaired...
No $300 lamp every 3 years, no $1000 light engine crapping out on you. No $800 DMD module kicking your butt....

Nope....just ONE $300 repair about 7 years down the road....

{and you can say this to your buddies}
Well John, I'm sorry.....I heard your TV died on you again and you can't make it to the Brats and Boob-Fest this weekend....I guess LCD/DLP/Plasma wasn't reliable when you bought it....


Believe me, you'll SAVE money on this one and have MORE to spend on an HD-DVD player, and a nice Dolby Amplifier

Answer 9

Sundya get the nwspaper. They have all the circulars for Circuit City, Best Buys. Read them over and get the best price

Answer 10

check out best buy or