T. V. Fried

Wolf mom · #1 02/06/08, 05:49 PM

and I've decided to get an LCD HDTV. I was hoping my current TV would last until the conversion took effect. Oh, well...

After reading about them - now my brain is fried! Does anyone have any good, first hand advice on buying one? I figure I'll have to spend about $1000 - (OUCH), hopefully less.

I never buy top of the line anything with all the gadgets - just more to go wrong in my estimation.
And I keep things forever, current ProScan TV is probably 15 years old. (Do they still make 'em?)
I don't play games on the set. I don't plug my computer into it.

I am on satelite - if that means anything in buying one.

What about 1080i vs 1080p?

Is it true you need a Ph D to install one? Can I use my ancient DVD player?

How about getting a refurbished one like on refurb.com?

Please lets not turn this into a discussion about having a TV or not... I just need to be able to get the best TV I can.

thanks for any information....

deaconjim · #2 02/06/08, 05:57 PM

The best thing I could recommend is to not bother. We haven't had TV since last summer, and I love it.

stef · #3 02/06/08, 06:47 PM

Hi Wolf Mom.
Do you have access to Consumer Reports magazine? We have it at our local library. They've done some excellent reviews in the last two-three months on this very topic.
I've followed their advice in the past on some major (for me, anyway) purchases and they've been right on.
Wishing you well on your decision.
Stef

Pink_Carnation · #4 02/06/08, 07:51 PM

1080p is the best ...but you might not ever notice the difference. For your dvd player just look for the same kind of input s-cable is what it probably uses. You will want to have the digital cable as an option. I can't think of what that connector is called hdmi sounds about right. We have a rear projection one that without cable or satelight was plug the stuff in and turn it on. If you are not completely set on lcd....watch them for a while at a store like Best Buy, each kind has different issues find out if those issues bother you. LCD has what they call the screen door effect.

I don't know anything about refurbish so I can't help you there.

texican · #5 02/06/08, 07:56 PM

My Advice?

Pay with a credit card, and buy extra repair insurance, regardless of size, make or brand. The cc will double the warranty.

idahodave · #6 02/06/08, 08:56 PM

Unless you buy a HD satellite box and HD service, any set will work to the same (480i) resolution.

How big of screen and how close will you sit? HD sets can be viewed at about 3 times the screen diagonal, old NTSC sets should be viewed at 5 times diagonal.

1080p sources are expensive and far and few between. There is very little difference from 1080i to 1080p.

Your old DVD will work fine, but not in HD. You need to get a new
HD DVD player and HD DVDs to match (there are two kinds of HD DVDs)
for HD playback.

Check wally world

Jayfl77 · #7 02/06/08, 09:40 PM

How close do you sit to the TV? That will determine whether you should opt for 1080p or 720p. Will you be spending the extra money to convert your standard staelllite box to HD?

There is a large difference between 1080i and 1080p, stick with a set that has progressive scan (the p part, i stands for interlaced). Progressive scan sets have a nicer picture that interlaced sets.

As for your old DVDs, Look for an upconverting DVD player which will convert the resolutions of your DVDs to match your TV's resolution. The TV will do it by itself, but they generally dont have great processing quality at the pricepoint you are looking at.

The 2 types of discs that offer high definition are Blue-Ray and HD-DVD, different movie companies are backing different formats, and much like the cd+r and cd-r format war, nobody will win. I would wait until the dual format players come out before investing in another DVD player. Within a year, you should be able to pick up an upconverting HD-DVD/BlueRay/DVD player for under $100

Quint · #8 02/07/08, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayfl77

I would wait until the dual format players come out before investing in another DVD player. Within a year, you should be able to pick up an upconverting HD-DVD/BlueRay/DVD player for under $100

They're already out. I've seen a couple. They're still pricey though at around 800 bucks.

I imagine it will be quite a while before the dual format players get down to the 100 dollar levels. Probably 2 to 4 years. It will happen though. I remember when DVD players were over a grand and now I've seen them as low as 10 or 15 dollars.

wogglebug · #9 02/07/08, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quint

I imagine it will be quite a while before the dual format players get down to the 100 dollar levels. Probably 2 to 4 years. It will happen though.

Maybe not. Some major players have just been dropping support for HD-DVD. Sales of HD-DVD have plummetted. It may be the VCR wars in reverse, with Sony's BluRay having won. If you see HD-DVD on sale, it could be like buying a BetaMax player on sale. In any case, standard DVD gives you a lot, and there are hardly any of either format HD disks around - it may never be worth your while buying any HD player. In any case, you can certainly afford to wait on the player.

Metagirrl · #10 02/07/08, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deaconjim

The best thing I could recommend is to not bother. We haven't had TV since last summer, and I love it.

I'm with DeaconJim- I could only hope that ours would go out.... the microwave finally tanked a couple of weeks ago, and I couldn't be happier

We turned the TV off for a month last fall, and I was a happy gal!

Sorry I don't have any more constructive advice... but the extended warranty isn't a bad idea.

Happy7Farm · #11 02/08/08, 06:55 AM

I'm with Metagirrl & deaconjim as well. We did away with cable and local tv when we moved to KY. We watch some Christmas movies (family tradition) and we bought the 1st season of the old 'Daniel Boone' series (because we now live in KY!). We have a special night once a week to watch one together, at least during the winter hours. I must say we love not seeing and hearing all the crude things tv has to offer. And, oh my, how much more time we have!

Silvercreek Farmer · #12 02/08/08, 08:10 AM

This thread just gave me an idea, I think I will give up TV for lent. My advice is to forget the big TV and pick up a good old tube TV from someone else who is upgrading, then when it dies, you won't be out the $1000. Electronics are just a money pit in my mind. We have had a steady supply of TV's for the past 8 years or so from people upsizing. They probably last an average of 3 years, when they die, we just ask around and see if anyone has one they want to get rid of, we have never gone without!

mike3367 · #13 02/08/08, 08:22 AM

since you are using a satellite for your service go in to a local tv repair shop and see if they got any thing for sale. at are shop it happens every now and then we just sold a 36 inch zenith 9 year old tv for 105$ and gave them 90 days warranty

Wolf mom · #14 02/09/08, 05:58 PM

I appreciate all the suggestions.

Getting another regular TV sounds like an option, although I did get Consumers Reports & they say prices aren't going to drop much for a year - maybe 10% for LCD's. I'll wait on the dvd until the dvd wars are over.

I live alone in a very rural area, with a local paper that comes out 2 X a week for local news only, so I really want a TV. Not mindless watching (I hate to have it on all the time), but it's nice being able to watch the debates, O'Reiley and other things.

If you have a family, it puts a different perspective on TV's.