This is topic so.. looking for a flat screen tv. in forum General Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by Jmir018 (Member # 1414) on :
 
like the tittle says. i'm looking for a flat screen tv. What's the difference between plasma and hd? i'm totally clueless. i don't know what specs i should be looking for and what not.
I was thinking about a 50" and my budget is about $1500
what do you guys recommend?
I see some unknown brands at costco for that price and today i saw a panasonic and with the instant rebate was about 1499(regular price was 1800 or 1700).
Who's got the best prices?
thanks a lot.
 

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Posted by Stevo (Member # 972) on :
 
Plasma has a life of about 3-5 years. LCD is what you need to look for. It is the same as a laptop monitor. I have a 50" Samsung LCD Flat Panel and love the picture when I'm watching sports. You also have to look at what size room you are going to put it in. The biggest aren't the best. If you get too big, you will be looking at pixels while you are watching the TV. To figure out how big you need to get, take a measurement from your main seating to where your TV is going to be and times it by 5. That's how you figure your size. Brands to look at are Panasonic, Samsung, Sony and Vizio.
 

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Posted by Dag302 (Member # 4682) on :
 
There is a difference between lcd and the 50" lcd you have(unless you really have a true 50"lcd). The 50" is still a rear projection lcd. They do make true lcd sets but are usually much smaller. You can also look at dlp sets. The nice point on the rplcd and the dlp sets is that they say all you need to do is replace a bulb when the sets gets dark or goes out. Neither of those are as skinny as a plasma though. It really depends on what you are looking for or if you want to hang it on the wall. He is right if you sit to close and the set is to big you will get a headache.

[ July 07, 2007, 11:21 PM: Message edited by: Dag302 ]
 

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Posted by Stevo (Member # 972) on :
 
It's a true LCD...
 

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Posted by hidnn.o.s. (Member # 1219) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Dag302:
He is right if you sit to close and the set is to big you will get a headache.

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Nahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Everyone needs a 40+ inch tv in their bedroom

THANKS SHAUN!



[ July 07, 2007, 11:30 PM: Message edited by: hidnn.o.s. ]
 

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Posted by Jmir018 (Member # 1414) on :
 
thanks for the tips guys. thanks to those that pm me too.
 

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Posted by twisted54 (Member # 1981) on :
 
Check out circuit city. I recently bought a Mitsubishi 57" DLP rear projection. I was 800 off normal pricing and then was an additional 10% off when you added it to your shopping cart online. The price turned out to be 1280.00 or something like that...and it's 1080p. The picture is awesome especially FSN in HD
 

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Posted by 88DroptopGT (Member # 2535) on :
 
Magnavox 42" LCD Full 1080P HDTV for $999.00 on Costco.com
 

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Posted by BUKSING (Member # 6594) on :
 
i got that vizio 50" plasma from costco..and the $80 wall bracket...im happy with it. ive read vizio used an LG screen in this plasma..which is also another top quality manufacturer. but last time i looked at costco they stopped selling 50" vizio plasmas and replaced it with a brand called maxent....but the packaging still looks like vizios box? from what ive read, plasmas have better picture than lcd's... even if lcd's may last longer...i still got a plasma and im happy with it. and about plasma and hd... plasma is the type of tv..and hd is the format.. all plasmas are hd capable.. the cheapest way to view hd is to rent a hd cable box from you cable company... hd picture is unbelieveable.
 

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Posted by Five Decimal Zero (Member # 1251) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by BUKSING:
i got that vizio 50" plasma from costco..and the $80 wall bracket...im happy with it. ive read vizio used an LG screen in this plasma..which is also another top quality manufacturer. but last time i looked at costco they stopped selling 50" vizio plasmas and replaced it with a brand called maxent....but the packaging still looks like vizios box? from what ive read, plasmas have better picture than lcd's... even if lcd's may last longer...i still got a plasma and im happy with it. and about plasma and hd... plasma is the type of tv..and hd is the format.. all plasmas are hd capable.. the cheapest way to view hd is to rent a hd cable box from you cable company... hd picture is unbelieveable.

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I was going to recommend the 50" Vizio from Costco. I'm more than happy with mine as well and have it hooked up via HDMI to an upscaling DVD player at 1080i. No complaints on picture quality. Depending on budget, I'd check out some reviews at http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/
 

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Posted by 87#184saleen (Member # 6276) on :
 
i have a 40" sony bravia hdtv & hdmi flat screen i paid $1600 its a bad ass tv
 

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Posted by Fostang (Member # 3752) on :
 
If you must I'd go Vizio.

Now my recomendation is DLP.

I just bought a 65" 1080P.
 

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Posted by adower (Member # 5955) on :
 
My parents bought a 50" LG plasma two years ago. The screen is already screwed up. The picture looks like pieces of clay.

[ July 08, 2007, 11:34 AM: Message edited by: adower ]
 

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Posted by hidnn.o.s. (Member # 1219) on :
 
Jersey, something you may also want to consider is Costco has an INCREDIBLE return policy/customer service.

I'd easily pay $200 or so more for the SAME TV and buy from Coscto.
 

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Posted by Wolfie351 (Member # 651) on :
 
The Vizios from Costco get great reviews, if I were in the market for a flat screen, that's what i would get. But, if you have space for it, spend less money for a bigger TV and get a DLP. My friends who have a flat screen come over to MY house to watch the game on my 62" DLP.
 

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Posted by Jmir018 (Member # 1414) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by hidnn.o.s.:
Jersey, something you may also want to consider is Costco has an INCREDIBLE return policy/customer service.

I'd easily pay $200 or so more for the SAME TV and buy from Coscto.

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Yeah man, costco has the greatest return policy. 90 days!!
I'll make a trip back to costco and check the units you have have recommended.

 

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Posted by hidnn.o.s. (Member # 1219) on :
 
Not just the 90 days or what not, THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU DOWN THE ROAD!
 

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Posted by BUKSING (Member # 6594) on :
 
actually that policy just recently changed...i know someone that works there and they told me how people abused it and now its changed. still not a bad idea to get a plasma from costco
 

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Posted by Dag302 (Member # 4682) on :
 
it has changed but I think they double the manufac. warranty.
 

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Posted by Luke87GT (Member # 21) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by hidnn.o.s.:
Not just the 90 days or what not, THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU DOWN THE ROAD!

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Don, the policy has changed.

It used to be (up until very recentally) that you could buy a bike or TV and bring it back years later for a refund. Looks like things were getting out of hand because they have become more strict about this and their policy change. It was all over the news recentally.
 

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Posted by hidnn.o.s. (Member # 1219) on :
 
Good heads up Luke

I still think they'll take care of you/anyone better than a Sears/WalMart type of business would.

Costco has earned my business due to how they've treated me over the years.
 

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Posted by N8 (Member # 6048) on :
 
I just bought a 40in hdtv from target today, they got a pretty good sale going right now...800 bucks (w/rebate). 750 for a 37in.
 

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Posted by jmcclesk (Member # 1355) on :
 
I bought a flat screen 50 inch at sam's club about 2 months ago it was about 1650.00 the kicker was if i applied for their card they would add one year to the factory warranty.

[ July 08, 2007, 07:40 PM: Message edited by: jmcclesk ]
 

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Posted by PWR HNGRY 302 (Member # 6000) on :
 
Ive been looking into getting a new tv also broke my old one by stepping on the power cord while re-aranging my room.
Good luck on your new tv hunt iam still saving up for mine.
 

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Posted by 91Trunkster (Member # 6598) on :
 
DLP is garbage, just a heads up, best picture will come from a Plasma, LCD can't match the contrast ratios of a Plasma (the newer more expensive ones are getting close) but the deepness of the colors aren't there yet, LCD's when sized like Plasma will cost more, I own both and love my Plasma, LCD's are nice as well but only for TV's 32" and under, anything 42 and up I would go Plasma.

[ July 08, 2007, 11:19 PM: Message edited by: 91Trunkster ]
 

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Posted by BCINGUU (Member # 2397) on :
 
Just remember if you choose Plasma, it has a limited lifespan. 5 to 7 years I believe. After that it is dust, so factor the price you pay per year.
 

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Posted by court (Member # 6700) on :
 
I just replaced my DLP bulb for the first time on my 50 incher and it is about 3 years old now.

1080i

I think only blue ray uses 1080p
 

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Posted by 88DroptopGT (Member # 2535) on :
 
Blu-Ray AND HD DVD give out 1080p but for now the initial price just isn't worth it IMO.

When looking at Plasmas or LCD, also check out the response time (4-16ms). When looking at sports or any fast paced action movie you may get motion blur which tends to get annoying.

At least thats what I noticed when my friend bought his 50" Sony flatscreen.

[ July 09, 2007, 04:14 PM: Message edited by: 88DroptopGT ]
 

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Posted by 1FAST89GT (Member # 5071) on :
 
pm sent
 

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Posted by Jmir018 (Member # 1414) on :
 
so i went to costco today. they had plenty a few 50 inch plasma tvs. they had a vizio<<spelling for 13900 and a panasonic for 14999,after rebate.
I was comparing them side by side and the panasonic looked better.
For some reason i thought the the lcds looked better than the plasmas! wtf?

I would get a dlp, but our new place has a really small living room, so i wanna hang whatever i get on the wall and make the most of the space.
 

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Posted by SmokinLX (Member # 1684) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Jmir018:
so i went to costco today. they had plenty a few 50 inch plasma tvs. they had a vizio<<spelling for 13900 and a panasonic for 14999,after rebate.
I was comparing them side by side and the panasonic looked better.
For some reason i thought the the lcds looked better than the plasmas! wtf?

I would get a dlp, but our new place has a really small living room, so i wanna hang whatever i get on the wall and make the most of the space.

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