LCD TVs

[PhilaYank36]

OK, well I finally got a little lucky. I switched banks to PNC, then filled out a contest card for the hell of it. A few weeks later, they call me and tell me that I won the grand prize: a $4,200 gift card to Best Buy.



Well, of course, I'm getting Christmas shopping done first, then I take care of me, which includes getting a LCD TV. I'm looking between a 40-50" screen, high contrast ratio & I'll be playing some Xbox on that sucker. Which brand is the best as far as quality & durability? The brands that have caught my eye are Sony, Phillips, Samsung & LG. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Clever username]

Come on, show some self-awareness and start a poll with the different brands. It's what the people want.

 

[markvid]

OK, well I finally got a little lucky. I switched banks to PNC, then filled out a contest card for the hell of it. A few weeks later, they call me and tell me that I won the grand prize: a $4,200 gift card to Best Buy.



Well, of course, I'm getting Christmas shopping done first, then I take care of me, which includes getting a LCD TV. I'm looking between a 40-50" screen, high contrast ratio & I'll be playing some Xbox on that sucker. Which brand is the best as far as quality & durability? The brands that have caught my eye are Sony, Phillips, Samsung & LG. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Phil, 1st off...congrats, that's wonderful.
I will say this, wait to use the card till after the New Year, you can get a 60" plasma pretty cheap.
Also, I say plasma because even with LCDs , you need to be seated in front and the screen needs to be at eye level to ensure full brightness.
If you have a family who will be watching at different angles, go plasma. And go Panasonic or LG, they get great reviews.

 

[PhilaYank36]

This TV will hopefully be taking up residence in my apartment... which is hinging on the fact that I actually turn a recent interview into a job. [/loudly gulping]

 

[markvid]

This TV will hopefully be taking up residence in my apartment... which is hinging on the fact that I actually turn a recent interview into a job. [/loudly gulping]

But, will you be the only one watching it regularly?

 

[PhilaYank36]

Possibly the future Mrs. PhilaYank & my college buddies.

 

[markvid]

Possibly the future Mrs. PhilaYank & my college buddies.

Then go plasma.
Only one person can really benefit from an LCD.

 

[Bad Guy Zero]

Get one of these:

Epson PowerLite Home Cinema...one of the only affordable 1080p projectors.

 

[mike311gd]

I don't see how you can go wrong with this model.

 

[wickedwritah]

Make sure you pay taxes on that big-boy gift card. It's gonna set you back $1,000. That's just as important as figuring out what type of TV you'll want.

 

[markvid]

Make sure you pay taxes on that big-boy gift card. It's gonna set you back $1,000. That's just as important as figuring out what type of TV you'll want.

That's a good point I hadn't thought of.

 

[PhilaYank36]

Make sure you pay taxes on that big-boy gift card. It's gonna set you back $1,000. That's just as important as figuring out what type of TV you'll want.

Yikes. So I'm guessing that I save that card once I'm done and write it down on my tax forms? Also, I have two more questions:

1) Is the brightness factor between LCD and plasma that much of an issue? I have every intention to log some serious Madden time on it, and I was told that plasmas get "frozen images" & video games aren't as sharp on them over LCDs.

2) Do prices nose-dive enough after Christmas that I should hold off on a purchase until then?

Again, I have no clue as to where to put this thing, since I'm still waiting for a second interview, but that's another topic. I also intend on getting a sound system, DVD/VCR combo player and a stand for all that stuff. So far, I'm seeing some good stuff from LG under $2K.

 

[hockeybeat]

I don't see how you can go wrong with this model.

How in the **** did you get into my parents house?

 

[wickedwritah]

PhilaYank, I would imagine with a huge gift such as this, the bank's gonna send you a 1099 form -- like one you'd get for freelancing. It would declare the amount of "income" the gift totaled. You may want to check this out with the bank beforehand, so you know what to expect. If you get a 1099, so will the IRS, so they'll be waiting for you to pay up the taxes on your bit of good fortune.

I'd also suggest insuring your apartment, if you haven't already, since someone's gonna see you bringing this haul home with you, and someone likely will be interested in enjoying a no-strings-attached 40-inch TV, if they can land one.

 

[Editude]

With plasma, room images can be reflected on the screen if the room is somewhat bright. We like our Samsung LCD, but there are a lot of good brands out there.

 

[Bubbler]

Enjoy an electric bill that's the equivalent of a medium-sized suburb.

I read somewhere that the UK is considering taxing plasma/LCD TV owners because of the strain on the electrical grid.

 

[93Devil]

No matter what you get, it will be the best TV in your living room.

Some hints for the purchase of an HD TV, since I have two. (I married well, and we both cleaned up on real estate).

The LCD does not hog energy. It is a myth. It uses about 1/10th the energy of your coffee pot. The plasma, though, does use a ton.

I have never looked at my LCDs from an angle and not seen the picture.

When you get a high def TV, you are probably going to want to upgrade your cable or satellite package. This ain't cheap. One bonus is that you can get your HD networks for free using old fashioned rabbit ears.

Buy the TV that suits your room. Putting a 52 inch TV in a 10 foot room is a waste.

786 resolution is very good. I know 1080 is out there, but it is a lot more expensive.

The plasma is a pain to move. If you tilt it, you can screw it up. The LCD does not have this problem.

You DVDs are not going to look as good anymore. They play at a lower resolution than the HD picture.

Good luck and congratulations on the purchase.

 

[PhilaYank36]

Gracias, senor 93Diablo.

 

[Cansportschick]

OK, well I finally got a little lucky. I switched banks to PNC, then filled out a contest card for the hell of it. A few weeks later, they call me and tell me that I won the grand prize: a $4,200 gift card to Best Buy.



Well, of course, I'm getting Christmas shopping done first, then I take care of me, which includes getting a LCD TV. I'm looking between a 40-50" screen, high contrast ratio & I'll be playing some Xbox on that sucker. Which brand is the best as far as quality & durability? The brands that have caught my eye are Sony, Phillips, Samsung & LG. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Samsung's picture quality is excellent, especially with shows on HD. You can't go wrong with Sony either.

 

[93Devil]

Gracias, senor 93Diablo.

De nada