Comments on: I’ve got a bonus check coming to me next week and want to buy a good HDTV, any suggestions? http://digitalhdpro.com/ive-got-a-bonus-check-coming-to-me-next-week-and-want-to-buy-a-good-hdtv-any-suggestions/636/ Your Digital HDTV Resource Tue, 22 May 2012 02:58:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: tshnobodysfool http://digitalhdpro.com/ive-got-a-bonus-check-coming-to-me-next-week-and-want-to-buy-a-good-hdtv-any-suggestions/636/comment-page-1/#comment-790 tshnobodysfool Sun, 01 Feb 2009 06:26:47 +0000 http://digitalhdpro.com/ive-got-a-bonus-check-coming-to-me-next-week-and-want-to-buy-a-good-hdtv-any-suggestions/636/#comment-790 You don't mention 720p vs 1080p. Make sure you see the difference - try to get them to demo it for you - and compare same size screens (smaller screens look sharper). 42" is a pretty good mid size. I would suggest 1080p but some people can't tell the difference - but there definitely is on that size of screen. I agree with the above answers that you do not need the expensive HDMI cables the sales staff are required to push. The HDMI cables you need usually come with the HD satellite receivers but less expensive ones are fine as long as they are v1.3. You have to get them separately if you want hdmi output from the PS3 or other HD players. You don’t mention 720p vs 1080p. Make sure you see the difference - try to get them to demo it for you - and compare same size screens (smaller screens look sharper). 42″ is a pretty good mid size. I would suggest 1080p but some people can’t tell the difference - but there definitely is on that size of screen. I agree with the above answers that you do not need the expensive HDMI cables the sales staff are required to push. The HDMI cables you need usually come with the HD satellite receivers but less expensive ones are fine as long as they are v1.3. You have to get them separately if you want hdmi output from the PS3 or other HD players.

]]> By: Kracker http://digitalhdpro.com/ive-got-a-bonus-check-coming-to-me-next-week-and-want-to-buy-a-good-hdtv-any-suggestions/636/comment-page-1/#comment-789 Kracker Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:24:24 +0000 http://digitalhdpro.com/ive-got-a-bonus-check-coming-to-me-next-week-and-want-to-buy-a-good-hdtv-any-suggestions/636/#comment-789 I've had a 42 Samsung lcd for a little over a year, no problems, good picture. The extended warrenty is a good value, very little money to cover a rather large investment. I didn't buy the HDMI cables on the advice of a tech friend & I can't see any change in the reception over what I saw in the demo. Seems to be dependent on the strength of your signal. I have DISH TV & all works well. I’ve had a 42 Samsung lcd for a little over a year, no problems, good picture. The extended warrenty is a good value, very little money to cover a rather large investment. I didn’t buy the HDMI cables on the advice of a tech friend & I can’t see any change in the reception over what I saw in the demo. Seems to be dependent on the strength of your signal. I have DISH TV & all works well.

]]> By: jjki_11738 http://digitalhdpro.com/ive-got-a-bonus-check-coming-to-me-next-week-and-want-to-buy-a-good-hdtv-any-suggestions/636/comment-page-1/#comment-788 jjki_11738 Thu, 29 Jan 2009 02:41:24 +0000 http://digitalhdpro.com/ive-got-a-bonus-check-coming-to-me-next-week-and-want-to-buy-a-good-hdtv-any-suggestions/636/#comment-788 First, get the March edition of Consumer Reports from your library. They review a large number of sets. If you don't want to go through a lot of research, get a Sony. You can't go wrong if you do.If you shop around, you should be able to find a 40" in your price range. 1080P-at 40", you don't need a 1080P set. At that size, unless you're going to sit three feet away from the set, 720P is fine. Get a set that will accept a full range of input signals up to and including 1080P. SD performance of HDTVs varies from poor to terrible. A lot of what you will be viewing will be SD-there's still not a lot of HD around-that's why it's important to get a professional review of sets, including SD performance. With these sets, you generally get what you pay for. The lower tier sets like Vizio, Olevia, Insignia, Polaroid Etc. generally have poorer performance, but worse still, they have poor warranties, and no after warranty repair services. Polaroid is known as the disposable TV, because if it fails after the warranty is over, you toss it. The salesman will try to sell you a pile of stuff to "improve your HDTV experience": HDMI cables-he'll want you to buy a $100 cable. See link below for reasonably priced cables. If you have cable service, your cable company will probably supply you with an HDMI or component cable set. So, you may nor even need any cable at all! As far as HDMI vs component cables is concerned, if you're talking about a six foot cable, it doesn't matter which one you use. If someday you buy an upconverting DVD player, or a Bly-ray High Def DVD player, then you'll want an HDMI cable, not for performance reasons, but because those players want to see HDMI for anti-copying protection reasons. Extended warranty-Consumer Reports recommends against buying one. Their assessment of the reliability of these sets is that it's unlikely you will have a problem during your coverage. If, for peace of mind, you still want one, shop around. For example, sony offers a good extended warranty on their sets-just go to their website. Cleaning kit-they'll try to sell you an overpriced one. These screens are very easily damaged. Until you read your manual, you won't know what your manufacturer recommends you use. Surge protector-don't buy the eighty dollar one they'll try to sell you. You can buy a decent one for thirty dollars or less. Don't buy the crap that the eighty dollar one will improve your picture by "cleaning up your voltage". It's best to walk in and refuse to buy anything except the set. PC input-if you have any intention to hook-up to your PC, make sure your TV has a PC (VGA) input. If you want details on a set you're considering, download the manual from the manufacturer's site-that's how to find out the details of what the set can, and can't do. Good luck! First, get the March edition of Consumer Reports from your library. They review a large number of sets. If you don’t want to go through a lot of research, get a Sony. You can’t go wrong if you do.If you shop around, you should be able to find a 40″ in your price range.
1080P-at 40″, you don’t need a 1080P set. At that size, unless you’re going to sit three feet away from the set, 720P is fine.
Get a set that will accept a full range of input signals up to and including 1080P.
SD performance of HDTVs varies from poor to terrible. A lot of what you will be viewing will be SD-there’s still not a lot of HD around-that’s why it’s important to get a professional review of sets, including SD performance.
With these sets, you generally get what you pay for.
The lower tier sets like Vizio, Olevia, Insignia, Polaroid Etc. generally have poorer performance, but worse still, they have poor warranties, and no after warranty repair services. Polaroid is known as the disposable TV, because if it fails after the warranty is over, you toss it.
The salesman will try to sell you a pile of stuff to “improve your HDTV experience”:
HDMI cables-he’ll want you to buy a $100 cable. See link below for reasonably priced cables. If you have cable service, your cable company will probably supply you with an HDMI or component cable set. So, you may nor even need any cable at all! As far as HDMI vs component cables is concerned, if you’re talking about a six foot cable, it doesn’t matter which one you use. If someday you buy an upconverting DVD player, or a Bly-ray High Def DVD player, then you’ll want an HDMI cable, not for performance reasons, but because those players want to see HDMI for anti-copying protection reasons.
Extended warranty-Consumer Reports recommends against buying one. Their assessment of the reliability of these sets is that it’s unlikely you will have a problem during your coverage. If, for peace of mind, you still want one, shop around. For example, sony offers a good extended warranty on their sets-just go to their website.
Cleaning kit-they’ll try to sell you an overpriced one. These screens are very easily damaged. Until you read your manual, you won’t know what your manufacturer recommends you use.
Surge protector-don’t buy the eighty dollar one they’ll try to sell you. You can buy a decent one for thirty dollars or less. Don’t buy the crap that the eighty dollar one will improve your picture by “cleaning up your voltage”.
It’s best to walk in and refuse to buy anything except the set.
PC input-if you have any intention to hook-up to your PC, make sure your TV has a PC (VGA) input.
If you want details on a set you’re considering, download the manual from the manufacturer’s site-that’s how to find out the details of what the set can, and can’t do.

Good luck!

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