After about 15 years my old TV is going out. I am ignorant of all the terminology of the new TVs. LCD, LED, Plasma, 720p, 1080p, Aspect Ratio. Dang. Where can I get information about which TV to get. I'm not going to pay $1,000 for a TV, and if they were available I'd get another just like the one I have. What is the most economical, dependable and best viewing TV out there.
Andy
If you can go to a showroom with all of them setup side by side you will see the difference.
Before the tsunami, I was able to get a 55in Sony Bravia LED for $1,400 delivered to my doorstep. It by far has the best pic I've ever owned. 240hz, with 3D, internet ready, 1080p.
The tv speaker system is not that great because it was designed for using a home theater sound system. The 600 watt 7.2 it is hooked to can practically null most any outside world noises.
> After about 15 years my old TV is going out. I am ignorant of all the terminology of the new TVs. LCD, LED, Plasma, 720p, 1080p, Aspect Ratio. Dang. Where can I get information about which TV to get. I'm not going to pay $1,000 for a TV, and if they were available I'd get another just like the one I have. What is the most economical, dependable and best viewing TV out there.
>
> Andy
If you watch this one comes on sale for $799 occasionally,
I have one like it but 73" and have enjoyed it.
there are some pretty good deals on 42 to 50 inch hi def screens these days for 500 dollars or less. you can get smaller screens for less, maybe a 24 inch for 200 but the extra 300 for a 42 to 50 incher is worth it. Make sure you get 1080p for seamless viewing of DVD especially Blueray or you will notice that the videos pixelate in fast action sequences. 3D is still overpriced at this point and there is some conjecture as to its worth.
Do not get caught up in the 3D and pay extra for this feature unless you have a Blue Ray player that has that feature also.
Plasma and LCD are slowly fading due to the LED sets coming out. You could probably get a pretty good deal on either.
Also, unless using the set for video games or a lot of DVD's (mainly action or animated) you should not need a high Hz rate, the lower are fine.
1080p and etc. are mainly for Blue Ray DVD's, I believe basic cable providers and dish service providers only broadcast in 720 (could be mistaken, haven't checked in a while), but will move higher eventually.
Also take into consideration your viewing distance from the TV. A larger (55" plus) is not necessary unless 13' or over.
I have a Samsung (for the last 5 years) and have no complaints. I would look at LG, Sony, Panasonic and Vizio.
I would recommend into any extended warranty that the store offers. These usually depend on the price of the TV you are purchasing. Some people feel these are a rip off, but if a TV crashes after a year, it comes in VERY handy.
I have LCDs. They seem to be the best bang for the buck. I am not a huge videophile and can not really see the advantage of 3D or super picture quality. I watch an couple of shows a week on network tv, baseball and football games. LCD has fine for that. The big thing is the signal. If you don't have a high def signal coming in all of the tv in the world is for naught - it will all come in at regular def.
You can get a great tv now for around $400.
Go to your local Walmart and look at their display. Find the picture that looks the best to you. This will vary from person to person. I like the picture on the sets by Vizio. The next step is to find a price tag that does not make you eyes water either.
Concerning those 3D units ...
1. More than one system is available. No industry "standard" has been accepted yet.
2. As a practicing Photogrammetrist I can view 3D 8 hours a day with optical systems or TV-type systems with no problem as I have been doing that off and on since my middle 20's. MOST people, especially those past their middle 30's have varying degrees of accommodation for such systems in that their eyes need to be "un-naturally diverged" to near-parallel while focusing at closer distances. The result is severe headaches and eyestrain, a common complaint with 3D TV viewers. I have read that some medical concerns are with respect to children viewing 3D TV for long periods; I think that's baloney as their neural synapses have already been established since the age of 3-4 years. Earlier than those years, it is indeed a potential life-long debilitating danger.
Bought a Vizio 32" 3D at Walmart last week for $450. 1080P, connects to the wireless so you can watch Netflix, Hulu, bunch of other stuff. We've got Dish, don't have HD now but probably will before long. Figured I'd get one with that capability just in case.
I have a 55" Sony Bravia 240hz LED, 3d TV and I got it at best buy for $1250. 1080 is the number you want to see, minimum of 120hz, the more HDMI ports the better, WiFi is way cool for netflix (if you don't have a blue ray) and stay away from plasma, it's too heavy.
We have an LCD in the bedroom and an LED in the living room, and there is a difference between the two when watching HD programming (slight but there). LED is better. The higher the hz, the faster and more lifelike the football games and movies look. Very cool!
I bought a 42 inch Vizio 1080p LCD at Walmart last week for $378. They had over 200 in stock! If you act now you'll be all set up in time to see the Patriots beat the Packers in the Super Bowl!
We bought a 55" Vizio LED 1080p TV last January. It has a port on it to allow you to use it as a monitor for the computer. I have been thinking about hooking it up to see how it performs as a monitor. Would that be the ultimate CADD setup? Maybe if we use it as a monitor some, we can write it off the taxes.:-) 😉 :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer:
Concerning those 3D units ...
Hey Prof, I worked in a photogrammetry shop for three years, you can probably guess the time period as we had manual Kelsh stereo plotter, we digitized the hardcopy topo with a big digitizer (big) into AutoCAD version 2.1
You have probably heard of the floating hot dog test aye, some can get it and some can not, its cool when someone sees it for the first time.
Concerning those 3D units ...
Very interesting Professor.
Thanks for sharing.
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In unrelated news, I saw a report this week that said now is not the best time to buy a tv. We can expect better prices just after the Super Bowl. At that time many stores will have close out deals because the model year is coming to an end and they will be trying to make room for the next year's offerings.
Larry P
I have owned an LG 42" plasma for 6 years now and it has been fantastic.
Grandpa has a 42" LG LCD and I'd say color wise it may be a bit more vibrant than mine.
Make sure you do a bit of research.
http://hometheater.about.com/od/televisionbasics/qt/framevsrefresh.htm
