Cheap HDTV

[Strazos]

Yes, I'm going to catch a lot of shit for this one, but the title says it all.

I'd actually much rather get a tube HDTV, rather than LCD flat screen or whatever, just to keep the price down. Not that I have anything against LCDs, it's just that, when you get around 30" or so, the prices spike to $600+. If someone knows of a decent LCD set for a price I can live with, that's great, but I'm betting not.

Looking to spend around $400. My ~26 year old RCA is going. Plus, my poor 360 deserves better.

Also, I can live with just 1080i.

And, I kind of need to be able to pick it up in person, as there's not really anyone home during the day to accept a daytime delivery. Besides, shipping costs a lot for TVs.

[schild]

Get a Gateway HD2400 and upgrade your computer at the same time.

It's worth the extra $100.

[Strazos]

Erm, everything Google and Newegg spits back refers to an ATI card.

...what?

lol

Or did you mean the FHD?

[schild]

http://www.gateway.com/accessories/product/1541351R.php?seg=hm

1920x1200
1:1 pixel mode
low refresh

Signal Inputs    
(1) HDMI
(1) Analog (VGA), 15-pin mini d-sub VGA
(1) Digital (DVI-D), 24-pin DVI-D
(1) Component
(1) Composite
(1) S-Video

Ports    4-port integrated USB hub (usb 2.0!)

I play pretty much all my games on it even though I have a 37" LCD in the other room.

[SnakeCharmer]

I have it.
I love it.
My wife blames Schild.  And she hates him too.

Edit:  Olevia makes some nice cheapo HDTV's.  I have one in the bedroom that has a great great picture and loads of inputs.  Only 720p though.  Check into Vizio, maybe?

[Strazos]

While that seems like a cool monitor...I need an actual TV. With a built-in tuner. And speakers.

I'm basically stuck getting this, if I cannot find something better. I might even be able to get an employee discount.

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Samsung-27-Tube-HDTV-TX-T2793H/sem/rpsm/oid/177542/catOid/-12868/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

Not widescreen, so it's not ideal, but it's very affordable for me. I've been dealing with non-WS forever, so it's not a huge deal to me.

[schild]

Or you could just save up some more money and not get a piece of shit.

That TV is 4:3.

[SnakeCharmer]

Cable box, then run the sound through your PC line in?

[Strazos]

Bleh, I was really set on getting one soon. I could hold off for another month and a half, and see how much cash I have sitting around.

Plus, I have a weird thing about not wanting to spend a shitton of cash on a TV. I don't need something big and great, just decent and working.

Cable box, then run the sound through your PC line in?

Then I am down to 1 display, while adding a recurring cost. And probably upping my cable service plan, because I just get the baseline service. Also, I have a smaller monitor as it is, with zero space for a larger display. Also, I run only headphones. Goofy outlet setup in this room, so I only have 1 outlet to use near my PC, which has my power strip for all my PC/TV stuff. I don't have anywhere to put the bigass plug block for my speakers (they're shitty speakers anyway).


edit: I should stipulate that I am not absolutely tied to the $400 mark. While I'd rather not shoot over it if I can help it, if I (or someone else) can find a Very compelling deal, but which costs more, I'd have to look at it. I technically have more than just $400, but sort of wanted to do some other things.

[Azazel]

When working out how much we wanted to spend on a tv, my wife and I went a bit over our budget to get a better model. I did the same thing with my PC. Both were worth it, since we use both every day.

Just sayin'...

[Strazos]

Oh, I understand what you are saying. $400 is ust a good number for me to start from.

[Abagadro]

I just got me one of these for my office about 3 weeks ago and love it. I have an HDMI run from my HD satellite box and it has a great picture. It has a QAM tuner if you want to run cable straight into it. I also have a DVI to HDMI run from my comp to it and use it to dual monitor sometimes and it looks real good doing that too.  The sound kinda sucks though so I grabbed this off of woot as it shows up there fairly regularly and now it sounds very good.

[Yoru]

Try Craigslist. I got my 34" CRT widescreen HDTV off it for $300. There's a number of metropolitan areas near NJ, and at least one of them should have someone shedding a CRT HDTV for a newer technology.

[Azazel]

Another thing to bear in mind is that if you're staying small, 720p might be all you need. I'd go so far to say that WS at a smaller size > 1080i/p.

[schild]

Well, widescreen is a no brainer. Getting a CRT is just silly though. Really though, it comes down to this - only going to have one HDTV? Do it right. Get an LCD. Either get a kickass monitor and speakers (and a VCR at a pawn shop to be your tuner) - or get a 1080p Vizio. It's worth saving for. There's just no reason to dick around and need to upgrade later. Speaking of, about time I took my vizio back to Costco (grandfathered in with old warranty plan) and replace it with a 47" 1080p TV. Yay for Costco Investments!

[Strazos]

I've looked at their, say, 32" unit, and it only does 1080i. I'd have to go to 42" to get 1080p. I do not have the room for something that big; something about 30" or so is the max I can fit in the only area the TV can go.

Also, always fucking hesitant about craigslist. Even when people have a pic of the unit, it's the manufacturer pic usually, not of the actual TV I would be buying.

Though, this one looks pretty good...

http://southjersey.craigslist.org/ele/586451935.html

[OcellotJenkins]

I'm gonna go ahead and say you need to bite the bullet and get one of these 32" Sammy LCDs.  The picture and sound are fucking great and you can get a one year interest free deal at Circuit City.  The guys over avsforums rate this TV one of the best in its class too.  I'd bet your eye wouldn't be able to tell the difference between 720p and 1080i unless your face is pressed against it.

If you are sold on 1080i though, Circuit City has the interest free deal on all of their TVs as far as I know so it's worth looking there.


Edit:  Speiling

[Strazos]

Well, what do the people here think? I've only ever had SD in my house. My of my gaming for my entire life has been on a 26 year old RCA set. Is it really worth looking around for a good 1080i set, or is 780p "good enough" if you're not going OMGTOPOFTHELINEBBQ?

[Abagadro]

720p is plenty good. Don't buy into the hype, particularly with a smaller set. There are also lots of issues more important than resolution including contrast ratio, picture quality, processing, etc.  I'd take a top quality 720p set over a crappy 1080p set any day of the week. Don't just rely on some number.  Plus, if you are going to watch it for television viewing, no one does 1080p (and won't any time soon) so you don't even need it. The only things that take advantage of 1080p are Blu-Ray and a tiny number of games.

[schild]

Well, what do the people here think? I've only ever had SD in my house. My of my gaming for my entire life has been on a 26 year old RCA set. Is it really worth looking around for a good 1080i set, or is 780p "good enough" if you're not going OMGTOPOFTHELINEBBQ?

I still recommend the Gateway and getting a decent speaker set.

[Yoru]

Also, always fucking hesitant about craigslist. Even when people have a pic of the unit, it's the manufacturer pic usually, not of the actual TV I would be buying.

Uh, that's why you use Craigslist locally, and ALWAYS physically go to inspect the unit before committing to a purchase. When I went to get mine, I brought means of payment, but I went in expecting to find out it was a lemon. You always, always, always request a demo of the unit, trying out the features you're interested in - e.g. source select, widescreen/4:3 toggle, etc.

If the unit sucks or wasn't what you're expecting, you walk away, out only a few bucks of gas.

To the general sentiment here: I got a CRT HDTV and, now that I'm moving, I regret it. If you have the means and can find a decent unit, go with a LCD HDTV. It'll fit better into a smaller space, which you've indicated is an issue. Further, at the sizes you're looking at, I agree with Abagadro. Go with 720p. You'll save cash on a feature that only the biggest graphicswhore will be able to detect.

But the cardinal rule to all of this is Inspect Before You Buy and always be willing to walk away.

[Strazos]

I'll have to revisit this when I get my checks this Friday (Hopefully!) .

[Krakrok]

Costco has a 23" LCD TV 720p for $299. Shipped only though. I recommended it for my aunt and she bought it to replace her monitor and TV.

OfficeMax has a Soyo 24" 1080p LCD w/ 2 watt speakers for $299. Has VGA and DVI so no HDMI. You can get an HDTV tuner for $20-$40.

[Strazos]

Those are decent units, but smaller than what I am looking for.

Also, unit Must have its own speakers ( I am Not dicking around with speakers, also, no outlet to put them in), and it MUST be able to receive a direct cable connection. I don't subscribe to the higher-end digital cable service, so we don't get a box. Therefore, cable goes right into the TV.

I assume if a spec says it has a NTSC or whatever tuner built in, that means it has a cable port?

[Furiously]

Screw your cable company. Get a big antenna.

Or get dish. At that size of tv 720 will look fine.

[schild]

Those are decent units, but smaller than what I am looking for.

Also, unit Must have its own speakers ( I am Not dicking around with speakers, also, no outlet to put them in), and it MUST be able to receive a direct cable connection. I don't subscribe to the higher-end digital cable service, so we don't get a box. Therefore, cable goes right into the TV.

I assume if a spec says it has a NTSC or whatever tuner built in, that means it has a cable port?

With the money you're paying, demanding speakers and a certain quality of TV with a built in tuner/hd tuner is just a case of you being uninformed.

I stand by my recommendations. Save up more money and/or readjust your requirements.

[Numtini]

We just upgraded to HDTV. We got the DirecTV HD DVR and a Vizio 37" We're very very happy, not just for the "real" HD content, but also with the widescreen and improved (480p) quality on DVDs and "zoomed" non-HD content. It did require some tinkering with the settings on the tv, but I found some suggestions on the internet.

I was reluctant for a long time to go LCD, but we're both really glad we did. The picture is very very clear. Plus, it's a huge honking thing and I can't imagine that in a tube. It would weigh more than my car.

I don't think cable even carries HD content without a box do they? Locally, they had like 3 channels and everyone (Directv included) seems to ding you an extra 5-10 dollars for HD.

[OcellotJenkins]

The sammy I linked above has a built in QAM tuner, meaning you don't have to have a digital cable box to get digital cable (although a box is required for HD content).  Analog cable is being phased out in the U.S. as I understand it so everything will be digital soon.  You'll either need a box or a TV with a QAM tuner.

I've ranted about this before in other threads over the years but I stand by my statement of the human eye not being able to tell higher resolutions on smaller sized screens at a reasonable viewing distance.  On 42" screens and smaller, you are wasting your money paying more for a resolution higher than 720p.  My main living room TV is a 42" plasma that is actually ED (480p) and I'll be damned if you can tell any difference between the 720p model unless you put your face up close to it (I tested this in the store prior to purchase) and even then you only really see the difference in text.  Granted it is a Panasonic and their plasma screens are quite good quality. 

I have that 32" sammy LCD as my secondary gaming room TV and it is perfect both in terms of picture and sound.  I can't imagine ever needing a receiver because this thing goes plenty loud (with simulated surround sound) and has enough inputs to support digital cable, Wii, 360, and PS2.  Spreading out $750 over the course of a year, interest free, for a TV like that is clearly the way to go in my opinion.  You'll be set for years.

[Numtini]

Digital broadcast is mandated, but all digital cable is years and years away. Most "digital cable" is 20 or so digital channels on top of 50 or so (more popular) analog ones and very few companies have any plans to change this.

I had the ill luck to be put on the local cable tv advisory committee and the single issue we heard about from citizens more than any other was that they did not want to have a cable box. They want and love their snowy wasteful analog cable.

It's killng cable because they have this large installed base of non-techies who are STB averse, but they're out of space on their systems. One analog signal = 2 HDTV signals = 10 digital standard channels.

[OcellotJenkins]

Cable TV is really starting to suck ass, at least in my area.  My bill kept going up and up every few months, and when I call to ask what I'll be getting for the additional money they can't think of anything.  Apparently it's costing them more and more to license the channels.  So Sunday I signed up for DirectTV.  I'll be getting a metric fuck ton more channels (90+ HD channels versus 12 or so with cable) and my monthly bill will be a whopping $30 cheaper.

One analog signal = 2 HDTV signals = 10 digital standard channels.

Interesting, I did not know that.

[Strazos]

I stand by my recommendations. Save up more money and/or readjust your requirements.

Yeah, I agree. I know I'm looking at something more like $550-700...ish. I MIGHT even go a smidgen higher if I can finance it at 0% for a year. But not too much higher, as I don't need another sizable bill each month to fuss over.

So, that being said, what I need is:

26"-32" WS LCD. I don't need 1080 i/p, so 720p is just fine.

Must Have built-in speakers.

Must Have built-in tuner to accept a straight coax cable connection.

Either something I can buy locally (southern NJ), or online with CHEAP, but reliable, shipping. Getting a decent deal, then paying $50+ for shipping usually doesn't make much sense to me.

[schild]

$700? Get a Vizio. Thread over.

http://www.vizio.com/products/detail.aspx?pid=18

[stray]

26"-32" WS LCD. I don't need 1080 i/p, so 720p is just fine.

Just for the record, 720p is better than 1080i. And it's strange that there are tv's out there that do 720p, but not 1080i. Usually the shitty ones just do 1080i, but not 720p.


Anyways, what schild said.

[Strazos]

Yeah, I've been looking Hard at that TV.

And, I may know a Circuit City guy, so...Discount!

Also, Sears, heh.

I just think CoD4 and Mass Effect and such deserve to be played in all their glory...within financial reason.

Edit: So, is there really any other sensible options at this price range?

Also, should I bother with warranties? Any tips on how I should "use" them?

[Krakrok]

Warranties are how Circuit City and the like make all their money. Don't do it.