TV Recommendations

It can get confusing so I would recommend heading down to your favorite electronic store and taking a look because nothing replaces actually seeing the differences side-by-side, trust me, I sell them. But here's my quick run down. LCD - good for bright environments with windows like living rooms, good for gaming, and everyday watching. Plasma - good for darker environments like basements, good for movies and sports. Go for a 1080 if you're considering anything 40" and up. Be aware of the sales and realize you get what you pay for. Be wary of online retailers, besides the big ones like Amazon most are not manufacturer backed, making your warranty void, also consider the extended plans most stores offer if you like to play it safe, but compare the plans, some can be a rip off so read the fine print. Finally check out http://reviews.cnet.com/tv-buying-guide/?tag=leftColumnArea1.0 to get a more in depth idea of what to get, CNET has the best reviews when you start comparing.

I would buy local because you can actually see and touch what you might buy. Also when shopping online you never know if you are really getting a brand new set or a refurbished TV.

LCD:

PROS:
Reflections and glare are much less of an issue, good choice for brightly lighted rooms, no risk of burn-in of static images, use somewhat less power than plasma sets

CONS:
Lower viewing angle, lower ability to display the deepest blacks, the image can lose contrast, look washed out, or lose color accuracy as you angle away from the center of the screen, most LCD TVs can't display deepest black or distinguish subtle shades of gray and black, fast-moving images might blur, uneven backlight brightness has been an issue with LCD TVs, but the use of LED backlighting instead of fluorescent lights in some new sets potentially enables them to more evenly distribute light across the back of the panel for more consistent brightness on all parts of the screen, LEDs also use less energy than conventional lamps.

Plasma:

PROS:
It's hard to beat the best plasma TV sets for accurate colors, deep blacks, and great contrast, virtually unlimited viewing angle.

CONS:
Plasma TVs are fairly heavy, reflections from a plasma TV's shiny screen, static images displayed for extended periods can burn in temporarily, and could become permanent if you consistently leave the same pattern onscreen over a long period. But that seems to have been more of a problem with earlier plasma TVs.

Rear-projection TVs:

I would stay way from these all the are good for is if you want a very large screen with terrible picture with horrible viewing angles. With most DLP sets, you might be bothered by the "rainbow effect"—a flash of color some viewers see when moving their eyes across the edges of bright objects on a dark background. Conventional bulbs ($200 to $400 each) used in microdisplay rear-projection TVs require periodic replacement.

Other things to consider when buying:

One of the most critical considerations with any TV is the number and type of inputs it has for hooking up devices to your TV. Also keep in mind where those connections are - front, side or rear- for quick hook ups. The connections a TV has is usually why two simliar TVs can vary so much in price. Does the LCD TV have 120Hz technology - this helps to reduce the tendency to blur during scenes with fast motion, such as sports programs. Anti-glare screens - several plasma manufacturers are now offering screens with anti-glare surfaces, which can help reduce reflectivity off the screen's surface. If the sales person talks about contrast ratio - the higher the better - keep in mind that there a several ways to measure this and each manufacturer uses a different method, so it is really only good for comparing models for that manufacturer. Last, and this is in my opinion, I feel that plasma TVs give you the best picture for a SD picture. Also I want to mention that I have a plasma TV which is located in my living room with a very large window and reflections are very rarely a problem for me. About the only time it bothers me is if the sun is shining directly in the window.

I agree with the pros and cons above, but viewing side by side means nothing. The picture viewed in a store is dependant on source quality and the TV setup. I have seen retailers run a DVD into multiple TVs. The higher priced displays were hooked up with HDMI cables while the lower priced units or units with lower profit margins were hooked up with composite cables.

You can buy a Vizio 46-47" class 120hz LCD for about $500 less than the big brands. In the store, these units look fair compared to the brilliant big name brands. If you buy the Vizio, take it home and calibrate it using Avia or Digital Video Essentials, you will end up with a stunning picture.

Just my opinion (of course, I DO own a Samsung, a Panasonic and a Vizio, and I have persuaded 5 other family members and 4 friends into Vizios. They are all very happy after simple calibration.)

Bill

LOVE my Samsung 50" DLP.. and many have commented on how good it looks. However, you really have to just go to the store and find the one that looks best to YOU.

For what it's worth, I intentionally bought mine at Circuit City, as they have a 30-day no questions asked return policy. I returned 3 sets in the first week because of dented cases which caused a crooked picture. They happily exchanged it each time, and knew me by name by the 4th set. :-) That policy sold me, and ended up giving me a set that I am completely happy with.

So far from what I have seen and heard Vizio seems to make a pretty good TV. I would also agree that you can't depend on making a decision by looking at TVs side by side because you never know exactly what the store did to set it up for display. Something I would also do is try to find reviews online - both "professional" and average joe - but I wouldn't take their word as gospel.

I have a 50" Panasonic plasma TV and I have no complaints. My parents have a 40" Samsung LCD and 32" LG LCD and they have no complaints either. Also I had an apartment recently that had a Westinghouse LCD mounted on the wall and it would lockup and freeze several times every night when I got done working.

Go to Cnet.com and read their reviews. They seem to review a wider variety of models than any other site I've found. But I also suggest that once you find a model that interests you to google other reviews of the set and go see it in person.

Some of the Vizio models are great- as good or better than much higher priced sets- others are crap (they make a 32" plasma- the smallest plasma on the market- that is horrible).

I personally went with a 50" Panasonic Plasma for my first HDTV purchase last summer. It got good reviews and I got a good deal with 12 month no interest financing at Circuit City. Couldn't be happier with it (other than the fact that while it was a "good deal" at the time, the price has dropped about $400 since I bought it).

I chose a Plasma over LCD because it was cheaper and because I didn't like the motion blur that I noticed in all but the top of the line LCDs. Glare hasn't been a problem with my plasma (Panasonic uses an anti-glare coating on their plasma screens that gets get reviews on most models).

I concur with the advice to avoid projection TVs. An expense that gets overlooked when purchasing them is that the bulb or lamp used in them has to be replaced every so often. I know a few people who have had good luck with the bulbs lasting a long time, but several others who have had to replace them every 1 to 2 years at $200 a pop (my parent's Sony that they bought 2 years ago has already had 2 replacements).

YOU CAN'T GO WRONG WITH A PANASONIC PLASMA AND THE PRICE IS REASONABLE NOW....