New Television

[Mulligan]

Hey guys, i usually try to keep up to date with technology and crap, but i really have lagged behind with what ideally a TV should have nowadays. I hear there are a variety of resolutions and connections and such and i was wondering which the best is to get. Also i hear certain screens like plasma have issues playing video games and will eventually fade. So basically im hoping i could get some recommendations for brand, type etc, whatever help i can get, thanks. I would be using it occasionally for tv but mostly for ps3, wii, and dvds. Also if there is something i should look for to hook my laptop up to it to watch my dvr'd tv shows that would be awesome too. Oh and i dont really need a huge tv and i wouldnt really want to spend over 1500 bucks.

[Nightbreed]

There are a few TV threads in tech support, i'm sure one of them will answer most of your questions. I'm pretty sure there is one still on page 1.

[GraveRobberX]

Im no Super TV expert, but there are ton of different choices

Most TV signals will change to digital by 2009, no more analog (I think)

Most HDTV come up to 720p/1080i now

HDMI is recently new, makes audio/video be just 1 single connection, get better audio from it, and is used for 1080p usage (HD-DVD/Blu-Ray)

HDMI frees up spots for other stuff to be connected, by component or composite or even S video

The name brand TV's have varying options/prices

Plasma are a little bit better than LCD in picture quality, but you risk the dread "Burn In Image"
Plasmas are cheaper than LCDs too

I would say you do some research on your own to what feels right to you

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, "Black Friday" starts off very good deals

Vizio/Olevia's are the new brands that are selling very cheap

There are too many options to choose from

[Mulligan]

whoops thanks, ive never been in the technical support forum. I tried to do research on my own and theres just so much now its hard to know where to start, but that info definitely helps alot, thanks guys

[Turambar]

Hey guys, i usually try to keep up to date with technology and crap, but i really have lagged behind with what ideally a TV should have nowadays. I hear there are a variety of resolutions and connections and such and i was wondering which the best is to get. Also i hear certain screens like plasma have issues playing video games and will eventually fade. So basically im hoping i could get some recommendations for brand, type etc, whatever help i can get, thanks. I would be using it occasionally for tv but mostly for ps3, wii, and dvds. Also if there is something i should look for to hook my laptop up to it to watch my dvr'd tv shows that would be awesome too. Oh and i dont really need a huge tv and i wouldnt really want to spend over 1500 bucks.

Resolution 1080p.

Connections: just get one with at least 1 HDMI. Get a good receiver with lots of inputs and plug everything into that, and run the 1 HDMI cable to the TV.

[Mulligan]

I only have regular cable at the moment, but i was going to upgrade. Is there no way to avoid having an addition box besides your tv now? I dont like the idea of having an additional box you pay for monthly and i really dont have anywhere to put it.

[Keno]

Costco. Get a Vizio 42" LCD with 1080p for just about a grand. Good game.

[AlexRuzhyo]

Don't know much, but this is what I can add.

Burn in happens when a certain image/color is stuck on the screen for awhile, like pausing your game and leaving the TV on for hours. Shutting the TV off if you're away/taking a break from games with something that's always there (health bar, whatever) can help preserve. Some burn out fades over time, just takes awhile. Some models have some kind of enhancement to help reduce burn out, moving the gases or whatever. I still don't know if that 100% prevents burn out/color damage but that's just what I know.

From what I've seen, smaller plasmas and LCD are around the same price. Bigger LCD's (usually above 40-42 have a huge price difference compaired to plasmas 42" may be $1200~, where a 50$ is $1600~. I just got a deal for a 50" Plasma for $1200~ before warranty at Sears, brand new 720p Panasonic. It's being held until later this month when out house is fully restored. I'd prefer LCD but this was about -$500, and we got a surround sound system/HD DVD for about $240.

Couple stores Ive been to -Costco(friend works there), Best Buy, Sears - said that they have the most returns on Vizio/LG/Westinghouse. I can't say first hand what they problems they had so I can't really knock those brands. They all said Panasonic/Samsung gets the most praise, least returns, and most positive feedback. Sony's name has been turning sour because they way they've been making shit recently, but still has an extremely high price.

[izembo]

you see the most returns on those brands because they sell the most.

if you really want to spend the extra $500 to get a samsung/sony go ahead, but you can get one with almost the exact same quality for alot less.

[Isiolia]

As I posted in the tech support thread, I just recently got one of these http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-LNT4065F- ... 869&sr=8-1

Very pleased with it. Seen it recommended many times on forums as well. The main forum for this sort of thing that I've seen is here http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/
Browse around there and you'll see many, many threads for recommendations, what to watch for, etc. Of course, you can also get scared with the 400+ page threads about problems even on the top rated sets...so...
Long in short, get extended service plans on stuff like this. HDTVs in general seem to have more problems than other devices these days >_> Expect even more if you buy the cheap stuff (Westinghouse, Vizio, etc). The specs on them aren't nearly as good either.

I paid around $1520 from Amazon, which was hundreds less than Sears, Best Buy, etc. So look online.

Hey guys, i usually try to keep up to date with technology and crap, but i really have lagged behind with what ideally a TV should have nowadays. I hear there are a variety of resolutions and connections and such and i was wondering which the best is to get. Also i hear certain screens like plasma have issues playing video games and will eventually fade. So basically im hoping i could get some recommendations for brand, type etc, whatever help i can get, thanks. I would be using it occasionally for tv but mostly for ps3, wii, and dvds. Also if there is something i should look for to hook my laptop up to it to watch my dvr'd tv shows that would be awesome too. Oh and i dont really need a huge tv and i wouldnt really want to spend over 1500 bucks.

Your use is similar to what I use it for. Don't actually have TV at all myself, might get an antenna though. I have a media PC hooked up to it full-time though.
LCD is probably the way you want to go. Generally speaking, Plasma is known for having better color reproduction, but also for having more quirks. You need to keep them oriented properly when moving, they can burn in easily (technically, sets now have protections to prevent this), and at some point it'll need to be recharged.
LCDs are better for use with a PC or game system, are more durable, but tend not to have a more limited color palette.

I would also avoid projection TVs. They're cheaper for a bigger screen, but unless you have a large, darker room they tend not to look as good.

The Samsung I got has a game mode, and has a HTPC setting for the VGA input that lets you set things differently than other input modes. Also a few HDMI ports and all. AFAIK the game mode and stuff is reasonably common, but you may want to check for it.
With games and PC, 1080p is very nice. DVD...eh...unless you go to Blu-Ray or HD, it's not a big deal.