So I'm looking to get a new flat panel TV (either plasma or LCD) in the 30 inch range (could be a little less or a little more). I don't have a set budget but I'd 'like' to spend about 500 or less. I know that's a stretch but I think it can be done. What stores do you find to have the best prices? In terms of brands, I'm open to just about anything with good contrast ratio (1000-1 or higher I think would be nice).

 

I wouldn't mind a standard flat HDTV but it's heavy and I have a feeling I'll be moving it around a few times in the coming years.

 

ANY advice would be appreciated, thanks!

If you're looking for the best prices, wait until the holiday season rolls around. You'd probably see 32'' screens at about $400-$500. It might even go lower than that.

Samsung TX-T3092 30" Widescreen SlimFit HDTV for $472 delivered.

 

Endline's probably right, though XMas sales aren't that huge when it comes to televisions.

Samsung TX-T3092 30" Widescreen SlimFit HDTV for $472 delivered.

 

Endline's probably right, though XMas sales aren't that huge when it comes to televisions.

 

 

That Samsung has no HDMI or a Built in HD Tuner, thats why its so cheap... Totally not worth that amount of money

I just bought a Sharp 32" 720p Flat-Panel LCD HDTV for 679.99 at Best Buy

 

It was actually cheaper than the Sharp 26" for some reason, but I did my due diligence and this was the best bang for my buck available. Sharp is probably a middle-of-the-road TV but I couldn't pass up the deal. Anyway, what do you guys think?

 

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?sk...d=1171058029183

I really don't want to knock your purchase but if you are spending $700 it might have been a better investment to pay a bit more for a 1080p resolution. You probably could have gotten something pretty decent in the $1000-$1100 range.

You can't find decent 1080p LCDs (or Plasmas for that matter) for less than 14-1500, if that. I have a little wiggle room, but not 'that' much.

In contrast, what's the least amount possible one can spend on a cheap, piece of crap, 480i "HDTV" that's around 20 inches?

 

The TV in my room severely needs to be upgraded.

In contrast, what's the least amount possible one can spend on a cheap, piece of crap, 480i "HDTV" that's around 20 inches?

 

The TV in my room severely needs to be upgraded.

480i is SDTV, 480p is EDTV, and 720p/1080i are HDTV. These 1080p sets are meh to me because there are no broadcasters sending out 1080p signals right now. So I would think only games and movies from DVDs would be capable of that format.

 

What you are looking at is a Digital Television set with the SDTV logo which means it has an ATSC tuner built-in. I may be looking for similar if one of my TVs crap out any further. Wal-Mart or Best Buy sales FTW!

In contrast, what's the least amount possible one can spend on a cheap, piece of crap, 480i "HDTV" that's around 20 inches?

 

The TV in my room severely needs to be upgraded.

480i is SDTV, 480p is EDTV, and 720p/1080i are HDTV. These 1080p sets are meh to me because there are no broadcasters sending out 1080p signals right now. So I would think only games and movies from DVDs would be capable of that format.

 

What you are looking at is a Digital Television set with the SDTV logo which means it has an ATSC tuner built-in.

Perhaps, I guess Walmart just lies then. I basically just meant a low end HDTV that's around 20'', since I'm just using it to have a more modern TV that I can actually play Wii on instead of leaving my Wii defenseless in the living room all the time.

In contrast, what's the least amount possible one can spend on a cheap, piece of crap, 480i "HDTV" that's around 20 inches?

 

The TV in my room severely needs to be upgraded.

480i is SDTV, 480p is EDTV, and 720p/1080i are HDTV. These 1080p sets are meh to me because there are no broadcasters sending out 1080p signals right now. So I would think only games and movies from DVDs would be capable of that format.

 

What you are looking at is a Digital Television set with the SDTV logo which means it has an ATSC tuner built-in.

Perhaps, I guess Walmart just lies then. I basically just meant a low end HDTV that's around 20'', since I'm just using it to have a more modern TV that I can actually play Wii on instead of leaving my Wii defenseless in the living room all the time.

You can get regular flat screen HDTVs for like 2-300 bucks. You can get LCD flat panel HDTVs (low end) around 20 inches for 350-400.

 

Circuit City sells Olevia 27 inch LCDs for 449, which is probably the best price you'll find for any brand. Unfortunately I haven't heard anything good from them.

 

And BTW, if I could find a decent 1080p for around 1g I'd probably get it. But like Cape said, few stations send out the signal, and 700 was kinda a borderline price for me. 32 inches will work in my room and in the future as part of my living room.

Is it possible that my 720p set it showing channels in 480? I know why this LCD was so cheap, and I'm going to return it. Unfortunately it has a 10 percent restocking fee-lame.

 

BTW go to Walmart for HDTVs. They have 90 day return policies and Sanyo actually has a one year in-store warranty. I went on Consumer Reports and some of their brands aren't that bad.

Spend the money for the 1080p.

 

Absolutely worth it.

Spend the money for the 1080p.

 

Absolutely worth it.

I've already decided I'm going to return my 720 Sharp and wait until Black Friday at Walmart. They are going to have a couple of 1080s for under 1g. And I will definitely finance it, because spending one lump sum on this last one has made me miserable for the past week.

1080p may not show much of a difference (compared to 720p) in a small TV set. . .

 

Costco usually run great deals on TVs, plus there is a 90 days sat guranteed with no re-stocking fees. I got a 1080p 42" Visio set for $1,000. I'm in love with this TV and it looks great on both Satellite HD programing and HD DVD.

1080p may not show much of a difference (compared to 720p) in a small TV set. . .

 

Costco usually run great deals on TVs, plus there is a 90 days sat guranteed with no re-stocking fees. I got a 1080p 42" Visio set for $1,000. I'm in love with this TV and it looks great on both Satellite HD programing and HD DVD.

Where and how did you get that?

1080p may not show much of a difference (compared to 720p) in a small TV set. . .

 

Costco usually run great deals on TVs, plus there is a 90 days sat guranteed with no re-stocking fees. I got a 1080p 42" Visio set for $1,000. I'm in love with this TV and it looks great on both Satellite HD programing and HD DVD.

Where and how did you get that?

 

I got this TV in June at the Pembroke Pines Costco (nationally available instant rebate coupon of $200). The same set currently retails @ $1100. Prices are coming down rapidly on LCD technology, and I'm sure if you are patient you can score a nice deal.

1080p may not show much of a difference (compared to 720p) in a small TV set. . .

 

Costco usually run great deals on TVs, plus there is a 90 days sat guranteed with no re-stocking fees. I got a 1080p 42" Visio set for $1,000. I'm in love with this TV and it looks great on both Satellite HD programing and HD DVD.

Where and how did you get that?

 

I got this TV in June at the Pembroke Pines Costco (nationally available instant rebate coupon of $200). The same set currently retails @ $1100. Prices are coming down rapidly on LCD technology, and I'm sure if you are patient you can score a nice deal.

I don't know about Visio, but I definitely want a 1080 LCD for a grand or less. If that's possible, I'd do it.

1080p may not show much of a difference (compared to 720p) in a small TV set. . .

 

Costco usually run great deals on TVs, plus there is a 90 days sat guranteed with no re-stocking fees. I got a 1080p 42" Visio set for $1,000. I'm in love with this TV and it looks great on both Satellite HD programing and HD DVD.

Where and how did you get that?

 

I got this TV in June at the Pembroke Pines Costco (nationally available instant rebate coupon of $200). The same set currently retails @ $1100. Prices are coming down rapidly on LCD technology, and I'm sure if you are patient you can score a nice deal.

I don't know about Visio, but I definitely want a 1080 LCD for a grand or less. If that's possible, I'd do it.

 

take a look here

 

http://www.vizio.com/

 

I didn't know much either. But when I did my research I found them to be a solid brand geared toward value conscious consumers. It is not Sharp or Sony, but a TV with my Vizio's specs would be at least 50% more on those brands.

 

Olevia is another good value brand sold at Target. keep an eye on them as well.

 

I just got Disc 2 of Heroes on HD DVD from Netflix, looks like I'm watching at least two episodes tonight. I'm really in love with this HDTV technology.

What content is there in the 1080p format?

 

ESPN was rumored to be going 1080p, but ABC and the other network broadcasters wouldn't be able to because of bandwidth limitations.

What content is there in the 1080p format?

 

ESPN was rumored to be going 1080p, but ABC and the other network broadcasters wouldn't be able to because of bandwidth limitations.

 

HD TV content full spec I think is 1080i

 

HD DVD and blue ray disc is full 1080p24fps, that's the only thing that takes full advantage of 1080p

1080p is only necessary if you are running a blu ray or PS3 or 360 on it.

 

The highest broadcast HD out right now is 720p and 1080i which are essentially the same quality, and the switch to 1080p in even a few channels is several(3-4 at least) away, and 1080p wont be universal for probably another decade.

 

Look at how long high def has been out, and the # of channels in 720p is still relatively small.

 

Unless you want a blu ray, or want to play the small sampling of games on the PS3 or 360 that offer 1080p, stick with the 720p. Even with a 1080p, all your high def channels will still only be broadcast in 720p, so why spend the extra $$?

1080p is only necessary if you are running a blu ray or PS3 or 360 on it.

 

The highest broadcast HD out right now is 720p and 1080i which are essentially the same quality, and the switch to 1080p in even a few channels is several(3-4 at least) away, and 1080p wont be universal for probably another decade.

 

Look at how long high def has been out, and the # of channels in 720p is still relatively small.

 

Unless you want a blu ray, or want to play the small sampling of games on the PS3 or 360 that offer 1080p, stick with the 720p. Even with a 1080p, all your high def channels will still only be broadcast in 720p, so why spend the extra $$?

 

HD DVD is also 1080p content

I was a circuit city employee, and we abandoned HD-DVD for Bluray relatively early in the format war, so I forget about HD-DVD alot.

1080p is only necessary if you are running a blu ray or PS3 or 360 on it.

 

The highest broadcast HD out right now is 720p and 1080i which are essentially the same quality, and the switch to 1080p in even a few channels is several(3-4 at least) away, and 1080p wont be universal for probably another decade.

 

Look at how long high def has been out, and the # of channels in 720p is still relatively small.

 

Unless you want a blu ray, or want to play the small sampling of games on the PS3 or 360 that offer 1080p, stick with the 720p. Even with a 1080p, all your high def channels will still only be broadcast in 720p, so why spend the extra $$?

Honestly, for the XB0X 360. That's half the reason I'm getting an HDTV anyway. But I generally agree that 720 would be wiser. If I could find that perfect deal though, I'd do it.

I still think the vast majority of 360 games are 720p...very few 1080p ones pop into my brain, aside from Gears of War and Ghost Recon.

 

Although, with the newest models coming with an HDMI port built right into the game console, it is safe to assume that more and more games will be produced in 1080p.