Planning to upgrade my TV

[pokeplayer984]

Hey guys!  I've been giving this a lot of thought, and I have felt it's time to upgrade the TV in my room.

Now, the TV I currently have is actually one of those older TVs.  I got it well before the HDTV rise.  It has served me rather well and it still works quite nicely.  Now, why do I want to upgrade?  Here's the main reason.

With the rise in technology, many shows on TV that I enjoy go beyond the size of my screen.  I can tell that they just aren't the same anymore.  My TV only made it past the digital shift point because of the fact that I have satellite TV (Dish Network in my case) installed into it.  To be honest, I'm not getting the same experience that I used to with it because of the shift, so I need to upgrade.

Now, let me perfectly clear here.  Due to size limitations on my current TV Stand, I can't go 1080p Plasma.  Biggest I can probably get is a 23" 720p, and even then I'm pushing it.

So, any brand recommendations?  I want one that will serve me well.  After all, it's got the life-span that my current TV has been through so far.  There's so many kinds out there that I really don't know what to pick and I don't want to get suckered in to a
TV that is just a piece of junk.

So seriously, any recommendations?  It would be a big help.

Thanks in advance.

[landbeforetimelover]

Samsung or Phillips....preferably Samsung.  Samsung makes the best screens I've ever seen...perhaps even better than LG.  LG signed a contract with Apple and that's why Apple has 27" screens on their all-in-one computers.  Still.....I think Samsung is just a little bit better.  I have a Samsung SyncMaster 24" LCD Monitor.  It has the best picture I've ever seen.  It was expensive out the a$$ though.  While other monitors of the same size like the Acer was only $170, this sucker was $260.  It was well worth it though.  I purchased both a 24" Acer and the SyncMaster, and you can DEFINITELY tell the difference.  Besides, it comes with a 3 YEAR WARRANTY!!!  No company ever goes past a year anymore.  They obviously have confidence in the quality of their products.  I used to have a 32" Saumsung TV until I gave it to my mother because her's broke and I just watch stuff on my projector and computer screen anyway....and it was a really good TV.  No problems at all.

Now Samsung is a bit more expensive than most other brands out there, but it's worth the extra $50 to get something of decent quality that won't break in a month.

[pokeplayer984]

Now Samsung is a bit more expensive than most other brands out there, but it's worth the extra $50 to get something of decent quality that won't break in a month.

Believe me when I say "Money is no object" in this case, because I still have that $1,400 tax return to spend.

[landbeforetimelover]

In that case, get a decent monitor and a flatbed computer with a TV tuner card instead of a TV.  Those smaller TV's have a 1366x768 resolution, whereas my 24" SyncMaser has a 1920x1080 resolution.  Besides that, the quality on monitors is waaaaaaaay better than TV's.  You can get a really cheap HP media computer that'll come with a TV tuner card and a remote and everything for about $300-$400.  Then spend a few hundred on a SyncMaster.  Trust me, you'll love it.

[jedi472]

I'd recommend Vizio. The one I have now is quite durable and study, and hasn't failed me once.

[landbeforetimelover]

Vizio used to be a cheapo brand.  It's a lot better now, but I think they're skimping on the parts.  Besides, the image quality is crap on a Vizio compared to a Samsung or even a Sharp.  It's not just the specs that matter.  If they use a crappy inverter, it's gonna look like crap.  Of course, they don't disclose information like the specs on their inverters or anything. :

[jedi472]

Vizio used to be a cheapo brand.  It's a lot better now, but I think they're skimping on the parts.  Besides, the image quality is crap on a Vizio compared to a Samsung or even a Sharp.  It's not just the specs that matter.  If they use a crappy inverter, it's gonna look like crap.  Of course, they don't disclose information like the specs on their inverters or anything. :

Good point. I do remember cheapness being one of the reasons I bought it.

[landbeforetimelover]

Speaking of inverters, the inverters that Samsung uses are a bit TOO good.  They put out a ton of light, so you'll probably have to adjust the settings a bit when you get it.  I remember mine was so bright, blacks almost looked like whites! I'm sure they do that so the inverter goes out quickly.  But with a 3-year warranty, I don't think you have to worry about it.  Despite this fact, the Samsung monitors and TV's put out a ton more light than other brands, even with the settings adjusted.  It takes some time to adjust to it, but you will and then you'll love it.

[Petrie.]

The only TV I've had is a 27" Sharp LCD and its been perfect for me.  I'm not an overly picky customer either mind you.  I know my parents had a Samsung and that thing was very finicky.  We still aren't quite sure what the real problem was considering so many variables.

I'm rather surprised you want a new tv after last year you were complaining or worried about hours at work.  You sure you want to spend a good chunk of a tax rebate on this or save it for a rainy day (or when ol' reliable fails)?  Just my two cents.

[Mumbling]

We got Samsungs in our house and I must say I really like them. Though I'm no specialist and I don't watch TV at all.

[pokeplayer984]

I'm rather surprised you want a new tv after last year you were complaining or worried about hours at work.  You sure you want to spend a good chunk of a tax rebate on this or save it for a rainy day (or when ol' reliable fails)?  Just my two cents.

Well, things did turn around.  I put my best foot forward and worked out what I could.  They soon enough saw things more my way and I got my full-time schedule back.  The big thing was, in order for me to get back those hours, I had to take up a second job there as it were.  I'm basically working in Furniture on Friday and Saturday and Hardware the other days that I work.  To be honest, Hardware has a lot more in the work area to be desired.

There is another thing I need to talk about and it's pretty upsetting on all accounts, but that's an area for another topic.

Anyways, thanks for the suggestions, everyone.  I've still got a lot to think about.

[pokeplayer984]

Well, I got myself the new TV.  Here's what I got.

DynexÆ - 26" Class / 720p / 60Hz / LCD HDTV
Model: DX-26L150A11 | SKU: 9559881

I got it at my local Best Buy.

It looks freaking sweet! I mean, it is just beautiful and I get HD quite nicely.  Best of all, the shows can FINALLY fit on the screen.

It's got a 2-year warranty on it, so it's built to last.

It's got a number of video options to give me my own personal experience that I really want. (One fine example is the Backlight, which I'm not sure how to explain to those who don't understand it.) On top of this, it just looks and sounds amazing.

Now, due to certain issues, (I don't have the HDMI cable or a Blu-Ray.) I can only go 480p and not the full 720p, but that still looks better than my old TV. (Even if I did just get the HDMI cable, I would not get 720p because my VCR/DVD Player does not support it.  Yeah, old one there.)

I love it and I'm keeping it.

[Kor]

I hope you are very happy with it.  Hope you have many happy years with your new tv.

[action9000]

I like the Dynex brand from Best Buy.  It's super cheap while still being *reliable*.  I got a dirt-cheap Dynex webcam a couple years back, really good for the super low price.  

Really, Dynex can be your friend.  I wasn't sure on the TVs but I figured they were probably fine.  Glad to hear you're happy!

[landbeforetimelover]

Jeeze, you really should have gotten something bigger if you could afford it.  But if you're fine with a 26", here's a nice Vizio 26" for only $199 on TigerDirect.com:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Se...d_37_V25-2606RB

Best Buy is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay overpriced on EVERYTHING.  I never shop there.