Help me buy a tv!

[Mite]

Alright - I don't have a tv, and I haven't for years, but I'm thinking we might break down and get one soon. We want a tv for:

1) Playing dumb video games - nothing with crazy fancy graphics or anything, I just want to get a freakin' game cube and then hook up the ol' nes and snes that we're stiill schlepping around
2) Watching the world cup
3) Connecting to my computer to watch movies - my 12" laptop screen is just a little small

That's it. We want to be able to put it away when we're not using it since we have a tiny apartment, so I really want some sort of alien flat screen technology so it's easily stashable. We also want it to be small - no bigger than 15 inches, probably. Is it possible to get such a thing for under 2 arms and 3 legs? Which type of flat screen is best? Are internet refurbishers at all reliable? I don't know anything about plasma vs. lcd vs. anything else, but I know you guys are probably all over this sorta stuff. Any help?

[jough]

It's hard to find a small TV for cheap anymore, unless it's LCD, and then it's not cheap. 

I got a 20" non-HDTV for under $100 at Best Buy.  It has a remote and the picture looks nice.  It's small enough to stash away somewhere and is light enough for one man to carry.

You can find LCD 15 inch displays pretty easily, ranging from $400-1000.  They're very small, like an LCD computer monitor, and easily stashable.

Also, you may consider getting a media center PC and computer monitor.  You can get a 19" LCD that is not much larger than a 15" in terms of stashable storage space, but makes a HUGE difference in viewing enjoyment, for less than $300.  I have a widescreen 19" that cost only $300.  If you already have a spare PC laying around you can add on a TV tuner card and SageTV software for about $100 combined (SageTV may even have a combo deal).

If you're not going to use it much, that may be a better option, and then you can do other things with it other than watch TV. 

If you want, you could probably use your laptop and a USB tuner card, which is what I have.  It's a bit more expensive than the internal one, though, maybe $150 just for it.  But if you have a fairly decent PC (or mac that can run FrontRow) it's a good option.

[FlipConstantine]

++Front Row.  It's been keeping me up every damn night watching Ask A Ninja episodes in the comfort of my bed.  The screen is at least as good as any small LCD tv I've seen, so if you can, I reccomend it. 

I don't know too much about TV's, but if there's one thing I do know, it's avoid plasma screens.  They're overpriced and won't last long at all.  An LCD is a good choice.  There's always SED and OLED on the near horizon, which I've heard are very good and they promise lower costs, but that's somewhere off in the distant "marketing future" so I wouldn't hold my breath.  So that's my .02.  Not very helpful, but that's what I'm best at.

[Mite]

If you want, you could probably use your laptop and a USB tuner card, which is what I have.  It's a bit more expensive than the internal one, though, maybe $150 just for it.  But if you have a fairly decent PC (or mac that can run FrontRow) it's a good option.

Hmm - I've got an older (2003) G4 laptop that doesn't have an IR port (at least I don't think so),  so that means no FrontRow, right? Is that necessary? I'm going to have to do some searching, since the only well-reviewed ones I'm seeing right now are in the $300 range, and then I might as well just get a tv.

If I do get a usb tuner, can I hook a game system into it?

Thanks for the advice!

[jough]

If I do get a usb tuner, can I hook a game system into it?

Sure.  Just make sure it also has analog RCA inputs.  I have a Hauppage WinTV USB2 unit and it's great. Plextor makes one that's even cheaper that I believe also has AV jacks in addition to the coax cable input.