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[pmcd9]

Paul, I don't have any directly useful info on televisions.  However, it might be helpful to those who do if you posted your budget.  It probably makes a difference if you're spending $75 or $7500.  Just guessing.

Also...

Good Lord, it's television.  You're overthinking it.  God Forbid the Full House reruns aren't pristine!

Actually, i'm not thinking about it at all, i'm letting you guys do my thinking for me.  I'm too dumb (or impatient) to research a television.  But i'm overwhelmed because there are so many different choices these days.  I don't trust the salespeople, they either have their own agenda (which set pays the best commission) or more likely, don't know what the fuck they are talking about.  So i'm turning to you my esteemed geeky internet friends to guide me.

As for budget, I haven't set a price in my mind, obviously I want the best bargain, but I don't want to set an arbitrary spending limit that rules out the best television.  This is the 4th television i've bought in my short life and everyone has been bigger and better than the last.  My first was a 13" black and white I put in my room when I still lived with my parents.  When I moved out on my own I got a massive 20" with color even.  And a remote control.  That television worked perfectly for 10 years then suddenly one evening while I was watching it the tube went black and that was that.  Shortly thereafter that I got a nice 27" which I still have in Houston.  It's a good set and it's never given me any trouble, but it's getting old now too (and it's in Houston) so I guess it's time to move up.  I'm thinking now i'd like a 42" (or 50" if I can afford it), and I'd like to spend as little as possible on it.  I'm also going to buy surround sound and a dvd player.  If I can get all of that for under 3g's (with warranty) i'll be happy.

Thank You...

~Paul

[AugustWest]

Actually, i'm not thinking about it at all, i'm letting you guys do my thinking for me. 

Sorry, I didn't mean you were overthinking Paul.  I meant the Philo T. Farnsworth Jr.'s

[Lister]

TV loves me, and I worship at its altar.  I don't trust salespeople either, which is why I educate myself and others when I have the chance.  Cnet has a good article as well.

What Jough says is true: nothing is brighter or sharper than a high quality LCD screen.  I just can't justify their price yet -- whether you can will depend entirely on personal preference.  NEVER EVER buy a TV sight-unseen.  Please.

Things you don't want:

EDTV = "Extended Definition TV" = "Better than standard TV but not really HDTV and doesn't adhere to any real standards."
Monster Cable anything.  If you're using HDMI (see below), the difference will be unmeasurable by human senses.

Things you want:

HDMI inputs.  This cable carries a digital signal from your tuner or DVD player to the television.  More digital is better.
DVI in.  This is the newer standard for computer monitors, and it might come in handy to have later in the convergence world.


I went to Sony's site for example televisions, because they have very complete information available.  The prices are higher than the real world, so just use them as a guide.

This is what seems to be Sony's best 40" LCD TV.  At 75 lbs with the stand, it will be transportable by one person.  It is a TV and not just a "monitor," meaning it just needs an antenna to display broadcast HDTV programming.  I'm assuming Hunington, UT is scant on HD broadcast towers, so that's probably moot for you for now.  HDTV "monitors" need an external source, such as a satellite or cable box, to display HD programs.

This is the biggest Sony widescreen CRT I can find, at 34".  It's about half the price of the above TV, but more than three times the weight at 198 lbs, and only has 2/3rds of the screen size.  They do have bigger ones, but they aren't widescreen.

This is the 42" DLP option.  It's not going to be as sharp or bright as the above screens, but it's cheaper, lighter (61 lbs), and uses less power than them too.

Sony doesn't seem to manufacture CRT rear-projection televisions (like Alex's) any more.  Mitsubishi makes them, but their smallest is this 55" model, which is over 4 feet wide and tall and weighs 218 lbs.

[pmcd9]

Thank you Lister, thank you everyone.  Unfortunately, i'm gonna put the television on hold for a few weeks.  I don't know how much this deer collision is going to cost me.  fuck*ng deer.

~Paul