Buying a flat screen TV - any recommendations?

[gritsar]

I couldn't care less about what we watch TV on, but...we gave DSD one of the TVs in the house; basically a brand new one from our bedroom that DH bought me like 6 years ago and was only ever turned on twice. The very next day the big TV in the living room went out. We moved the small - like 19" - TV from the office to the living room only to discover that both DH and I have old eyes and can't read the channel guide on it.

So it looks like we'll be buying a new flat screen TV this weekend. I'm clueless about all the specs on these new TVs and prefer to stay that way. DH says he's done some reading up on the refresh rate, blah blah blah. Again, I couldn't care less. If it allows me to watch my two can't miss programs a week I'm happy. Other than those two hours a week it's not on unless DH is home.

Any suggestions?


Side note - the funny part of this, to me anyways, is that DH came home last night and told me that he had gone by the bank to withdraw the money to buy a new TV. And then, "and since I was there, remember that (outrageously expensive) rifle I've been wanting...." Yeah, we'll be shopping at the local gun shop on the way to buy the TV.

 

[debilorrah]

We started with a Toshiba because the price was right. Not a good decision. We sent it back and went with the Hitatchi 52". Because we had no clue what we wanted, we tested TV's through Rent A Center. One week with the Toshiba we knew we were not going to go that route.

Hitatchi also comes with a 2 year warranty instead of the normal 1 year. After the Toshiba, we no longer focused on price, but quality.

 

[woodmort]

I have a SONY Bravia 52-inch I like it--good picture, with both DishNet, DVD's and antenna,the HD picture is great. I got this mainly because it has PIP, not many of the big TV's do. My advice is to go with the biggest screen you have room for to avoid buyer's remorse.

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
What's a PIP? On a chicken forum and all......

 

[gamebirdsonly]

Vizo 1080p

 

[easttxchick]

Quote:
We have this same TV. Really like it and I think it was worth the money.
We've never had a minutes trouble with it.

 

[Dunkopf]

Do some research if you decide to go HD. They require a really clean power source and are a real headache to set up and get right. I saw an LED TV at Best Buy the other day. Had a great picture. Just a regular flat screen will give you a great picture though. I would recommend an extended warranty too. It seems the newer TV's have a short life expectancy and the low price is because they only last 5 years on the average and cost too much to fix so they go in the trash when they break. Kind of like everything else these days. Best Buy makes all their profits on warranties. They barely break even on the big ticket items because there is so much competition.

Get the best looking picture and try to find one that has controls on the TV as well as the remote. A lot of them have controls on the back and depend on the remote for most everything. If your eyes are bad you might not be able to find the remote. Ever set your glasses down and then can't see them?

Good luck.

 

[Judy]

I looked at them a few months ago. They've come down a lot and the quality is better than it was a few years ago. I watched them in WalMart and prefer LCD to plasma. You can get one around $300-$400. I think 27" is about the smallest, which for me is plenty. You can get them a whole lot bigger and spend a whole lot more money, too. To me, High Def is just something to get you to spend more, and then there's 3D, a joke as far as I'm concerned.

LG, Sony and Panasonic all seem to be good brands but I'm sure there are lots more. When I do get one I will just pick out the picture I like the best from what's playing. Watch out for ones that have bad sound; they want you to buy a home theater setup to get decent sound. Even several years ago I had a TV with sound so bad I had to buy it a sound system for $200.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
We have this same TV. Really like it and I think it was worth the money.
We've never had a minutes trouble with it.

That's kinda the one I was leaning towards in the store, but it didn't have the refresh rate that DH wants. May have to go to Texarkana this weekend to shop.

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
Our Hitatchi is an HD unit and it was no trouble at all to set up. Of course, I didn't do it, but it was up and running in 15 minutes.