[kara37]

I just bought a LG 55” LED. I love it. I got it online at Best Buy. They had it on sale for $1797.00, and they were offering a wi- fi blue ray included. (350.00 value).

I really didn't want the blue ray, but free is free. However, the blue ray showed up at full price in my shopping cart, and the TV was discounted down to $1447.00.
So, I ordered both, and returned the blue ray to the store for a full $350.00 credit.

Best Buy does things like that all the time. Sometimes you need to play around with things in your shopping cart to find really great deals.

[Sybeck1]

I have a Vizio 47 inch LCD. it show the stammering Cowboys defeat quite impressively last night.

[garykfd]

I have a Mitsubishi 60 inch DLP that is great.. replaced the bulb 1 time in 3 yrs and it was under warrenty.. but if your set on LCD The concensus on this thread is probably correct

[antiRepublicrat]

I’ve been disappointed with Visio. While low-price, the general cheapness gets annoying after a while, especially the inconsistent lighting. After lots of study and gnashing of teeth, in the end I just picked an LG over a Samsung for my last 32” buy. You can’t go wrong with either, and they have good prices too.

If you are only using it as a TV, 1080p is pretty much wasted at normal viewing distances on anything smaller than around 50” IIRC since your eyes can’t distinguish the pixels. So if you’re not getting a big one you can save money and get a 1080i/720p. A 120Hz TV is a good buy since content at 24 frames per second (film movies), 30fps (TV) and 60 fps (also TV) go into 120 evenly, meaning all the added intermediate frames are evenly spaced. This is especially true for fast-action content. A TV that only does 60 Hz may not be as good on 24fps content because of the irregular adding of frames required.

[Varda]

I second the tip of spending time on AVSforum. Since I found that site I’ve been very happy with every electronics purchase I’ve made.

[AFreeBird]

Samsung... Oh, and go with LED.

[CommonJudge]

Been there, done that. We bought a 47” Visio that we dearly love. And we bought it at Costco in case it failed for some reason.
We thought we were limited to a 46” size, but the dimensions just fit in our entertainment center.

Good luck.

[Nepeta]

I am quite pleased with my 26" Toshiba from Sam's that I have had for 2 years.

26"??? Yes. I don't like room-filling screens, and the 26" wide-screen replicates the screen height of the 19" Sony that died and the Toshiba replaced.

Something to consider is the number and kind of connections into the tv. These tvs have on-screen signal source menus, and if you have a variety of inputs (antenna, DVD player, recorder, VCR) you want to be able to connect them all.

Antenna??? Yes. If you have an outdoor antenna, you want to try it with your new tv. Over the air pictures in digital are all or nothing--either you have a great picture or you have nothing.

If you don't have an antenna, and want to play with one, do a search for "Gray-Hoverman" antennas. That isn't a brand name, it's a design. I made my own Gray-Hoverman with a sheet of cardboard, wire, tape, and the appropriate cable and balun, put it in a window that faces the local channels and I have wonderful local over the air reception.

Most stations now have one or more subchannels, and they aren't all on cable--you only get them over the air.

[Sir Gawain]

A plasma is better. Panasonics are good. I have one.

[Biblical Calvinist]

You probably would like the Samsung LN40c630..this is a middle of the line LCD set, with a Matte screen, with 120 hz. I have this model, it has a perfect HD picture, NO motion blur..and the 40 inch model is going for around 800 dollars at FRYS at this time. (www.Frys.com) I did extensive research on LCD HD sets before I decided on this model.. it’s the best that I’ve yet seen. Here’s the FRYS webpage on this set =
http://www.frys.com/product/6179439?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

You may wish to look at “Audio/Video Science Forum” for some great information regarding LCD and Plasma sets (actually, they have information regarding all sorts of electronics).. go to www.avsforum.com When the website comes up, click the FORUM tab, then on the FORUM page, scroll down to the LCD section. It’s one of the best websites regarding HDTV sets because it’s so informative.

[StrictTime]

I appreciate all the Samsung recommendations, but Samsung does not even offer a matte screen option anymore. A matte screen is necessary in the room ( wall of windows right next to the set). So Samsung is out.

Are there any LCD owners who have a strong preference regarding back lit or edge lit LED? Also, I'd love to hear from people who have experience with sets that are over 2 years old (not Samsung, because it's not an option at this point).

I think I have research fatigue. I have been to all the review/complaint sites and forums already, but do not have a clearer head about this yet. :(

Thank you to all the HELPFUL people who answered my question.

[GOPJ]

For value go with a Vizio from Costco. We got one (47 inch) years ago - and really like it. The Bravia’s better quality - and again, go with Costco.

[altura]

I actually bought an LCD two days ago. It’s a 40” and I got it at Sears. I hate Sears—the salespeople are so inept. This guy had to keep running back to an unknown destination to confer with his manager. AND he knew nothing about the TV.

So, why did I buy it. I looked at it for 10 minutes and it had the absolute best picture of any TV in the store.

AND it had a tiny scratch on the pedestal and was on sale for $399.

As for the brand, I’d never heard of it, but it’s made by RCA. I’m afraid to look it up for fear ten people will testify that it broke two days after they got it.

That salesman was so lame, he didn’t even urge me to buy a service policy.

[Busta Rhymes]

We have a 52” Vizio. Had it going on 3 years, bought for
around $700.

The color and clarity are sharp. Never had a problem with it.

[Centurion2000]

samsung .... best value bar none

[DainBramage]

Ive had great experience with VIZIO. I had a friend who has had several large LCDs and he told me the best one he had had was vizio so thats the way I went and havent been disappointed at all.

[Las Vegas Dave]

Pinging the HDTV list..Newbee needs advice!

HDTV pings!

[GRRRRR]

I have three ViZio's of various sizes and ages-all more than three years old. Fine performance. For SERIOUS viewing, I have a 58inch Samsung Plasma...blu-ray player etc.

[razorback-bert]

I have 3 Vizios, a 60 plasma (5 year old),22 LCD(six months) and a 26 LCD(2 years) with no problems.

[Mikey_1962]

Personal preference: LG (or Phillips same company)