Posted on 11/21/2011 3:47:09 AM PST by Las Vegas Dave
Washington, D.C. (Nov. 20, 2011) -- Best Buy says it will sell a Sharp 42-inch, 1080p LCD HDTV for $199. Hhgregg says it will sell an Internet-enabled Samsung Blu-ray player for $39. And Target plans to sell a Westinghouse 46-inch 1080p LCD HDTV for $298.
These are just some of the incredible deals that retailers will offer on High-Definition TVs and related high-def products on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving (Nov. 25).
However, this could be the most competitive Black Friday ever -- thanks to the economy and smaller inventories at retail stores. It's quite possible that some of the discount prices will be available for one day only -- and may include restrictions on time and supply.
And with the economy in trouble, surveys indicate that bargain hunters will likely turn out in even greater numbers on the big day.
So, how can you make sure that you don't get shut out?
Based on information from Consumer World (http://consumerworld.org/pages/shoptips.htm) and other sources, TVPredictions.com has compiled a list of 10 rules for landing that great deal on Black Friday, the traditional start of the holiday shopping season.
And here they are:
1. Read the Ads -- In Print & Online Consumer World suggests that you carefully review your local newspapers on Thanksgiving Day. Usually, they will be stuffed with Black Friday ads and coupons. Bring them with you on the big day. Plus, many retailers are offering special Black Friday deals at their web sites. Don't forget to check them out 24-48 hours prior to the big day. (Also see Rule #6)
2. Evaluate the Deals Don't assume every "deal" is a deal. Compare the "Black Friday" special price with the HDTV's normal price before buying. You can do that at various e-commerce web sites such as Amazon.com and BestBuy.com. You may even find a lower price online.
3. Buy a Good Product A low price doesn't guarantee a high-quality television. Do some research and read product reviews at sites such as CNET.com. If you're not familiar with the product's brand name, check out its customer service record with organizations such as the Better Business Bureau.
4. Look For More Discounts Some stores issue coupons or rebates on high-def sets and other products such as High-Definition DVD players. Find out if the discounts apply to the Black Friday specials.
5. Come Early Some stores will offer special prices if you come in at a specific time, such as between 5 a.m. and 11 a.m. Check out those Thanksgiving ads for "time restricted" specials. Also, this year, some stores are holding pre-Black Friday sales.
6. Beat the Early Birds Some Black Friday deals at retail may be available at the store's web site. Check out the site in the wee hours of Friday morning and you might save yourself a trip to the store.
7. Check the Return Policy Before buying, find out the store's return policy. Consumer World says some stores discourage returns by imposing restocking fees or placing frequent "returners" on blacklists.
8. Get a Gift Receipt You can make a return easier for gift recipients by asking the store to place a receipt in a gift box. Without it, the store may not accept it.
9. Use the Right Credit Card Some credit cards offer free benefits such as a return protection guarantee or purchase points that can be redeemed for other products. When you're buying a big-ticket item like a HDTV, that could pay off.
10. Save More With Price Guarantees After buying the high-def set, keep your eye on the TV's price at other stores in the next month. Some stores will give you the difference between your price and a competitor's price during the holiday season.
I hope to ditch my DLP this year for a plasma or LCD. I am tired of the almost yearly bulb replacement expense. Can anyone tell me if there are similar problems with LCDs and plasmas?
We got a Samsung 67” LED DLP. The huge size and cheap price (relative to LCD and/or plasma) made it the best deal, and the LEDs have a MUCH longer lifespan than the bulbs. Although that Sharp 80” LED LCD is looking pretty good.....
Thanks. I knew it would be expensive, but I have a Pioneer Pro Elite (my first ever HDTV) which I am totally happy with, and I need another big screen, so if this Sharp is the new equivalent of the Pioneer Elite I’ll consider it.
Below is from:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110307181504AAXqFaz
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The panel is the bulb, and it can be replaced BUT it’s cheaper to purchase a new set..
Only DLP TV use “ BULB “ , New LED and laser DLP TVs and projectors eliminate the need for lamp replacement. (LED - DLP by Samsung and Laser DLP by Mitsubishi ).
LCD / LED ( LCD -LED BACK LIGHT ) life time from 40,000 to 60,000 hour even up to 100,000 hours from some very new models ( depends of models and maker / brand ).
http://lcdtvbuyingguide.com/lcdtv/lcdtv-lifetime.shtml
Plasma TV - old models before 2007 products less than 40,000 hours / new models after 2008 by Samsung / LG / Panasonic is 60,000 hours life time.
http://lcdtvbuyingguide.com/lcdtv/lcdtv-lifetime.shtml
LCD/LED TV Lifespan:
How Long do LCD TVs Last?
By: S. D. Davis
Much has been made of the longevity of LCD TVs, at least compared to plasma TVs. The conventional wisdom is that LCD/LED televisions last longer than their plasma TV counterparts, which was true. The problem is, a lot of people extrapolate from this that either (a) LCD/LED TVs last forever or (b) LCD/LED TVs suffer no picture “wear” over time. Neither of these conclusions is correct.
Flat-panel LCD TVs have a lifespan newly approaching 100,000 hours on average. The lifespan of an LCD TV is generally longer than that of similar-sized plasma televisions. Some manufacturers even claim that their LCDs can last upwards of 100,000 hours when used continuously under controlled conditions (e.g., in a room with “standard” lighting conditions and 77° temperatures throughout). Just how realistic such claims are is debatable. After all, whose living room has no windows and remains at a perfectly comfortable 77 degrees year-round?
In any case, the pictures on fluorescent backlit LCD TVs will show some “wear” because they are generated by powerful lamps, which, like any lighting appliance, will dim over time and with use. The picture you see will dim ever so slightly as the backlighting bulbs dim. One other consideration is that CFL fluorescent backlighting will change colors over time. This will change the white balance on your TV and cause color calibrations to be thrown off. See our article about How to Calibrate your TV here.
Therefore, the most important thing to consider when it comes to the lifespan of your LCD TV is the actual lifespan of the light source in your LCD. LCD TVs last as long as their lightsources do. So, the lightsource in your LCD TV is the critical component of your LCD display unit. Newly introduced LED backlit LCD TVs will have the best long term performance. LED backlighting is superior in that the white balance of the TV will not be affected by changing bulb color over time. It’s a more consistent bulb technology and will also maintain its brightness longer.
The edge lit version of LED TVs will use far less energy while local dimming LED backlighting will be more accurate and present a better picture while using more power. We believe that local dimming LED backlighting will be slightly less stable from a life span standpoint.
To ensure the integrity of your lightsource for the duration of your LCD display’s lifespan, you will definitely want to adjust the CONTRAST setting of your LCD TV. Too high of a CONTRAST level will prematurely age your lightsource because it will have to work harder to maintain such light intensities. Your best bet is to keep your CONTRAST set appropriately for the conditions under which your view your LCD display. Brighter ambient light levels require slightly higher CONTRAST levels, while lower ambient light levels demand less CONTRAST.
My only concern with LCDs is that in the stores, they look so blown out on the contrast that movies look like they're shot on videotape.
I just use my eye for adjustment, but calibration instructions are available on the internet for free, or disks can be purchased for under $25 last time I checked.
We got an LCD for our kids, and it looks good. Usually the store settings are garbage so as to contend with the florescent lights. Another setting to change is the refresh rate. The motion on our LCD was very strange looking for a while until I played with that setting, now it looks great. I’ve never taken the screen out of our DLP—sounds like fun! If I was forced to choose, I would say the LCD image does look better on LCD vs. the DLP, but that’s only if you’re willing to pay more for the technology. I wanted a huge screen without spending a fortune, so the DLP won the day. We wanted a smaller screen that would last for a while for our kids, so we got a good deal on an LG 42” LED LCD at Best Buy (I guess it was an older model). Both should last for many years before any bulbs have to be changed out.
I used to have a 61” Samsung DLP that used a regular bulb and color wheel, and we also had to replace it several times, plus the color wheel motor. The newer DLPs, as I said, use LEDs for the lamp and did away with the color wheel.
Our TV is a Mitsubishi DLP from around 2006. It is only 720p but is 62". I'm actually pleased with the picture; but the mirror cleaning is a must (what I do not like about big boxy TVs). I found a detailed illustrated guide on the AVS forum that explained how to do it. Takes about an hour.
I couldn’t tell you if Samsung actually makes it or if Mitsubishi does. It’s about 12” deep, whereas our older 720p Samsung was over 18” deep.
I looked at the 80” Mitsubishi very hard until I saw it was still a bulb/color wheel TV. My newer Samsung is far superior in that regard.
I dumped my cable and now just do Netflix, Pandora and over the air broadcast. I miss Fox News but wasn't going to pay $80/month to get it.
Very happy so far.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.