[Chickensoup]

I am now ready to buy my HDTV. I have been looking at the big Samsungs. Remember this is the first tv for a non tv home. We will mostly be watching CDs and downloads, not much broadcast...except for the Superbowl for my son (if I can figure out how to stream it on the net).

The big Samsungs often have 3D. Will the 3D affect the regular view? I am looking for a clear viewing set that will manage action

I keep reading that TV is changing and I wonder whether these TVs are old technology?

Can I actualy put an aerial on it?

Can these tvs live in a room that in the winter sometimes go down to 60's or even 50's? I would heat the room before I use it.

I have a BJs card and they sell them there. CNET also has them by price at their site.

One last question: is it better with respect to price, to buy now during the Christmas season or wait for the football season.

HDTV PING LIST PLEASE

[randita]

I don’t know about the Samsung TV’s, but our Samsung Blu-Ray player lasted just 3 months before losing its mind. We didn’t even use it that much - maybe once a week for Netflix.

Maybe our family is just snakebitten, but I have heard similar tales from family members about Samsung products. They vow they will never purchase another Samsung product. I concur.

Hope you have better luck.

We are happy with our Panasonic Viera plasma TV which we purchased 3 months ago for a great price at Sears. It works great.

[battletank]

I can only tell you that we LOVE our Samsung big screen. 180 degree difference from the prior post.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Buy the cheapest you can find. They are all pretty good. 3D is an annoyance. It is the industry trying to manufacture a reason for everybody to buy a new TV.

With the money you save on the TV, buy a cheap dedicated media center laptop to connect to it by HDMI. There is SO MUCH free stuff to watch that you would never need cable anyway.

[InterceptPoint]

Ping. Also anxious for inputs on the Samsungs.

[gleeaikin]

Yes, TV is changing. I have several different kinds and ages. I refuse to spend $100 per month of my social security money on cable or satellite. I have converter boxes or regular antenna for my newest “modern” TV. Any time a plane flies over, someone walks above or below my room, I am likely to loose signal. SOME IMPROVEMENT!! I wish I knew who to bitch to or vote out of office.

[Paladin2]

Get one with plenty of inputs - (multiple)HDMI, VGA, DVI, composite so you can hook up computers and cameras.

Check native resolution so you know what you are getting.

[SkyDancer]

We have a Sanyo. Three years. No problems. BTW, there is no such thing as an HDTV. Found it out when we were buying ours. See http://www.schubincafe.com/2005/07/04/theres-no-such-thing-as-hdtv/

[roadcat]

I'm a novice, just letting you know what I have. I bought an Apple TV, a little box that allows you to stream content wirelessly from your home network or home computers. There are other similar products available from big-box stores, around the same price ($99). But if you stream content, a lot of it requires payment for rental or buying. I got Netflix, and can stream lots of movies and seasons of TV shows for $8 a month. I don't miss my Cable premium channels, which I cancelled. $8 a month is cheap.

The Apple devices allow you to easily wirelessly stream photos and video from your computers, iPads and iPhones to your HDTV via Apple TV. Pretty cool, as I used to have to run a cable, now it's all wireless.

I also tried to run a digital antenna (on my roof) but reception sucks in my area, you may have better luck.

[dainbramaged]

Our Sony Bravia 40 inch HDTV is nearly 3 years old with no problems, great picture. My only regret is not buying a bigger one.

[buccaneer81]

You can’t go wrong with a Vizio.

[Paleo Conservative]

Can these tvs live in a room that in the winter sometimes go down to 60's or even 50's? I would heat the room before I use it.

The main thing to worry about is to control the humidity to prevent moisture condensing in the room. Electronics work fine in those temperatures so long as there isn't any moisture in them.

[foldspace]

If you are buying an HDTV, and want the best quality picture available in all formats (that’s what a TV does, right? Presents a picture, right?) then get a:
1 High end Pan TC-PVT30 series (this year)
2 Alternate - Pan GT30 series 50/55 etc (last year)
The SPORTS are INCREDIBLE with NO ARTIFACTS(blur) on screen.
If you don’t believe, then do a side-by-side test to Sammy or Sony or any ‘old LG.
Do your own research, ‘see’ for yourself.
You cannot understand until side by side, don’t be fooled by uncalibrated VERY BRIGHT stuff at store- “gee, that’s neat! “ That brightness is color which is WASHED OUT.
You’ll go panny.
It Rocks.
Period.

[goldstategop]

Sony Bravia 40” LCD 1080i HDTV. Great picture. Works great with an upconverting DVD player and HDMI cable.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Hi FRiend,
Mrs. Slim and I have a couple of the Vizio TV’s (42” biggest). They’ve been great. Run them off indoor antenna’s and we’re in the boonies so we get about 5 over the air channels. We keep the house around 65 degrees, but I have one in the garage, and that is in the 50’s with no problems.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

My suggestions follow:

1. 3D will not effect regular viewing. It is a feature that requires special content (currently BluRay DVD). For your needs, I do not recommend 3D - save the $$. All new TV’s can “manage action”. If this is really important, focus on a screen refresh rate of at least 120Hz. If it’s REALLY important to you, buy a plasma TV.

2. There is no new disruptive TV technology out there, so its a good time to buy without worry of obsolesence.

3. The electronics can easily handle 50-60 degrees.

4. BJ’s is a good retailer. Check their return policy. COSTCO has 90 Days no questions asked.

5. 40% of all TV’s are sold in the Christmas season because that’s when the best price/value can be found. Don’t wait for the Super Bowl.

6. Buy a name brand. Off brands have crappy service.

Good luck!

[Kirkwood]

My middle of the pack Samsung (1 year old) has a very nice picture, but not when there is a lot of motion. Then it has significant pixellation. I think this will depend on the model you purchase and is not indicative of all Samsung products. However, my Sony has very little pixellation.

You will need a sound system because the speakers on the Samsung are pretty bad. My Sony has very good sound, but even so I use a surround sound system on all my TVs. The Samsung tuner is quite good and outperforms the Sony in picking up over the air broadcast TV. My antenna uses a Motorola amplifier, which helps with all my systems.

I don’t usually heat the gym where I keep the Samsung and it is below 60 some nights and it is not a problem.

[WKUHilltopper]

My youngest TV is probably about 15 years old. I won’t be buying a new TV until I see them at Krogers for 20 bucks. Besides, what’s to watch on them now anyway?

[blueyon]

Ok this is going to sound silly but we are thinking of maybe or not getting a new TV. We both really do not care if we do our not so time and price are on our side....anyway if you really want to learn about the “problems” a TV can have type in a google search
“Do (name of what ever brand, size or model you are looking at) suck”....believe it or not, this most basic sentence does a great search with peoples reviews of TV’s they don’t like.

[oh8eleven]

You should:

• Buy the biggest TV you can afford that fits into your room.
• Hi-Def is not old technology. Chose a plasma, LED or LCD ... in that order (personal choice).
• Most TV screens have a "glossy" finish, although I prefer a matte (flat) finish.
• If you can get a deal on a 3D set, fine. But quite frankly, 3D's a bust. It should not have any affect on 2D viewing.
• Your new TV should have WI-FI built in.
• You can buy and use an external antenna, but channel availability and signal quality will depend on where you live.
• Ambient temperatures in the 50s and 60s won't bother your TV.
• IIRC, the best time to buy a flat screen is the second week after Thanksgiving (lucky you).
• Look for model reviews on-line.
• Go to the store(s) and actually look at what you're buying - compare.
• If you need a DVD player, buy Blu-Ray.

I've had a 42" Sony for 6 years and the HD picture still knocks me out. Good luck ...

[Kirkwood]

My friend’s Sharp Aquos looked very nice, but he paid a lot more than I did for my Samsung. Also I paid nearly twice as much for the Sony, but the picture is nearly perfect, while the Samsung suffers from motion artifacts. The Samsung is good for watching non-action programs.