[ErnBatavia]

Being low-tech (Tracfone category, as a general guide), we'd like FReeper advice - we've just cleared an area in the home and now have room for up to a 50" flatscreen TV.

I know that Plasma is passe - and that's about it......

Any input as to brands and going LED versus LCD (We do have a 32" LCD in a smaller room and it seems quite sufficient, pic-quality wise) would be appreciated.....the guy at Sam's Club today put LG and Samsung in the top tier, and Vizio in the mid range insofar as quality.

[ErnBatavia]

pingie....

[ErnBatavia]

Advise, advice....wassa difference??

[Cboldt]

LED vs. LCD is a function of how the screen is lit - both use LCD for the picture, but one uses a cold cathode tube light so you can see the picture, the other uses LEDs for backlight. Go with LEDs, longer life.

Beyond that, I'm going to watch the thread. Have a couple of LG 32" 720's that have been fine. Cheap enough, less than a couple hundred bucks now. Not fast enough refresh to be great for football, but good enough.

We get netflix through an attached PS/II, but you can get a teevee with the network built in. Some people worry about the sound, I say hook it up to your stereo.

[forgotten man]

My next TV will be LED. Light weight, easy to move. After that I want a smart TV from Santa Claus.

[KoRn]

You can’t go wrong with a Samsung.

I got a new Samsung 55in LED 3D ‘Smart TV’ a few months ago, and it has been fantastic(never use the 3D so I can’t comment there). I also have a 52in Samsung LCD that’s a few years old, and it’s still flawless.

[faithhopecharity]

We compared the boobtoobs on display at Sears and BestBuy and so forth. Consistently, the Samsungs had the best pictures.
We wound up buying Samsungs and have been super-pleased with them. (Also, when we called them for set up info, the lady on the phone was SUPER-competent in providing clear instructions.)

Just our experience. This brand cost a bit more but we are very happy we paid it. You may find you can get good deals on line, including Amazon.com

Best,
fhc

[KoRn]

PS: Also be sure to maximize the amount of HDMI ports. Mine has 5, and I never imagined needing that many, but now I’m using all of them.

Don’t get anything with less than a 240Hz Refresh rate.

[newnhdad]

Try this one.
It’s only $39,000.

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-UN85S9-85-Inch-Ultra-120Hz/product-reviews/B00CMEN95U/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?showViewpoints=1

[Ted Grant]

I just picked up a 40 inch Samsung 2d LED smart tv, $450 at best buy. I set her up with Netflix and some other stuff, and the wwe network for me.

The picture needs work but someone posted good settings on Amazon. Excellent deal.

[RginTN]

32’ Vizio flat screen works for me. Got it at Walmart for around $270

[Lou L]

I’d look into the Vizios. We’ve had good luck with them, and they’re a great value for the price. LED or LCD, see which one you prefer.

[Hot Tabasco]

Plasma, Plasma, Plasma.........and the bigger the better!

As a side note, whatever size you're thinking about buying, get the next larger size or you'll start wanting in a mere couple months.......

[Paladin2]

The specs are difficult to find for most models.

For me, I'd want a 1080 (x1920) Progressive scan capable machine that is also capable of 1080x1920 from a computer input.

[Lazamataz]

50 inch LED. Got it at Sams Club at the Black Friday sale. Paid a pittance for such a TV, think I paid about 525?

Of course, it seldom gets turned on. Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, that’s about it.

[MEG33]

I have a 52” LG LED. I love it...and people comment on the picture quality.
It’s a year old.

[Jane Long]

Samsung LED. Excellent. Check Costco online. They have great deals, from time to time. Good luck.

[Chickensoup]

Chickensoup: The TV threads

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3096718/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3133275/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3103130/posts?page=62

[max americana]

We don’t have any preference being a Hollywood production company but LED seems to be preferred by our kids in the special effects and CGI department. Green screen effects works wonders with LED. Plasma is also great.

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Wow, I was going to suggest Samsung before reading all the posts!

Sony has also been a good choice for us.

Have had bad luck with a toshiba flat screen.

[70times7]

So, I (admittedly) do not even come close to being an expert on flat screen TVs.

We have a 55" panasonic plasma and I love it, passe or not. It is 16 months old. Crisp picture that I prefer to TV #2:

A 50" LG LED. The LED is brighter, and the contrasts are sharper to the point of being harsh, imo (also @ 16 months). I'm sure I could adjust it but I'm too lazy.

Go on the net and do some reading if you have not done it already. Don't waste time w/ less than 1080, and the higher the refresh rate the better. (heck, even this advice may be outdated)

The other things to look for depend on your price point. Stuff like number of HDMI inputs can be important if you plan to use it for gaming, and blue ray and a computer, etc. Sound will be only adequate at best. I bought a small sound system w/ a sub woofer to punch things up for movies.

Since I was upgrading from a big grainy CRT almost anything was going to be knockout good. This stuff is always moving and improving so I would bet you can get a truly kick a$$ 50" for $4 to 5. And if some aspects are a bit outdated; so what? You can pay twice as much for one that isn't outdated and in a few months it will be.

Happy hunting.