[newgeezer]

So, is it true plasma TVs only last a couple years (or, at least, very few hours when compared to CRTs and/or LCDs)?

[Huck]

$4200 for a tv? What a bunch of suckers.

[devane617]

I need a new TV but just hate to do the research. So many varibles, and salemen( it's ok ) trying to make a buck. Home Theater/Entertainment systems is one of the biggest headache purchases a consumer can make.

[1Old Pro]

In another year the prices will fall in half again. Rmember your first computer at 3-4,000, then 2500, then 1500, now 699. 42 inch will be well under a thousand inside 2 years.

[FMBass]

Great news.

Now, if there were only something worth watching on TV!

[Larry Lucido]

The old DuMont still works fine. Just needs a new vacuum tube. Check back when prices fall under $500.00

[finnman69]

You can get a Syntax Olevia HD ready 32" LCD for $1150 at Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00067M5O6/ref=ord_cart_shr/102-7504932-8380918?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

[Hexenhammer]

Just got a Toshiba DLP TV a few weeks ago. Looks gorgeous and was a great deal compared to LCD or plasma tvs which were at least twice the price for the same size.

Now all I need is FoxNews and History Channel to be broadcast in HD.

[Dont Mention the War]

Whenever I check out the HDTVs at Circuit City or Best Buy, I am always stunned at how random the picture quality is from one model to the next. And there is little correlation between price/brand name and picture quality.

[G32]

Stick with rear projection DLP or JVC's system when they get 1080p for under $3000, which will be probably early next year.

Awesome sets.

[TommyDale]

Any number of places sell TVs for less than the examples given.

[A CA Guy]

I wouldn't ever pay much over $2k for anything like that.

I would also put your hand over the TV to find out if it vents lots of heat or not. If it does, don't buy it, I think the electonic parts will butn out n such a hot enviornment.

[TChris]

Wow, capitalism works. Who'da thunk it?

[ozzymandus]

Back in the real world, "regular" TVs are dirt cheap, like $200 for a 27" screen.

[The South Texan]

I just bought a 22 inch HDTV LCD for my bedroom and I looked at Sony, Toshiba, Zentih, JVC, etc and ended up with a Samsung from the evil Sam's Club for $799. Samsung used to be considered "cheap" electornics as far as quality, but this set had the best picture and sound of the brands listed about. Samsung has really improved it's quality. Now if we could get more HDTV programing , that would be great.

[Puddleglum]

Ping to myself for browsing later - my TV just fried itself last night.

[kevkrom]

General tip to anyone buying a big-screen TV -- invest an extra $15 or so to get a DVD with commercial-grade test patterns (like "Sound and Vision Home Theater Tune-Up") so you can calibrate your picture to match the room you put it in. By default, most TVs are shipped with settings that look good in a brightly-lit showroom, but may not look good in your place.

The particular DVD I mentioned goes through a lot of general set-up stuff, but the real reason to get it are the test-patterns (and instructions) that allow you to set the brightness, sharpness, contrast, tint, etc. for your room. It also has test tones for stereo system setup.

[Old Professer]

I have a 27" diagonal CRT that displays letterbox format on a 22"X8 3/4" portion of my screen; what happened to the 16:9 ratio?

I'm beginning to think this a scheme designed by skinny bald guys with receding chins because I can't see any more of a face than the eyebrows to the dimple.

[Prime Choice]

Now, a 42-inch liquid crystal model retails for about $4,200 on average

Say WHAT?   I got my first one over 18 months ago for $2,300.   These people must be shopping in the wrong places...

[Bella_Bru]

as soaring demand for the two leading flat-panel technologies, plasma and liquid crystal display, or LCD, attracts a host of new competitors.

According to Leo Laport (or whatever his name is) and Consumer Reports, plasma fades and looks awful after about 5 years. Anyone know for sure?