Technology Help
 

Ok So I've decided I need a new TV, my Phillips Magnavox TV from 1995 (32inch with PIP) is just getting old and color is starting to go (its first problem ever) I must say It has been a great TV, my parents are big tech freaks and have all latest TV's and they have had problems with them which I am hoping to avoid since I just don't care at all about technology, AT ALL. I just need to replace this TV and want something its size or bigger that is low on problems, I do want HDTV because of how infrequent my new TV purchases are. I keep going to FRYS's (My personal view of hell) and Best Buy looking for open box buys but nothing too special (I hardly call 200.00 a "special") Any Ideas?

Depends on what's your budget.

I don't want to spend over a grand If I can help it

You could spend for a $95K Land Rover, but you don't want to spend over $1K for an HDTV? At this limit, you've eliminated HD plasmas, LCDs, and front projectors. All you can purchase is probably a 30"-34" diagonal CRT (tube type) HDTVs and non-brand name plasma EDTVs (non-HD low resolution). You are in ghetto HDTV land at this price point.

Crank your budget up another $1500 to the $2500 range and the list of candidates changes completely. You'll be able to find a set with a spectacular picture.

See thats the thing thou, I can't tell the difference between my dads 5k tv and my picture, I just don't really care about technology and I don't want to spend alot on something I don't really care about, cars, now THAT I care about, I only want HDTV because I know i'll keep it 10 years like this one ya know?

I'd agree that you need to step up the budget at least another $500 to $1000 before you're close to anything good enough to keep for as long as you intend. BTW, I don't think anything made these days is meant to last that long. Planned obselecence my friend. :mad: Also, it depends on the size you want. For $1500 you can get a nice 32" Sony Bravia LCD. I don't know anything about this 37" Viewsonic but I'm looking at a 20.1" widescreen Viewsonic monitor right now and it look awesome. (I still like Apple's Cinemaview's but theys crazy money.) These are just some suggestions without knowing more about what you want.

I agree that Fry's is hell on earth. I pity the poor fool who goes in there knowing nothing and trusting the salespeople there. :tsk: The one by Qualcomm is awful too. Nasty!

Do you get the Panasonic range of plasmas? IMO good value, reliable and acceptable styling. I have a 42 inch so cannot comment about the smaller screen versions; Sony - overpriced; Philips - sorry but just not as good as the old (70-80's) boxes. Samsung - only get what you pay for; Toshiba - bit like Panos if you like the styling; Sharp - good technology but probably more expensive. After some intensive research you will find what you want :)

so you had your current TV since you were 11 years old not bad did your parents buy it for you.??

Think you can afford to up the budget a bit more and buy yourself something decent.;) ;)

If that's really the situ, in your eyes, then go to Buy.com, et al.,
plug in your "grand limit" and see what they have.

Any of us offering "opins" at that grand level, is pretty academic, imo.

And, whatever TV any of us owns, "is great" in our individual eyes, but
any decent set (espc. HDTV capable), in a size bigger than "kitchen casual" width is beyond your expressed budget. :confused:

just grab a copy of consumer reports, see what they recommend that's in your budget and you're done. If you don't care about the technology, then just get whatever looks good to you and fits your budget... :confused: Asking this question to a bunch of tech-lovers on here and saying "i don't care about tech" is like asking Wolfgang Puck if you should super-size or not ;)

And keep in mind that most of the store displays have digital channels piped in like DiscoveryTravel HD, so doing side by side in-store comps may be difficult. A TV relies on the signal it gets...Earlier post suggesting Panasonic might be a good idea. Another site is www.nextag.com there are reviews and price point comparisons.

Actually, he really doesn't even need the CR or advice. He should just go to his local big box store, ask the clerk what he can see for $1k, and pick what looks pretty. That is essentially what BB has said he wants (but wants to feel he has done so intelligently). :rolleyes:

:withstupi

Good advice...but make sure they don't demo a digital channel in store that you cannot get at home.

Yeah, I saved forever back when I was 11 and bought that tv. I keep looking at the papers for a good deal or something (Thats how we got my laptop) and nothing of interest. I want to buy my parents LCD or whatever it is off them but they won't sell it to me, I feel no love lol!

Must have been a nice allowance, that would allow you to save enough to get a 32 in TV ten years ago. :tsk:

well I bought it at christmas, it was 450.00, I got 200.00 from my parents for christmas and then I used to the 10 I got a week in allowance to get it, took forever lol That was back when we were poor so 450.00 was ALOT. In fact, it still seems like alot for a tv haha

Think about this; You may not be able to tell the difference but your guest will. Agreed with the others budget a bit more. But also consider that while you may not care about technology and thats ok you don't want to get caught with something a year from now that was on sale today that isn't worth a quarter. The old saying that they don't make em the way they use to applies. You get what you pay for. OBTW you could get you old TV repaired.

Yeah I know and I will, but this time one will be going into the office so we can have 2 tv's (well 3 if you count the one in the fridge) SO I dunno, I saw this HDTV for 899.00 at Best Buy
I liked these 2
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Phili...oductDetail.do
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Samsu...oductDetail.do
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Magna...oductDetail.do

I feel partial to Phillips Magnavox because mine has been so good, but then again I used to think Mercedes Benz was good

Here you are. 1090.00 http://www.bestbuyplasma.com/Plasma/..._Sku_Y_LC32D4U

That is nice, how is that brand?

You could research it on google. I don't own it.

Does anyone have personal experiance on them?

Go to nextag or buy.com and all the online vendors have ratings. BBP has been around for awhile. Many of these places are based in Brooklyn, NY and the same people own 3 or more different online stores. I bought our 42" plasma monitor from one of these folks.