hdtv opinions

[notaburger]

hey all
i'm in the market for an hdtv (i figured that it was finally time now that they seem to have slowed down a bit on the technology)
i'm leaning towards two westinghouse models
i've only heard wonderful things about them
both are 1080p but there is a 5" difference in size
now my question
does anyone here think that 5" is worth another thousand dollars?
it looks like so much more when you're at the store, but just typing it makes me want to smash my forehead for asking such a seemingly "stupid" question
basically i just need people to go "go for the 42, you'll kick yourself if you don't"
and
"it IS a good time to buy an hdtv, lcd ones are the best, stay away from plasmas, projections and crts"
:-P
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7749653&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat31800050028&id=1140394400806
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7699163&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat31800050028&id=1138084694260
let me have some input

[AtomSmasher]

does anyone here think that 5" is worth another thousand dollars?

only if you can easily afford it. 

For my money I bought a projector, I got a 100'' hd tv (hd projector onto a 100'' screen) for $900 two years ago.  Ok, its only 720i, but it was the best sub-$1000 model at the time.  I doubt I'll ever go back to a "normal" tv because projectors are just so much better for the price.

[J_K_M_A_N]

I bought a 50" Panasonic LCD projection TV and I LOVE it! It is the best purchase I have made. Mine only does 1080i not 1080p but it is still REALLY nice. If you want the size, I would check into the DLP's and the newer HD-ILA's and LCD projections. I don't really know anything about the HD-ILA's but they do sound nice. I think you can get a bigger screen for less going that route. Whatever you do, research it a lot. This one isn't something you want to rush into. Ask at the store how good the non HD pictures are and things like that. Good luck.

J_K_M_A_N

[koz319]

does anyone here think that 5" is worth another thousand dollars?

only if you can easily afford it. 

For my money I bought a projector, I got a 100'' hd tv (hd projector onto a 100'' screen) for $900 two years ago.  Ok, its only 720i, but it was the best sub-$1000 model at the time.  I doubt I'll ever go back to a "normal" tv because projectors are just so much better for the price.

I'm totally with you on this.  I have a 110" projection setup (also 720i, also purchased about 2 years ago. There are only a few 1080 projectors out now, all of which are relatively expensive) and couldn't be happier.  I think most people would be absolutely amazed at the quality you can get these days for the price.

(Revenge of the Sith just came on in Hi-Def on HBO yesterday, was absolutely awesome!  The picture quality that is, not necessarily the movie  ) 


As for the 37"/42" decision,  if it were me, I'd probably save my pennies and go with the larger screen, if my budget allowed it.   I would imagine you plan on keeping this TV for some time, it may be worthwhile to future proof if you can.   

My in-laws have a 42" plasma, and I dont think I would personally enjoy watching anything smaller, especially if I want to watch regular TV shows in 4:3 without stretching horizontally. 

Your seating distance will make a difference here as well.  If you sit pretty close to the TV you may be fine with the smaller set - but this is totally personal preference.

Also, prices on plasmas do seem to be dropping, and  might be worth checking out.  JMHO.


Either way, your sure to enjoy it, especially Hi-Def!  Good luck with your decision!



Koz

[notaburger]

Originally i was going to build my own projector
but then i got a new job (read: internship) in houston and it's paying well (read: way too much for just sitting in front of a computer)
so now i'm thinking of just doing it "right"
i would honestly love to do the whole projector thing
but for me, i'm a college student
i've lived in 5 different places in 4 years and devoting a room to a screen isn't always an option
so i think that a nice flat screen will work and then when i end up buying a house (scary how close it is) i can use this tv for a nice living room tv and then have a whole game room devoted to large screen, arcades, and pool table (maybe it's not THAT scary)
i'm open to whatever at this point
i just want something that will look nice with my roommates new xbox 360 :-P

[AtomSmasher]

i've lived in 5 different places in 4 years and devoting a room to a screen isn't always an option

why would you have to devote a room to a screen if you got a projector?  Mines in my living room in place of my tv, I removed my entertainment center and put the screen there instead.  It really opens the room up and makes the room seem much bigger.

[Howard_Casto]

I've gotta agree with the peanut gallery on this one.  Projectors are the way to go.  There is only one issue really.  Women.  girls like to keep curtains open during the day (why?  It lets the evil sunlight in.  Oh it burns it burns!) so if you are living with a woman, and you enjoy watching tv during the day, you are screwed.  Mind you most modern projectors can display a viewable pic even in lighted areas, but it really doesn't look all that good.


Plasma is a dead technology due to those screens being more fragile and sensitive to elevation/light/tempreature than a 15 year old  toy poodle.   

Lcds are nice, if you are on mtv cribs and can actually justify paying that much money for such a tiny display that while crisp, is very sensitive to burn-ins.  Of course projectors are lcd-based so they are too, but they are a whole heck of a lot cheaper. 



With that being said, my main gripe about hi-def displays in general are that there isn't anything hi-def to show on them.  The new consoles use hi-def but I haven't really been impressed with that "upgrade" in quality really.  The new players aren't out yet so unless you want to risk getting stuck with the next beta max player you aren't going to be watching hi-def movies anytime soon.  Most cable providers don't have a lot of hi-def content either.  Even the one's that do, the problem is not that many shows are in hi-def.   It always seems to be the lamest shows too.  For example, yes dear and malcom in the middle two programs that have no special-effects or actors/actresses attrractive enough to justify seeing the programs in hi-res are in hi-def, while action based shows like the old star trek enterprise, and the new sci-fi channel series generally aren't filmed in hi-def. 

So my real advice is to save your money until we have some content to go with the hardware. 

[Negativecreep0]

I got a 60" Sony SXRD LCOS tv KICKS ASS on all console/movie/HDTV use!!! did a year of research before settling for tv. New models coming right around thecorner might want to wati a few months!!

[Ninten-doh]

Howard,
I thought one of the GOOD things about LCD's was that there was no burn-in.   

Are you sure about that? 

[TOK]

Howard,
I thought one of the GOOD things about LCD's was that there was no burn-in.   

Are you sure about that? 

LCD's can suffer from something called image persistance. Its not really burn in the traditional sense, and is mostly associated with the static images of an LCD used on a computer. Unless you're completely negligent, you're not going to burn an LCD TV.

[notaburger]

yeah, from what i'm hearing, you'd have to be very negligent to burn an image into either lcd or even plasma
plasma used to be terrible but from what i've been reading, the problem seems to be about gone
currently, i do not live with my girl, but that is probably going to change very soon
luckily, she's a nerd when it comes to computers and video games so i'm sure she would be in favor of permanently blocking windows if it would increase the viewing experience
i have seen those sony sxrd displays in the store and they are some of the best around, sadly, i would like to stay around the 2500 or below at this current time
i guess i'll start looking into projectors again
most likely i'll go with a dlp one since that was what i convinced myself to get before (i think they have a longer life than the lcd ones but i don't know if that includes the notorious color wheel)
i guess i need to start checking out screens again too
any recommendations on dlp projectors and screens?

[notaburger]

what about this guy
(i know i said i wanted dlp, but this 3 lcd model just seems like a pretty sweet deal)
http://www.projectorpeople.com/hometheater/projdtls.asp?itemid=20229&itmname=Panasonic+PT%2DAE900U#
(in case you don't see it, it's 1799 for the projector plus 400 mail in rebate from panasonic and 300 blockbuster giftcard alongside the mail in rebate, also from panasonic)
i wouldn't be spending 300 dollars at blockbuster, but even just factoring in the 400 dollar mail in rebate brings it down to 1400, not bad for a projector that throw just about any high def. signal
......i hate you guys so much
if i decide to go with this one, i'll have to buy the thing and be broke for a complete month just so i can get it in time to qualify for the mail in rebate
....sigh

[notaburger]

maybe this one..... it comes with a screen and a lamp
but i don't think i could even use a 92 inch screen unless i can cut it down
http://www.projectorpeople.com/hometheater/projdtls.asp?itemid=20244&itmname=Sanyo+PLV%2DZ4

[Howard_Casto]

Howard,
I thought one of the GOOD things about LCD's was that there was no burn-in.   

Are you sure about that? 

LCD's can suffer from something called image persistance. Its not really burn in the traditional sense, and is mostly associated with the static images of an LCD used on a computer. Unless you're completely negligent, you're not going to burn an LCD TV.

Static images on a computer are basically the same as static images caused from a paused video game or dvd, which is the only way you can get burn-in in any case. 

You are less likey to burn in a lcd than a plasma, but traditional crt based tv's are still the most resistant to burn-in. 

Plasma on the other hand still has a TON of issues btw.. like they won't work at certain angles, they won't work at certain elevations, they can be damaged by a sudden jolt (and I don't mean like a cracked case, I mean they get bumped and they don't work anymore) and they won't work at certain tempreatures.  They haven't gotten better at all.

With the choice between plasma and lcd I'd get an lcd, but then again, as I've said they aren't really worth the money yet. 

[Howard_Casto]

any recommendations on dlp projectors and screens?

No specific reccomendations, but generally panasonic and the Major Japanese brands offer the best projectors. Pay attention to the bulb strength, the bulb life, and the cost of a replacement bulb. 

[koz319]

>any recommendations on dlp projectors and screens?

Check out


http://www.avsforum.com

http://www.projectorcentral.com

Avs has a ton of info, check out the <3500 projector forum.

A lot is going to depend on your personal preference on what type of image you think you will like, eg. very bright or great black level etc.  You should be able to get a feel for what the popular projectors are and their strengths / weaknesses.  At this point, I would probably stay away from anything that wasnt at least 720p.

(Just as a note, I love my projector, and am blown away every time I watch a movie or fire up the 360 on it.  Having said that,  I don't use it for regular TV watching, and Im not sure how well it would really work for that.  Some people differ on this, and use the PJ for everything, but a lot of people only use them for serious gaming/movie/HDTV watching.  There is also the cost of replacement bulbs to consider, which can range $200-$500 each and have a finite lifespan in the 2000 - 4000 hour range.  Just something to consider.Now that you've conisidered it, go buy one! )


Koz

[TOK]

Howard,
I thought one of the GOOD things about LCD's was that there was no burn-in.   

Are you sure about that? 

LCD's can suffer from something called image persistance. Its not really burn in the traditional sense, and is mostly associated with the static images of an LCD used on a computer. Unless you're completely negligent, you're not going to burn an LCD TV.

Static images on a computer are basically the same as static images caused from a paused video game or dvd, which is the only way you can get burn-in in any case. 

You are less likey to burn in a lcd than a plasma, but traditional crt based tv's are still the most resistant to burn-in. 

Plasma on the other hand still has a TON of issues btw.. like they won't work at certain angles, they won't work at certain elevations, they can be damaged by a sudden jolt (and I don't mean like a cracked case, I mean they get bumped and they don't work anymore) and they won't work at certain tempreatures.  They haven't gotten better at all.

With the choice between plasma and lcd I'd get an lcd, but then again, as I've said they aren't really worth the money yet. 

Most burn in I've seen on TV is from channel "bugs" or logo's in the bottoms. That and from the side bars when a widescreen scales video down to 4:3. Never saw burn in from a paused DVD. Most shut down or automatically resume playing way before burn can happen. Burn from video games typically isn't from a paused image, it's from something like a health bar that is there for hours while the game is in motion.

Edit to add. The worst channel logos I've seen are Animal Planet, History Channel and Nick Jr. I've seen a lot of burned TV's, and those burn dark enough to actually make out what they are in Plasma and CRT TV's.