What local channels do you get? The signal should be strong enough and now digitally sent that you could get LOCAL over-the-air antenna-sent NBCrapHD and Teledumbo. I saw the Argentina vs. Lithuania game on Telemundo. Head on over to Wally-Martinez and buy yourself an amplified (don't buy the most expensive) antenna. As long as it has about 20db to 30db at least, you should be getting the local HD channels (2.1 here in Houston shows Olympics).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889165005&Tpk=sva+32 32" $499 shipped, no tax. Not a bad deal. I think it is the perfect size for a PC monitor, and it's an HDTV LCD. It's the best deal you are going to get for that price imo. All the nice 42" screens (which don't support 1366x768 resolotion, rather 1024x800) that came within $390 have rebates which are a pain.
here's the reasoning on the 1,000,000 to 1 contrast ratio: http://www.hometheatermag.com/plasmadisplays/808samup/index1.html But how did Samsung come up with its extremely high specified contrast ratio (including 1,000,000:1, dynamic)? It turns out, they did it with a little sleight of hand. If you switch to the Dynamic mode and put up a full-screen black image, the black level reads a mediocre 0.025 foot-lamberts, similar to what you’ll see in the normal contrast-ratio results in the Measurements text. But after about five seconds, this grayish-black image turns completely black, and the black level becomes unmeasurably low. It appears that when the set senses full-screen black from the source in the Dynamic mode (but not in Movie or Standard), it shuts down the drive to the panel after a few seconds. This produces a full black and therefore a mathematically infinite contrast ratio. But you’ll never see contrast this high on real program material. yeah,its like saying you're shooting 2-2 free throws in an empty gym and going around saying you're a 100% free throw shooter. however besides the BS by samsung on this, the tv is good.
You've got the internet, everything you want to know about HDTV is at your fingertips. Check out avsforum.com Looking and comparing picture quality in the store is almost futile, the store has the settings cranked up, some of them purposely make the more expensive sets look nicer then the less expensive so you can be swayed into buying the more expensive one. There is a pecking order in the manufacturers of the sets. Samsung and Panasonic, and Pioneer are the better ones, depending on which technology and are going to be priced as such. Comparing a Vizio and a Pioneer Kuro of the same size is like comparing a Honda to a BMW M3. Compare features, especially the ones you use the most. I liked the PIP in my old TV better then my current HDTV. Enough inputs for your devices? Has Energy Saving feature?
OK so I have been reading a little here and there since I started this thread and I want to see what yall recommend for my preferences. Plus, I do not know where the best deals are located. Please keep in mind that I will be hooking up a cable box, xbox 360, a wii and possibly a dvd player. I need enough inputs for all of these... (read below on my adapter/cord worry) - size: 37-42" - durability is a must so that basically rules out projection and plasma? ive read that plasma often has trouble with light and still images (still images could be a worry for me since i do own a xbox and wii) - prefer digital over analog simply because i do not want to buy a converter later when digital becomes the requirement. im not sure i understood the main difference between the 2 honestly - aspects: maybe prefer 3:4 a little more than the 16:9. me and my wife usually watch movies in standard mode (not widescreen) anyways but do bigger flat-pane tvs come in the 3:4? what adapters or splitters do i need? i think this is the thing that worries me the most. i do not want to buy a exspensive tv and then not have the right cords for everything. a comb filter needed? i would need the most help in this area if someone would care to detail it out for me. - financing a huge plus (0% financing?) - warranty a must thanks, again, in advance possibly a donation to the tip jar in your name if you can point me in the right direction of an awesome deal.
man dude. i hate to break some reality for you. 16:9 is the standard, not 4:3 . They don't really make 4:3 TVs anymore. plus who the hell rents movies in 4:3? adapters and splitters? come on dude. you have a cable box now, its exactly the same thing from the wall to your box. the thing that will change is the cable from the box to the tv. as I mentioned before, STICK WITH THE GOOD BRANDS. also, warranties are overrated, i feel they are a waste of money if you buy a good brand. the standard warranty that comes with the TV is fine. you can play DVDs on your xbox360. There are plenty of brands on this thread that we recommended, you just need to act on it. plus if you want financing then you have to go to the bestbuys, circuit cities, home theater store, frys etc. http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/articles/2008/02/2008_hdtv_buyers_guide_part_1.php
Amazon and bestbuy both have financing options of 0% for 24 months right now. Amazon will also give free shipping and has had great reviews on their shipping/prices in case you were worried about the TV being damaged.
I bought my TV here: http://www.onecall.com/CategoryDisplay.aspx?N=18&Store=2 they have financing also, if you have cable/satellite, you need to upgrade your service (box) the 'converter' is for people who use antennas, no services.
