Buying a new TV

I'm looking to pick up a new TV for my bedroom and am looking for some advice. I have not kept up with TV's much and am actually a little lost (LCD, Plasm, Etc). I am getting very little help from the big store salesmen and don't feel like dropping a grand for something I am just going to watch an hour or two a night. I'm just looking for something in the ballpark of a 26" that I can watch some TV or a DVD on. Any advise on TV/DVD combos or should I stick with a stand alone player. I don't need the best of anything, just something that is going to do a good job. Thanks in advance.

 

Spotted this the other day on the web...reckon there must be a wealth of info if you check out different brands on the net:

http://www.whychooseplasma.com/html/

Good luck...

Cheers

LS

 

Well Crue, welcome to the age of the flat screen. In my opinion LCD is an overall better choice, and since you are only looking for 26" I believe it is the only choice, in a flat screen.

Your main differences with flat panel TV's is this:

LCD has a kind of mat finish screen which is great for diffusing light and reducing glare(just like computer monitors). It also contains a backlight behind the screen and with cheaper brands you'll notice blacks will fade to grey. The higher end TVs handle the fade much better.

Plasmas have a glass finish which is worse with glare but they tend to have deeper blacks which affect the overall color.

But these differences in brand can be very slight and even unnoticable.

Now Resolution in a 26" screen is irrelevant. I haven't looked into the most recent TVs but I don't believe they make them any higher than 768P.

As far as how much you should expect to spend, remember this, in the store you will be able to see some of the picture quality differences but at home you probably won't have anything to compare to so just go with what you are comfortable spending.

Personally I stick with name brands under the assumption that they last longer, but who knows. It's like you said you only watch maybe 1 hour a day or so, so any TV should last a while like that.

P.S. I realize that when you are at the store there SEEMS to be much more to take into consideration (contrast ratios, simulated surround sound speakers, resolution, etc.) but what matters is if you can see a difference.
Also, built in DVD requires no extra wires but if it goes bad, you're out of a tv till it gets fixed.... unless you then get a stand alone dvd player

 

Depends entirely where you live, which is not listed in your profile. In Feb 2009 the USA will change it's standards, and older TVs will no longer be able to recieve off the air broadcasts. The cable companies and Satillite providers are quick to point out that they will still work, but the jist of it is DON'T buy one of the many that will be dumped on sale in the USA.

 

Bill has the right idea, it depends on what deals exist where you live.

If you're in the US for example, some Best Buy's just had an excellent deal on a slightly older model Westinghouse 32" 720p LCD for $350.

Keep in mind, if you havent been keeping up much with TV's, widescreen changes how you perceive the size of a set. A 26" widescreen is on the higher end of the SMALL section. The average size smaller set is now 32".

Post where you live, and maybe we can help you out with some current deals.

 

Thanks to everyone for your input. Location wise I live in the Milwaukee area of Wisconsin. I have seen a few TVs in the $600 to $700 range, and I'm not against paying that to get a TV that will last for a few years. I also try to stay with major brands, but with all the new tech and new companies, I don't really know who is major anymore. Again thanks for all of your help.
:wave

 

I love the Toshiba Regza we got for our bedroom. It s 32" but I believe they make a 27". That thing is so clear and picks up HD channels with about a cable box (I don't even have an HD package). I opted for the one with a built-in DVD so I didn't need to look at any other components or cables.

 

I suspect in the next year we are going to see a major dump of older TVs, NIB. If you have cable or satillite they might even be good deals. Gee, I said that before, but backwards.

The new generation stuff is going to drop fast once the old TVs are gone, but this will probably take around 2 years to really get going.

It's sort of like computers, it's never a good time to buy one, because in 6 weeks something new, improved, and/or cheaper will come along.

There are some technologies just around the corner that will make a diff too, at the moment you can't get large screen LED TVs, but when it happens they will be cool. Small screen versions are out, but they are hyperexpensive (but really great pictures from what I hear).