TV Purchase

[cadetevon]

Please, mods, leave this post here? :beg

I only really read the OT thread and so it'll make finding the answers (for me anyway) easier. :D

I'm looking to buy a 47"-ish (maybe up to a 52"?) HDTV and I would like it to also be wifi ready.

Any advice out there? I have a small 32" Visio that I'm VERY happy with, so I'd like to stay with the same brand, but I'm willing to hear info on other brands as well.

I'm thankful for any help I can get. :)

[DarkFury]

I have a Sony BRAVIA that does this . A bit more pricey than a Visio.

[cadetevon]

Is it pricier than Visio because it's better? What made you decide on the Bravia?

[attgig]

Do you need the internet built into the tv? there's tons of bluray players/ps3/roku, etc to get internet apps to your tv, without your tv having it built in.

[cadetevon]

That's a great question! Do I really need the internet via my TV?

I dunno.

DarkFury, do you find yourself using the wifi via your TV? or not so much?

[attgig]

if you don't mind having a separate box, i would think that this would work really well:
http://www.roku.com/

very good reviews.

plug that into your tv, and you're pretty likely to get good internet capability on your tv, but not built into your tv.

[kimchicowboy]

i've got a roku, and my wife and i really like it. we use it strictly for netflix use (although i did check out some of the other free apps). i would highly recommend it if all you need it for is netflix. it's 50% cheaper now than when i bought mine!

[DarkFury]

That's a great question! Do I really need the internet via my TV?

I dunno.

DarkFury, do you find yourself using the wifi via your TV? or not so much?
Honestly, I don't really use it that much...

I've watched a few YouTube videos with it, but honestly, the interface is pretty clunky so I just don't even bother with it much.

Personally, I wouldn't use that feature as a "make or break" for a purchase decision. I more lean towards the picture quality.

Now I will say... on my BRAVIA, I do like some of the "power saving" features that it has. It has a "room sensor" which will turn the screen off if nobody is in the room watching the TV for a certain amount of time. And it will turn off completely within a given time if it notices no activity on the set (like adjusting the volume, or changing channels). This feature is particularly helpful for those of us who tend to fall asleep in front of the TV. :sleep: :D

[Jeffbx]

Yes yes on the Roku - I have 2 of them now because they're so dang cheap - a basic $59 for our old CRT TV and the nicer 1080p HD version for the LCD.

[cruelpupet]

Ive heard good things about the POPBOX, which is the newest popcorn hour box

[mojo]

i've had problems with the bravia. i'd go with a samsung or lg. that's just me.

as far as streaming, what i do is i have a directory of content on my netbook (linux) and use ushare to stream via wifi to my xbox. when i fire it up, i just go to the video library on my xbox and ushare shows up there

[attgig]

I vote skip the internet requirement. get a separate box if you want. and then, find the best tv you want.

If you like vizio, go get yourself a vizio.

so, instead of thinking internet built into the tv, think, plasma, lcd, or led.
think do you want to spend on 3d or not.
refresh rate (big price diff btw 60hz vs 120hz).
and if it has internet built in, that's a plus, but shouldn't sway your decision.

[cadetevon]

Right on. I knew you guys would have great stuff to share.

I'll check out Roku and also skip the built in wifi in favor of a better refresh rate.

Thanks fellas.

[cadetevon]

Right on. I knew you guys would have great stuff to share.

I'll check out Roku and also skip the built in wifi in favor of a better refresh rate.

Thanks fellas.

[cadetevon]

Holy 1,000 double posts!

[Markel]

Right now I'm trying to decide whether to bite on the Sharp AQUOS LC-52D78UN 52" LCD that Dell (http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A3728761) has on sale today for $950.

[Markel]

I pulled the trigger. Anybody in the market for a nice Toshiba 36" CRT TV?

[ArkiStan]

One hundred votes for the ROKU. My GF and I use it almost everyday. It's cheap, easy to setup and use. If you have a netflix account (even the cheapest one will be enough) you've got access to hundreds of movies and TV shows. If you feel like paying for a recent release the ROKU has access to Amazon VOD, so you can do pay-per-view rentals. You are pretty much fully covered.

It's the bomb.

[Prngr44]

I pulled the trigger. Anybody in the market for a nice Toshiba 36" CRT TV?

:laugh:

In the same boat and from what I can tell on Craigslist prices you can expect to get about 50-100 for that thing.

[renovation]

only thing i add to this is DON'T BUY A TV FROM SEARS ON LINEthey have crappy commutations to there clients. I'll never buy a big ticket item from them on line again ! keeping fingers cross they arrive at my home between 1-3 today . after a phone message I received yesterday.

[DarkFury]

:laugh:

In the same boat and from what I can tell on Craigslist prices you can expect to get about 50-100 for that thing.
More like "pay someone to take it away"... or find a place with no video surveillance where you can dump that monster. :shifty:


(BTW... if your city has a "tox-drop", then they will take it off of your hands for you. :D )

[Markel]

:laugh:

In the same boat and from what I can tell on Craigslist prices you can expect to get about 50-100 for that thing.
That's what I saw. I figured I'd list it on Craigslist for $70 or so. (That should end up covering the cost of my wall mount for the new one.) And since it cost us $0, that's a gain.

Last night I checked the status of my order on Dell's site, and it still said "In Production" (the first state). Today I got a call at work from the shipping company wanting to know when they could deliver. Unfortunately, my wife won't be staying around home tomorrow, so I'll have to wait until Wednesday.

[mcs328]

That's what I saw. I figured I'd list it on Craigslist for $70 or so. (That should end up covering the cost of my wall mount for the new one.) And since it cost us $0, that's a gain.

Last night I checked the status of my order on Dell's site, and it still said "In Production" (the first state). Today I got a call at work from the shipping company wanting to know when they could deliver. Unfortunately, my wife won't be staying around home tomorrow, so I'll have to wait until Wednesday.

I'd be happy to wait for your purchase. What's your address again? :halo: Or send it to me and I'll make sure you get it...eventually.

[attgig]

great wall mount prices here
http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=109&cp_id=10828

i've gotten mine from here and love em.

[Prngr44]

great wall mount prices here
http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=109&cp_id=10828

i've gotten mine from here and love em.

I was gonna say the same thing. Mounts, cables, etc.

[Markel]

New TV arrived today. Set it up and hooked up Planet Earth (BBC version, of course!) on Blu-ray (no HD TV service yet) and enjoyed 52" of 1080p goodness. :)

[The Happy Squirrel]

im looking at getting a new one soon as well.

[ArkiStan]

New TV arrived today. Set it up and hooked up Planet Earth (BBC version, of course!) on Blu-ray (no HD TV service yet) and enjoyed 52" of 1080p goodness. :)

Yeah Planet Earth seems to be the standard item for test driving new tv's. That's one of the problems of getting this new equipment. I spend more time watching a few minutes from a bunch of blu ray discs rather than sit through a single movie. ha!

[tyya]

I have a Sony BRAVIA,i am so happy with it.

[Grimm]

Forget Roku.

A new BluRay mid-range player will have all the features you want. Netflix, Pandora, Hulu Plus, etc...