That new TV itch...

[Kodos]

I've avoided it successfully for 3 years or so, but now my will is breaking. A nice widescreen high definition set sounds nice. But they're still so pricey. Luckily, I prefer the cheapest option (regular ol' tube TV), but a 34 inch Sony widescreen is still approaching $2,000. Damn... Must resist urge.

[WSUCougar]

I've been feeling that tingle, too. But I survived football season without succumbing, so the danger may have passed.

[rkmsuf]

Scratch it!

[Bee]

I highly recommend considering a projector if you can set up the room appropriately and have the room for a big screen.

[John Galt]

Originally Posted by Bee

I highly recommend considering a projector if you can set up the room appropriately and have the room for a big screen.

I strongly echo Bee's recommendation. Once you have gone HD projector, you will never go back. It's cheaper, looks better, and nothing beats a real home theater. If you have the space and conditions to do it, it can't be beat.

[Eaglesfan27]

I've been fighting the urge as well. My key factor was I'm waiting until we buy a house. However, we'll probably be doing that within the next 4 months. I hope to have a new TV by September for the start of the new football season.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Yes, I too have this itch.


I got the greenlight from Lady H_B a few weeks back to look into an HD TV. I have been doing research, but haven't come to a conclusion on what the buy. Any thoughts? I am thinking around "42 wide-screen. Like Eaglesfan27, I am waiting until we buy a house.

[Icy]

I'm trying to resist too. The thing is that i bought an expensive Sony 32" (tube) two years ago, also we have a big and deep TV stand so is not that we really need a flat TV for anything... but i'm in love with them. Probably i'll get a medium fix buying a 20" LCD for my computer room, that is also my sports watching room (yeah i admit it, my wife is the chief of the main TV).

[kcchief19]

Glad I'm not alone. I'm working on saving up for one right now. It's hard saving up to get one that I will really like long-term rather than just saving enough to buy a $800 27-inch Magnetbox or Carnivale just to join the crowd.

I haven't spend a lot of time in sports bars the last few years, so I had never watched a full football game on widescreen HD until the Super Bowl. I had a front row seat at bar with a 42-inch Toshiba. Amazing.

[George]

Add another person to the list of those with the itch. The number of HDTV options is amazing.

[VPI97]

Originally Posted by WSUCougar

I've been feeling that tingle, too. But I survived football season without succumbing, so the danger may have passed.

That goes for me too...I spend more time watching football games than I do the rest of television combined. Now that the season is over, my viewing habits go back down to just a handful of TV hours a week.

But come next August, I hope to be going the HD route.

[cthomer5000]

I really don't watch much TV, but instead that craving was replaced with the "new monitor itch." Over the last year I picked up two Dell 20.1 LCDs, and I've loved every minute of it. Most my TV watching is on the tuner in my PC anyway, while doing a number of other things.

When I'm working on my 15" here at work, it feels like a toy by comparison.

[cartman]

You might check around. Quite a few places are doing no payment/no interest deals for as long as 18 months. I did this with the TV I bought soon after moving into my new house in the summer of 2004. I've been using it for free ever since then! But, at the end of this month, it will be time to pay the piper.

[ISiddiqui]

I just got one last year. 30 inch Widescreen Sony HDTV (tube variety) for $950. Weighs a ton and a half, but at least that means it ain't going to be stolen . And the picture quality for regular programming on a CRT is better than on an LCD or Plasma. So that's a good thing.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Kodos

I've avoided it successfully for 3 years or so, but now my will is breaking. A nice widescreen high definition set sounds nice. But they're still so pricey. Luckily, I prefer the cheapest option (regular ol' tube TV), but a 34 inch Sony widescreen is still approaching $2,000. Damn... Must resist urge.

Which 34 inch Sony widescreen CRT you looking at? This one at Best Buy is only $1,100.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1077628885976

[Kodos]

http://reviews.cnet.com/Sony_KD_34XB...-30787600.html

Supposedly, it is used as the benchmark for other HDTVs picture-wise.

[sabotai]

One of my many motos: If you can afford it, buy it.

I won't be buying a big screen TV for a loooooong time.

[Kodos]

That would be the other problem. Between having the baby (10 months old now) and the fact that we are planning to move to Connecticut to be closer to family this spring/summer, I should probably just wait until at least the fall. But I've got the darn itch...

[JasonC23]

I've got it, too. I'm researching the Sony 30" and 34" widescreen tube TVs...

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1077628885856

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1077628885976

One stupid HDTV question...how is the screen measured? With the "old-fashioned" square TVs, they're measured diagonally.

[cartman]

Originally Posted by JasonC23

One stupid HDTV question...how is the screen measured? With the "old-fashioned" square TVs, they're measured diagonally.

They are also measured diagonally. So the screen is much shorter on a 16:9 TV than a 4:3 of the same reported size.

[Bee]

Originally Posted by JasonC23

One stupid HDTV question...how is the screen measured? With the "old-fashioned" square TVs, they're measured diagonally.

In my case....usually in feet.

Seriously, they're still measured diagonally.

[JasonC23]

Originally Posted by Bee

In my case....usually in feet.

Seriously, they're still measured diagonally.

Cool, thanks.

I have an old-fashioned 32" Toshiba in the family room right now. The 30" Sony would be shorter, but wider...would it "feel" like it's a smaller TV? (That's really the only reason I'm looking at the 34" Sony, too--because I'm afraid the 30" will "feel" smaller than my current TV. Realistically, I should stick to the 30", because that way I could also afford a new TV stand and DirecTV HD DVR--you know, essential stuff.)

[Kodos]

I have a 36" Toshiba analog TV right now, so I worry that 34 or 30 would seem small as well. What I'd love is to extend my current screen to widescreen dimensions and have it magically be hi-def.

[JasonC23]

Originally Posted by Kodos

I have a 36" Toshiba analog TV right now, so I worry that 34 or 30 would seem small as well. What I'd love is to extend my current screen to widescreen dimensions and have it magically be hi-def.

As soon as you figure out how to do that, hook me up!

[kcchief19]

Long story short, my office arranged for a company to provide some HDTVs for an event we were doing and at the end of the event they offered to sell us the TVs at half price. I picked up a 52-inch LG digital projection TV through this deal. It's bigger than Mrs. kcchief19 would like -- it's the exact same size as our current entertainment center -- but I'min TV heaven. I've ben watching ESPN HD and flipping back to regular ESPN and the difference is absolutely mindblowing. ESPN's regular channel looks like some sort of cable access high school operation compared to the HD channel.

The NCAA women's final looked absolutely fabulous.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

Long story short, my office arranged for a company to provide some HDTVs for an event we were doing and at the end of the event they offered to sell us the TVs at half price. I picked up a 52-inch LG digital projection TV through this deal. It's bigger than Mrs. kcchief19 would like -- it's the exact same size as our current entertainment center -- but I'min TV heaven. I've ben watching ESPN HD and flipping back to regular ESPN and the difference is absolutely mindblowing. ESPN's regular channel looks like some sort of cable access high school operation compared to the HD channel.

The NCAA women's final looked absolutely fabulous.

Good for you!!

I'm getting oh so close to my Sony 50" SXRD rear LCD HDTV purchase. Circuit City has no finance charges until 2009 and I almost have the wife convinced we need one along with a new entertainment system...

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

Good for you!!

I'm getting oh so close to my Sony 50" SXRD rear LCD HDTV purchase. Circuit City has no finance charges until 2009 and I almost have the wife convinced we need one along with a new entertainment system...

I'm 99% sure that I'm getting the same TV sometime during the next 3 months.

[Honolulu_Blue]

After finally moving into my new house, I have turned my focus to TVs. I am slightly constrained by the cabinet in my livingroom. It's only 40" wide. After doing some research, it looks like I am going with a 40" Samsung LCD TV 4015D. It has 2 HDMI inputs which is a bonus and it's just 39" wide. It's more expensive then I had planned, around $2,600 - $2,900, but it may be worth it.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

I'm 99% sure that I'm getting the same TV sometime during the next 3 months.

You'll love it!! I've done tons and tons of searching and although it's pricey, it's received several awards for best picture, etc... etc...

Shoot, just read what people have to say over at Circuit City.com and you'll see what I mean.

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

You'll love it!! I've done tons and tons of searching and although it's pricey, it's received several awards for best picture, etc... etc...

Shoot, just read what people have to say over at Circuit City.com and you'll see what I mean.

I've done quite a bit of research there and at other places as well. Cnet's reviews and other places give its big brother excellent reviews and indirectly give this model great reviews.

[Crapshoot]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

After finally moving into my new house, I have turned my focus to TVs. I am slightly constrained by the cabinet in my livingroom. It's only 40" wide. After doing some research, it looks like I am going with a 40" Samsung LCD TV 4015D. It has 2 HDMI inputs which is a bonus and it's just 39" wide. It's more expensive then I had planned, around $2,600 - $2,900, but it may be worth it.

I have a 32 inch Samsung. They are absolutely top notch - love them. The extra set of HDMI inputs is great as well.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

I've done quite a bit of research there and at other places as well. Cnet's reviews and other places give its big brother excellent reviews and indirectly give this model great reviews.

Yes indeed, the 60" is too big for our living room, but the 50" is perfect. My wife said I'll have one before the next Super Bowl FWIW.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Crapshoot

I have a 32 inch Samsung. They are absolutely top notch - love them. The extra set of HDMI inputs is great as well.

Thanks! I need to hear stuff like that. Well, actually I don't. I visit various websites each day. I am not sure what exactly I am waiting for, but it just seems too indulgent at the moment...

[kcchief19]

What are the reviews for HDMI vs component video? My TV has one HDMI input, although I'll have to see if my cable box has an HDMI output.

These new fangled TVs are slightly overpowering. I fiddled around with it for a while last night and I still can't figure everything out. This is the first time I've run out of devices to hook up to the TV before I've run out of inputs. This is the first time in my life I have no use for an A/B box.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

What are the reviews for HDMI vs component video? My TV has one HDMI input, although I'll have to see if my cable box has an HDMI output.

These new fangled TVs are slightly overpowering. I fiddled around with it for a while last night and I still can't figure everything out. This is the first time I've run out of devices to hook up to the TV before I've run out of inputs. This is the first time in my life I have no use for an A/B box.

From what I understand (which isn't much), that HDMI is the best of the best when it comes to inputs. There is none higher. It also does video and audio all in one, which is nice. My Comcast DVR/digital box has a HDMI output. I think most do.

The next step is getting a DVD player with an HDMI output. New ones have them. They are around $100 or so.

The HDMI cables, however, run around $100-$125. The 3ft. Monster HDMI cable was somewhere around that, but when you're spilling $2,000-$5,000 on a TV, a $125 cable to make it worth your while doesn't seem all that bad.

[ISiddiqui]

I believe the HDMI switchers (if you have one HDMI port on the back of your TV, as I do, and two inputs that have DVI or HDMI, which I don't [just one.. the cable box]) are pretty expensive as well. I think the new HD-DVD and Blu-Ray will take advantage of HDMI, so it could be an issue.

http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=2208

$249 for a 2 inputs switcher, I believe it's about $400 for a 4 input switcher (say when you get a cable box, HD-DVD or Blu-Ray player, and HD game system).

Though the good news is that the price includes the cables for each input (so 2 cables for the 2 input switcher and 4 for a 4 input), and in any style you want (using HDMI and DVI), so I guess that makes it a better deal .

[kcchief19]

Yikes! Glad my TV came with an HDMI cable. I'll have to give that a shot tonight.

I haven't hooked up my X-box to the new TV yet. That should be interesting.

[ISiddiqui]

Actually looking on the Gefen site, they have a setup for just about anyone! Any audio setup (because DVI requires audio cables and HDMI doesn't) is supported (by different types of switchers).

If I ever do get in that direction, I'll definetly get an HD switcher for those guys!