TV Options

doubleN0alero · 07-10-2007, 01:23 AM

So, my 43'' Hitachi is in the shop right now getting repaired and only God knows how much its going to cost to fix that hog, so I'm starting to weigh my options on a new tv. The guy I have been talking to at the repair shop has showed me several new tvs that are just going to shit rather quickly. He said alot of the new tvs aren't made as they once were and usually break down in about 2 years and cost more to repair than they are worth, thus causing people to trash it and buy a new one.

I'm leaning towards either another Hitachi or an LG which is made by Zenith. Now my 27'' Zenith in my room is 20 years old and is still going strong which is making me lean towards the LG. I was also just thinking about another projector. Sure the bulb is going to blow, but a couple years down the road and if I can look forward to buying new tvs every few years, I might as well just pony up for a new bulb.

so what are you experiences with the new flat screen deals, no plasma of course, i dont need a high electric bill in the meantime, and what would you all suggest to me?

MixtapeMessiah · 07-10-2007, 02:14 AM

thats how it is with flat screens they only last a couple of years, but just wait a couple more years when everything goes to HD, tv's then will be effin SICK!

_01Alero_ · 07-10-2007, 02:43 AM

In all honesty, I would go with a projector, or even better a dlp. You will get the projector feel and look but also get new technology. The LCD's will have a lot more problems than any projector type. They don't exactly just go dead on you in two years, but they tend to start loosing pixels, which means you will have random dots on your screen that will always shine red/blue/or green. Which sucks. But yea, go with a projector type. you will be better off in the long run. It is true that they aren't making them like they use to, the new technology while it looks amazing and functions quite well, the life span of them is far less than an older style projection type.

That is just my $.02 worth. I worked at CompUSA for about a year and saw quite a bit of LCD tv's come back from having random pixels out or just the owner trying to wall mount the tv and end up busting it on something. Projection type I never saw come back.

FrankTheTank · 07-10-2007, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doubleN0alero

so what are you experiences with the new flat screen deals, no plasma of course, i dont need a high electric bill in the meantime, and what would you all suggest to me?

unless u watch an INCREDIBLE amount of tv, a plasma isnt really gonna effect your electric bill. i was lookin at tvs the other day too, and the colors on the plasma were amazing, much better than the lcd's or any of the others for that matter.
i'd love to pick up a plasma, but i dont watch enough tv to justify spending that much money on a tv.

troyertrain · 07-10-2007, 08:20 AM

I had a couple LCDs last year (first was a Magnavox, the second was a Westinghouse) and I was not impressed at all. Unless you have HD service, they are completely not worth it. The picture was terrible on both, and it streaked from shot to shot. I just returned both of them and got a regular tube TV. Honestly, I dont think they will still a couple years off from mainstream success...

cherrington17 · 07-10-2007, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrankTheTank

unless u watch an INCREDIBLE amount of tv, a plasma isnt really gonna effect your electric bill. i was lookin at tvs the other day too, and the colors on the plasma were amazing, much better than the lcd's or any of the others for that matter.
i'd love to pick up a plasma, but i dont watch enough tv to justify spending that much money on a tv.

Not really sure where you get your info frank. Plasma (power wise) is similar to running your dryer all day long, as opposed to LCD, where it takes very little power, in comparison, to run. Plasma USED to have a superior picture, but sony just developed a new form of LCD that is equal in picture, but still much less power. LCD is just starting its run, and plasma is at the end of their rope.

Brad, you said an Hitachi, or LG, made by Zenith?? LG makes their own equipment. They work WITH hitachi to make dvd/cd roms and whatnot, but as for Zenith, LG bought them several years ago. So any Zenith LCDs will actually be LG product.

As far as getting a Tv... I'd say shop around. I'd get either a 32 or 37, and some rabbit ears. (for HD locals...unless you have HD programming at your place) Your gonna want to be looking for a tv w/ around a 3000:1 contrast ratio. They look good and have a nice crisp picture. Panasonic makes decent stuff, as does LG and Sony. But Sony will be pricier then others. For the moderate end, your probably looking about 700-1500 for a tv w/ that kind specs.

As for losing pixels... Its certainly possible, not shouldn't happen.. or be very likely. You have to replace projector bulbs more often then LCD will lose a pixel. We have a LG 37" LCD here. Its run 4-8 hrs weekdays, and like 10-12 weekends (parents watch alot of tv, and it has a PS2 connected to it) and its never had a problem at all. Its about 2-3 years old. The ones at work are on 12hrs a day for over a year now and they too, have never been replaced or had a pixel crap out.

doubleN0alero · 07-10-2007, 10:16 AM

We do have HD service here...as for DLP, the guy told me that that thing heats up really quickly and will cause the tv to just shut off...he said if there was a way to mount an exhaust fan back there, it will run and run. Who knows just yet. I'm going to wait to hear from him on Wednesday and see how much to fix my tv.

AGT · 07-10-2007, 10:17 AM

Samsung is on top of their game. I would go with them. I have a samsung from when I was 12 and I am 27 now. It still works almost to its tip top. but 15 years is a good run

cherrington17 · 07-10-2007, 12:14 PM

^yeah.. but your talking CRT. those things last forEVER.

Cliff8928 · 07-10-2007, 12:34 PM

I've got a 45" Sharp Aquos for a few years now. I love it and the HD is amazing at full resolution! I doubt if I could even tell if one of the 2,073,600 pixels was messed up from 10 feet away. My computer monitor is made by LG and it's a 22" LCD that's 7 years old and it still works like new!

Oh, and shouldn't this thread be in off-topic?

FrankTheTank · 07-10-2007, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherrington17

Not really sure where you get your info frank. Plasma (power wise) is similar to running your dryer all day long, as opposed to LCD, where it takes very little power, in comparison, to run. Plasma USED to have a superior picture, but sony just developed a new form of LCD that is equal in picture, but still much less power. LCD is just starting its run, and plasma is at the end of their rope.

if u can afford to drop $1000+ on a tv, who cares if your electric bill goes up a little bit. like i said, if you dont have it on all the time, its not gonna run your bill up anyway, but if you watch hours upon hours of tv, then maybe it will. but who cares. IMO, for the price, i think u get more bang for your buck with plasma vs. lcd.

Oldsman · 07-10-2007, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doubleN0alero

We do have HD service here...as for DLP, the guy told me that that thing heats up really quickly and will cause the tv to just shut off...he said if there was a way to mount an exhaust fan back there, it will run and run. Who knows just yet. I'm going to wait to hear from him on Wednesday and see how much to fix my tv.

not completely true. my parents have mitsubishi DLP and works great no heat issues or it shutting off. they have had it for 2 years. but it does have a cool down cycle when you shut it off. The only thing is like ever 1-2 years you have to replace the bulb which is like $250.

cherrington17 · 07-10-2007, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrankTheTank

if u can afford to drop $1000+ on a tv, who cares if your electric bill goes up a little bit. like i said, if you dont have it on all the time, its not gonna run your bill up anyway, but if you watch hours upon hours of tv, then maybe it will. but who cares. IMO, for the price, i think u get more bang for your buck with plasma vs. lcd.

unless your talking in the 3-4k market, LCD wins over plasma.

the only diff is that there aren't small plasmas, only big 45+ inches.. and at that rate, the power consumption is drastically different.

AGT · 07-10-2007, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherrington17

^yeah.. but your talking CRT. those things last forEVER.

Yeah but check it out Samsung is on top

doubleN0alero · 07-10-2007, 03:27 PM

My buddy just bought a new Plasma and I'll tell you what, its an incredible picture for sure, but his electric bill did go up. Now he's an engineer that lives by himself in a 300K house, so its not a big deal to him, but he did notice that it went up quite a bit once he started watching his new tv.

I will find out the verdict tomorrow if its going to be worth repairing or not. I'm praying that it was just something simple and relatively cheap to fix b/c really I don't feel like buying a new tv. As for the DLP, our projector is a mitsu and the bulb for it is $300, so if I'm going to have to buy a new bulb, I'm thinking why not just buy it for the projector and have a 100" screen. So many options.

Oh and I didn't put this in OT b/c it is related to video...not car video, but still video..