The bedroom TV (a 36" RCA that we bought over 10 years ago) is going bad. My wife loves to lay in bed at night and watch TV so I want to surprise her with a new one for her birthday.

Does anybody still make a tube TV this size? I went out today and checked out a few places but I didn't see anything good. Best I saw was a Panasonic 27" but obviously that's significantly smaller than the 36".

She would prefer a 4:3 set. Doesn't have to be HD or anything fancy, it just needs to be big. I'm wary of buying anything used for obvious reasons, but if that's the only option then it'll have to do.

I think used is about your only option. I live in Seattle and my craigslist is loaded with used CRTs for sale. I picked two Sony HDTVs off there pretty cheap and they both are working fine.

The high end Sony XBRs were expensive when new and the people who owned one generally took good care of them. I think most of the sellers are unloading the CRTs to get a larger TV. That is all I can figure because for picture quality these TVs are tops.

So that is what you will probably need to do, buy used. Using craigslist will keep the transaction local and you can drive over to the sellers place and see the the TV and the kind of environment it was kept in before you put down any cash.

Although this TV is not 36 inch, but this is probably the best [new] 32 inch CRT you would find. But better hurry as Sharp quit making CRT TVs last November.

Have the non flat 32 inch version.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7631217&type=product&id=1130986501280

http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/images/products/7631/7631217_sa.jpg

Found a used 36" Panasonic at a local electronics store today. It was the victim of a power surge, but all that's wrong with it is the power supply, so as soon as they fix that it's mine!

I hate the silver color but for 200 bucks I can get used to it. :D

Is that TV this: http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/equipment/model.php?a=B00005BIDF&man=Panasonic&model=OUTLET-CT36HX40

Is that TV this: http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/equipment/model.php?a=B00005BIDF&man=Panasonic&model=OUTLET-CT36HX40

It's not exactly like that one but it's really close (in terms of looks, anyway). Pretty sure it's not "HD-ready" because it doesn't have a digital tuner.

That is the definition of "HD-Ready". That means it doesn't have a digital tuner.

Is that TV this: http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/equipment/model.php?a=B00005BIDF&man=Panasonic&model=OUTLET-CT36HX40

That CT36HX40 is an old 2000 model. There are no more 36" tube TVs being made anymore as far as i know. Panasonic ceased production of their 36" models in 2004 i believe.

Okay, but again I stand by my HD-Ready statement.

Found a used 36" Panasonic at a local electronics store today. It was the victim of a power surge, but all that's wrong with it is the power supply, so as soon as they fix that it's mine! I hate the silver color but for 200 bucks I can get used to it. :DGot the model number?

It is a CT36SL13.

Again, not the most attractively-designed TV I've ever seen but it has a fantastic picture. Really stunning. I knew it would look good, because I've had a 27" Panasonic in my office for years, but it looks even better than I thought.

I've even started watching my Deep Space 9 DVDs in the bedroom. Watching 4:3 shows is so much better on a 4:3 set than the plasma we have in the TV room.....now I just need to convince her that we need a 5.1 system in there too. :D