Edit:

It is now all but confirmed that Best Buy will no longer carry RPCRT sets. They are completley off their site and Circuit City is no longer stocking them either.

Thoughts? It's pretty upsetting to me - these sets kick so much ass and were the only way I was able to afford a large HDTV.
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Original links for Hitachi set -

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=677069 - What initially started as a comparison thread quickly showed just how good this set compares to other available sets

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=790702 - Tweak the set to get a fantastic picture

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=695922 - Mr. Bob's awesome reasons why CRT RPTV is such a great value.


This is the last chance to get a great CRT RPTV set as the ONLY available model will now be the RCA model which isn't nearly as good of a set.

Check your Best Buys and Circuit City's ASAP if you want this set. After this week it's gone.

Just ordered this from BestBuy online yesterday. Had been considering the set for a while and watching prices and this was a great deal - with free delivery.

Debated the bestbuy extended warranty for $199 but at almost 1/3 of the price of the set, decided to purchase using AMEX with a 1 yr extension to the factory warranty and consider a 3rd party EW later.

Just ordered this from BestBuy online yesterday. Had been considering the set for a while and watching prices and this was a great deal - with free delivery.

Debated the bestbuy extended warranty for $199 but at almost 1/3 of the price of the set, decided to purchase using AMEX with a 1 yr extension to the factory warranty and consider a 3rd party EW later.

I purchased the warranty, but this was back when I originally picked up the set for $899. I then price matched it with the Circuit City for $799 (and got an extra $15 off for finding a competitor with a lower price). I then price matched it again for $699 and ended up with it for $685 total and the $200 warranty. I can't price match it again because it only shows up as $629 online and Best Buy won't do a match from the online store - but it doesn't matter now since every Best Buy and Circuit City here in Baltimore are completley empty of them.

Anyway, I like the Best Buy warranty guys - they came out and fixed a 32 inch Sharp Flat Screen two years ago after some monster cables (Never buy those overpriced garbage cables) pulled the component inputs out of the back of the set. It was a painless procedure for them to fix it.

The Best Buy site also lists two other CRT projection HDTV's from Phillips. They are both on sale too. But what's really weird is that they are both listed as "Coming Soon" and when you try to order them your told that they are unavailable. How can something that is unavailable be on sale?

The Best Buy site also lists two other CRT projection HDTV's from Phillips. They are both on sale too. But what's really weird is that they are both listed as "Coming Soon" and when you try to order them your told that they are unavailable. How can something that is unavailable be on sale?

Very odd. The honest truth is that the RCA will most likely be the only one still around after the next month or so since it's still a popular buy at Wal Mart and Target. I didn't even know Phillips still made CRTRPTV's any more.

Shoot I bought on Monday for $699 at CC, will CC give me the difference with an online deal?

Harrison

The Best Buy site also lists two other CRT projection HDTV's from Phillips. They are both on sale too. But what's really weird is that they are both listed as "Coming Soon" and when you try to order them your told that they are unavailable. How can something that is unavailable be on sale?

I've also seen the Philips CRT sets on the BB site. May be that they aren't going to roll 'em out until the Hitachis are gone.

If they are still available (or at least sitting in a warehouse), the Philips would seem to be the next budget HDTV that BB would advertise occasionally to lure customers into their stores.

Never seen this Philips in person. Sounds like a nice set, though. Very comparable to the F59, except it apparently has an actual HD tuner. Gotta be better than the RCA, which I have seen and is crap.

Never seen this Philips in person. Sounds like a nice set, though. Very comparable to the F59, except it apparently has an actual HD tuner. Gotta be better than the RCA, which I have seen and is crap.

Hopefully this is the case, as I know many people who can only afford sets like these. The RCA is really bottom of the barrell as far as picture quality is concerned.

Also hcw3, don't kick yourself over it. Most Best Buy's don't even have it in stock now. You can try to get a price match, but they will most likely only match the circular price.

As of Friday, April 13, BB no longer lists the 51F59A or either Philips CRT RPTV they had posted as "coming soon". Guess they are now officially out of the CRT RPTV business.

CC still lists the 51F59A for $699 on their site, but none seem to be available withion 100 miles of my location either in-store or for shipping (although the Bakersfiled, CA store says out of stock and still gives the option of getting notified when back in stock).

As of Friday, April 13, BB no longer lists the 51F59A or either Philips CRT RPTV they had posted as "coming soon". Guess they are now officially out of the CRT RPTV business.

CC still lists the 51F59A for $699 on their site, but none seem to be available withion 100 miles of my location either in-store or for shipping (although the Bakersfiled, CA store says out of stock and still gives the option of getting notified when back in stock).

This is a big deal now. I really am sad that Best Buy is dropping these types of sets as they were a steal. Circuit City will most likely only stock the RCA set from now on and it is a real shame for customers that cannot afford the high prices of many sets now.

CRT RP might be harder to setup, but once it is it's wonderful. I have seen so many people in my area with these sets and many are very happy with them. This is a real shame and while I just got in on this set a few weeks ago - I have always used CRT technology and loved it.

I will check up on the Wal-Marts and Circuit Cities in my area every now and then to see if they still carry the RCA model. It's better than nothing I guess...

This is a big deal now. I really am sad that Best Buy is dropping these types of sets as they were a steal. Circuit City will most likely only stock the RCA set from now on and it is a real shame for customers that cannot afford the high prices of many sets now.

CRT RP might be harder to setup, but once it is it's wonderful. I have seen so many people in my area with these sets and many are very happy with them. This is a real shame and while I just got in on this set a few weeks ago - I have always used CRT technology and loved it.

I will check up on the Wal-Marts and Circuit Cities in my area every now and then to see if they still carry the RCA model. It's better than nothing I guess...

Don't fret my friend... Here's a little something for ya:

www.uecweb.com