ok, it's not that dramatic but i can't figure out crap.

is there a retard's guide to buying a new TV?

or maybe someone can provide some guidance.

i've got around 1200 (+/-) burning a hole in my pocket. looking for 42" or greater. suggestions?

Ok, I will bite. What do you plan on using it for mostly? IE.....movies or gaming? Generally, most people get LCD for gaming and Plasma for movies. Research the forum for how the different types of televisions will work for what you would like to use it for. This might get you closer to the answer you are looking for.

I have a Panasonic TH-42PHD8UK that I use for my HTPC. I use it for internet browsing, watching DVD's and playing games through the computer and have a Xbox 360 hooked to it also. I like the black levels that a plasma gives over an LCD but an LCD has cought up "somewhat" to plasma picture quality. At your price range you should be able to get a 42". I will not recommend a certain television but will tell you to let your eyes decide.

Ok, I'll try to give the speil I'd give a customer if I were selling HDTVs.

1. What type of room do you have? Do you have space constraints? LCD and Plasma both have small form factors. RPTVs get you typically more screen for less $$$ than LCD and Plasma.

2. What's your viewing distance? How far you sit will let you know generally how big a TV you're looking fore. 42" is good for 7-8 feet at 720p (I think...please someone correct me if I'm wrong).

3. What features do you want? All these TVs have huge lists of features, it sucks but you have to go and identify what you're looking for.

4. Leg work! Check out the forums for TVs in your price range and see what owners have to say. Then when you have some model ideas, go see'em live at B&M stores and eyeball them. Bring your favorite DVD and see if you can get one of the pimply faced teenagers there to let you watch part of your disc on a TV while you mess around with the settings.

Sorry if that's kind of vague, but hopefully that will get you started. Good luck and happy TV hunting =)

i know i ask the impossible. i try to read and research and just get more confused.

i'll be watching my digital cable, sports are a huge factor, then i have my xbox360. ill sit around 9-10 feet away from the tv. the gets a fair amount of light and the blinds suck.

i don;'t need a flat panel.

i stopped by bestbuy and saw a sony 46" dlp (kdf-46e2000) that was in my price range and salesboy said that DLP you get the most for your money (or something to that effect)

edit=
upon further review it doesn't appear to be DLP but the display piece said it was.

If space is not an issue, look at a rear projection set, you'll get more size for the money.

It doesn't sound like you're too picky about specs or anything like that. If you're not the type to tweak a TV to get the best picture then just look at the TV and decide based on how you like the picture. Keep in mind that sometimes they're not always adjusted to their best picture, but typically are how they will look out of the box. If that's ok with you, then shop that way.

Once you've narrowed it down, then talk to someone to make sure that you'll be able to hook up your items. That said, I'm hard pressed to believe you could by any new, large format TV that wouldn't have the proper inputs for what ever you have sitting around.

In short, don't worry about all of the techno babble about DLP this or LCD that. Just get what looks good to you and allows you to hook up what you have.

ok, it's not that dramatic but i can't figure out crap.

is there a retard's guide to buying a new TV?

HDTV For Dummies! (http://www.amazon.com/HDTV-Dummies-Danny-Briere/dp/0764575864) ;)

i know i ask the impossible. i try to read and research and just get more confused.

i'll be watching my digital cable, sports are a huge factor, then i have my xbox360. ill sit around 9-10 feet away from the tv. the gets a fair amount of light and the blinds suck.

i don;'t need a flat panel.

i stopped by bestbuy and saw a sony 46" dlp (kdf-46e2000) that was in my price range and salesboy said that DLP you get the most for your money (or something to that effect)

edit=
upon further review it doesn't appear to be DLP but the display piece said it was.


The Sony Grand Wega rear projection tvs are all 3 LCD models. There are some good prices in a number of locations here and elsewhere. Probably your best bet.

Just remember you will be replacing the bulb in a DLP or any RPTV you get. This was a factor to me as it will add to the total cost of the tv over the years. I did some research and gathered that a bulb MAY last 5,000 hrs. It could be more and it could be less. With that said I have around 530 hrs on my Plasma and I have had it for about 2 months. A RPTV would just not be cost effective to me I don't believe. Our tv is the main "family" room tv and is viewed pretty much all day. From cartoons in the morning, gaming in the afternoon, news, movies and sitcoms in the evenings followed by more gaming and it all adds up.

I wouldn't try to steer anyone in ANY direction, just point out some things we forget about. I did seriously consider and want a 50" DLP for a long time, then I realized what my viewing habits really were and settled on a smaller yet very nice Samsung Plasma.