Took my first serious look today at no less than 5 stores for "affordable" 720P sets.

Any advice or model numbers to check????

I understand that most if not all the televisions in stores are not set correctly and or can be hampered with signal issues.

I did however see the same issues over and over on the "cheaper" sets.

Main Issue across all cheaper sets: Contrast completely washed out.
Secondary issues: seemed to have more motion issues or artifacts.
Third: Color was weaker (see contrast issue above)

Assuming good sets and bad sets all were not set up correctly - it was obvious over and over I was seeings terrible looking pictures on the cheaper sets.

I had heard some things on the forusm like
"isn't worth the price difference"
"looks great for the money"

this was in reference to the more affordable sets.

I guess I was thinking there was something to it - but after seeing these sets I can say it's worth the extra money - I would not spend $600 for garbage if $775 looks that much better on the same sources!

I can say that 1080p on HDDVD and BluRay on 1080p sets looked unreal. Simply amazing.

I checked out the Vizio in 37" and 42" (didn't jot down the model #'s though, but both 720p) at walmart today and they both looked pretty good compared to the other TV's there.

The kid working there told me the signal was NOT HD, but it obviously was, much to nice looking not to be. As much as i'd like a 1080p set, there will need to be a really good sale to get me to go that route.

But for the money, the Vizio's looked really nice and will most likely go that route. Seems to be a ton of people happy with them. I'm no videophile, but want a nice picture at a nice price and Vizio's seem to fit that bill.

My biggest worry is how non-HD digital picture quality is. Could be the deal breaker. Have to find a more knowledgeable associate at walmart next time.

Will be following along to see what people have to say.

here are some photos i took of a first gen westinghouse (i think it's third gen now) i really think the settings at a big box store are set up to make the westy look a little worse because the sets are so cheap.

admittedly the westinghouse sets aren't as nice as cream of the crop brands but not shabby imo.

toshiba hd-a1 chronicles of riddick

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/4260/img4413yu1.jpg

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/340/img4454zy8.jpg

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/6105/img4462tw0.jpg

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/633/img4463jd4.jpg

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/1286/img4464nj0.jpg

one more

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/5294/img4465kt4.jpg

a very recent issue of 'wide screen review' mag. had a very captivating ad for the new westie 1080p lcds. the ad gives (to me anyway) the appearance/implication of westies being hi end sets. i was so taken w the ad, and i consider myself a tough sell, i may purchase one soon. if the pq, etc., lives up to the ad, they may be really good sets. wsr magazine seems to have mostly ads from the more reputable manufacturers so westinghouse may have taken another step up the 'quality ladder'.

I'm a Westinghouse owner too and very happy. My first purchase was a LVM37w1. More recently, picked up an "open box" LVM47w1. The way I see it, I have two perfectly good monitors (not a problem, since I've been a D* subscriber for eons), for the price of one good sized plasma ($2,500).

And these Westy's are 1080p *native* resolution - not 720p. From what I've read, the Westy's are using a quality chip (Faroudja/Genesis) to do the upconversion, so I'm also saving by not having to by an upconverting DVD player!! :-)

Ok, when viewed "side-by-side" with some other brands, you can nit-pick the Westy. But, outside of Graceland, I've never been to anyone's house that has televisions set up "side-by-side." When you see it all alone in your living room, you won't be going "well, contrast this and color that." Heck, I've been in sports bars with numerous televisions running - usually a mixture of LGs and Vizios - and you'd be hardpressed to complain about the PQ of either set.

Of course, your mmv. If you're a serious film buff and have a dedicate home theater, then LCD may not be for you. But, if your a casual television viewer - watch a lot of different things movies, sports, drama and your last name isn't Gates or Walton (so money *is* a consideration), why pay more for what amounts to an incremental improvement that - once you get it home - won't be an issue for you?

I use a Westinghouse 42" for PC use and it's excellent. I used it a short while for TV use downstairs before picking up a 60" Sony LCOS and the Westinghouse held it's own pretty well against other LCD's I have seen. If your on a budget I don't feel you can go wrong with Westinghouse.

I've had my Vizio for about 2 weeks now, and I love it. I got it on a really good sale, and when i went to pick it up, the displays were right between a Panny and a Sony, and the 50" Vizio 720p set looked as good as the panny and better than the sony. I'm not a videophile, but I know what the differences I saw made me feel really good taking the Vizio home!:)