Need some HDTV advice

[mitchedwards]

About to buy my first HDTV This model is on sale for $579 this week. I was wondering if any of the HDTV gurus could let me know if this is a good buy?

Westinghouse SK-32H240S / SK32H240 - IN STOCK! - 32" High Defintion LCD Television

[Hector]

It's an 1080i not a 1080p, which means it won't accomodate Blue Ray high definition DVDs.

But it's a solid LCD for high definition cable/dish (perfect for the 1080i since signals don't come in 1080p anyway, and not anytime soon).

[MegoSteve]

It's not bad if you're on a budget, but if you want a suggestion, read the LCD TV forum at AVSforum.com and see what others think. I did a quick search for the model number and found about two pages of threads on it, but no big "official" style thread that many models have.

If you're a gambling man, you could try warehousedeals.com, which is a subsidiary of Amazon. They have a lot of refurbished/returned LCD TVs at cheap prices and a 30 day return policy if you aren't happy. Here are a couple of 32"-ers:

Toshiba REGZA 32HL67U 32-inch 720p LCD HDTV | Warehouse Deals: Used and Refurbished from Amazon

Samsung LNT3242H 32-inch LCD HDTV | Warehouse Deals: Used and Refurbished from Amazon

And here's a deal on a 37":

Toshiba REGZA 37HL67 37-inch 720p LCD HDTV | Warehouse Deals: Used and Refurbished from Amazon

I have this 40":

Samsung LNT4053H 40-inch LCD HDTV | Warehouse Deals: Used and Refurbished from Amazon

Edited to add: Of course it will accomodate Blu-Ray disks. You don't need 1080p to play Blu-Ray... you just won't see them at full resolution, but on a set that small, it won't matter much if at all.

[highquality]

Westinghouse isn't bad, Mitch. For a while, it was the #1 selling TV in my store. As far as I know, Westinhouse Digital still ONLY makes lcd TVs. It doesn't really carry the performance of a Toshiba, Samsung or Sony, but it's about $200-$300 less on average.

On a side not, the menu functions are the most advanced in the industry.

[JPkempo]

It's an 1080i not a 1080p, which means it won't accomodate Blue Ray high definition DVDs.

It will work fine with blu-ray just will reproduce it in 720. For the size thats fine you would not notice a differance between 720 and 1080 on a 32in. You only notice a differance at 50" and over (when veiwed at a normal distance)

[mitchedwards]

Thanks for the input.

I've been wanting a HDTV for a long time, but never had the extra cash for it.

This TV on sale was the perfect timing of having the extra $$$ for a new TV.

Any idea on what a set of rabbit ears go for a HDTV? I'll be viewing the hi def off the air

[MegoSteve]

Depends on how elaborate you want to get. You might want to buy some from a place that has a liberal return policy, though, because I bought some and could only pull in a few channels and it wasn't very reliable. I ended up breaking down and getting digital cable. Sweet, sweet digital cable.

[mitchedwards]

Depends on how elaborate you want to get. You might want to buy some from a place that has a liberal return policy, though, because I bought some and could only pull in a few channels and it wasn't very reliable. I ended up breaking down and getting digital cable. Sweet, sweet digital cable.

I have digital cable, but Comcast has it set so you have to pay more if you want HDTV and digital cable. Thats why I was wanting to try the rabbit ears first. I'm dying to see my first NASCAR race in HiDef

[highquality]

I'm dying to see my first NASCAR race in HiDef

It's great, many stations also broadcast it in 5.1 Surround Sound. Nothing quite like Nascar all around the room.

[MegoSteve]

I'm not much of a sports nut (like baseball and tennis), but I love sports in HD. Nothing like seeing the goosebumps on Maria Sharapova's thighs.

Do you just have regular cable without a cable box? Some TVs will let you pull in digital stations over coax. I couldn't for whatever reason... not sure if it was the TV or Comcast.

I have Comcast, too. I'm pretty cheap, but I got tired of messing around trying to get a signal (and I have a big old antenna on the side of my house). I ended up going into the office to just get the HD content, and they talked me into getting digital, too, by giving me a year of free HBO. There's going to be a dilemma when I have to start paying for HBO because I'm loving HBO On Demand.

[Hector]

I have the cable platinum package, HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, Starz, Encore, and on, and on, and on...



On Demand rules...and DVR rules.

I love watching boxing on it, wow.

Good thing because I don't watch any of the big four Networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX)...except for the Simpsons...and once in a while, American Idol.

[Hector]

It will work fine with blu-ray just will reproduce it in 720. For the size thats fine you would not notice a differance between 720 and 1080 on a 32in. You only notice a differance at 50" and over (when veiwed at a normal distance)

I stand corrected, Sir.

[The Bat]

Best Buy has thier own brand made for them called Insignia....it's made with a lot of Samsung Parts(that's a good thing). My Friend just bought a 42" Plasma for $900.. Not a bad deal...and the picture...WOW!

[JPkempo]

Vizio 32 " $479 free shipping
I have a Vizio and Dad has a Vizio, they realy are a great TV.
Vizio VX32LHDTV10A - 32'' Widescreen LCD HDTV - 1366 x 768 Super High Resolution - 1200:1 Contrast Ratio, Built in Speakers – recertified - VX32L - Buy.com
I have used Buy.com a few times never had a problem.

[cjefferys]

Any idea on what a set of rabbit ears go for a HDTV? I'll be viewing the hi def off the air

Theoretically, any kind of rabbit ears would pull in OTA HD signals, but how good they work would depend on how strong your local signals are, and where you have the antenna. Unfortunately, our main TV is in the basement and rabbit ears don't work the best in our case (a few channels come in nice and strong, others suffer from annoying signal breakup at times). You could always pick up a pair at Walmart and return them if they don't work that great for you. I'm planning to install an outdoor antenna on the roof this spring (over the air HD signals usually look better than satellite or cable HD signals, which are often more compressed than they should be, resulting in inferior video quality).