LCD TV... which to get?

[RyougaZell]

So finally I am buying an LCD Tv next week. I'll be going to McAllen with my brother-in-law to get myself one. Dunno what came over me... I've planned to buy one for over a year now... but I didn't want to buy it alongside other expensive things. Well, as Murphy's Law would state, that things don't go as planned, I ended buying a PS3 and a new computer last month (my computer's mother board finally kicked the bucket after 8 years of service) and now I am getting the TV... since I do need a 'monitor' for my new computer... (lcd monitor costed 500dlls? I prefer a TV... and since new cpu has hdmi...)

So... after that wall of text... what can you gotwooters recommend me?

For some time I thought of buying a Sharp Aquos, since it comes with a decodifier to open the Cablevision Tv Signal (a local cable provider), but I have heard they have started to block that...

What brands do you recommend? I am going for a 32" one.

Oh, and most importantly... taking into account I now own (or rather... in 1 week when it arrives...) a PS3 and a Computer with HDMI, 4gb of ram and Intel® Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 Video Card... what should I get? 720p? 1080p?

Thanks in advance guys.

[Buffalobiian]

That means onboard video right? Sure that'll be powerful enough? I can't help you with the LCD part, since I have zero experience.

[darkshadow]

The video doesn't really matter at all, i'm baffled you don't mention your cpu type at all

[Marik]

As far as brands go Samsung, Sony, and Sharp are the top 3. Since you're gonna be gaming on a LCD, response time is gonna be key. Fast response time = less lag and ghosting. Sony and Samsung don't make a 1080p as small as 32 inches, Sharp is pretty much your only choice. So I, recommend this http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...&s=electronics

True 1080p, 6ms response time, 3 HDMI inputs, 10,000:1 contrast ratio, & built in HD tuner.

[Animeniax]

Have you considered getting a projector instead?

[RyougaZell]

darkshadow:
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T8100 (2.1GHz/800Mhz FSB/3MB cache)

Marik:
Actually... I saw this samsung one...
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1202648738906

Ani:
Noup

[Marik]

Ah, I see Samsung has been working on their series 5's. I'm so used to series 6 and 7. That TV is better than the Sharp and it's only $850 on newegg with no tax and free ship. So you'll save $150 over best buy.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...1&Tpk=LN32A550

[RyougaZell]

Thanks for the suggestion, but I can't order online since I don't like on the states.

Im actually going to pay importation (sp?) for the TV as well. Paying them, plus travels costs, the TV still ends up cheaper than to buy it here in Monterrey.

[Assertn]

www.woot.com

Got about 5 hours left though.

[Foomanchew24]

Sony and Samsung make the best, samsung sells sony its lcd screens so only difference is the actual guts of the tv. I have a samsung but I paid for it. Vizio is a good cheap brand has a nice picture. Be aware for glare as well. Alot of samsung have glare if your in bright rooms, sony is the opposite.(look to see if screen is matte or has a gloss finish) Overall it all depends on how much you want to spend. As far as 720 or 1080 it only matters if you go over 50 inches as you won't be able to tell the difference otherwise. If you are getting less than 50 inch tv 720 is fine, over 50 in and 1080 is recommended. This only matters if the media you are watching is 1080 though.

[Marik]

Because of this thread, I ended up buying the 37 inch version of that Samsung series 5.

[Buffalobiian]

The video doesn't really matter at all, i'm baffled you don't mention your cpu type at all

Why not? Ryou's doing some gaming right? It should help out Vista's Aero interface as well?

I might be wrong about this one, but I've never seen on-board vid with DVI output.

[Ryllharu]

Never buy a TV or flatscreen monitor without going to a store and looking at it. Even if you buy one online, you have to go to a place where you can see how it displays. Some of the ones I've looked at have great reviews, but when I go to a store, they look washed out, or the color auto-adjustment gets so out of wack that it ends up looking like shit.

Flatscreens are personal preference. Buying one without looking at it in real life can be a huge mistake. Most magazines, websites, and other publications will tell you the same thing.

[RyougaZell]

Change of plans... -_-

My VISA expired two months ago and I didn't know... I can't enter the states for now... damn it -___-

Will have to re-new it before thinking of getting the TV... crap...

[itadakimasu]

lol : (

that sucks.

i was going to put my 2 cents in that 32 inch is pretty small. (for a TV) I would suggest minimum 42-50.

I know its not lcd but I got my dad a 50'' samsung slim-DLP for fathersday, gift inspired by how tiny his poor 32'' lcd looked compared to my 50'' and the in-laws 46'' samsung (wall mounted)

[David75]

I know its not lcd but I got my dad a 50'' samsung slim-DLP for fathersday, gift inspired by how tiny his poor 32'' lcd looked compared to my 50'' and the in-laws 46'' samsung (wall mounted)

32" is already a bit huge for a monitor. but then there's the cinema display by apple... but then the resolution/pitch is much better.

Regarding slim-dlp I still have mixed feelings about that. It never impressed me that much.

If you want a 50" display and have bucks, a Pioneer (or their elite brand I think) is a nice way. I've always been impressed by their products.

Back to topic:
I'd go with a 24" monitor with multiple inputs capable of 1:1 scale. The later is important for a PS3.
Then buy a good tuner capable of HD and a nice sound system with multiple input.

Why go 24"?
Well you probably have a small room since you want the screen to be both a TV and a monitor.
Since 32" with 1920*1080 isn't a nice monitor, you have to go down in size.
Hope you don't mind it.
The external tuner and sound system will create a simple TV sound+remote.

So you can use the monitor and sound for the PC, the same for TV.

Maybe you can try 26", but be sure you won't be annoyed by the somewhat large pixels even @ full rez

[itadakimasu]

the 2 major cons of DLP are :

1) can't wall mount it.

2) can suffer alot of glare if you put it in sunny room.


I have a 50'' sony dlp that i got on craigslist for $550, picture is great and we don't have the glare problem in our apartment. My dads though, is in a bright room and at certain angles there is glare.

[RyougaZell]

Nah, my room isn't small. The thing is I bought a CPU without monitor

and above 32" is pass my funds... specially since I still have to import it to Mexico

I'll be presenting my request for the visa renewal tonight... hopefully it won't take long...

[itadakimasu]

hehe... visa renewal : "reason for visit? " "i need to goto bestbuy!"
j/k. all in good fun, we're going through the motions w\ my wife right now.. she just got her work permit a week or 2 ago and got her SS (for work only) on friday.

if 32, i would say go w\ a samsung, i like the sleek piano black design.

[darkshadow]

I only go for LG screens myself, and i've recently replaced my 19" LG crt with a 22" LG flatpanel, only because its a monitor/tv hybrid, I would never just buy a LCD monitor,
Anyway my second choice always goes out to Samsung.
So with that videocard en processor ( laptop? ) i would go for a 720p tv, even though the cpu is strong enough to play 1080p content, it will seriously stuggle playing pc video games.
And with that size, the difference between 720p and 1080p is not much at all.