Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

macfantn · Nov 4, 2008, 07:20 PM

Is this a pretty good buy? should I hold out til Black Friday and see if I can find a better deal?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1218011400290

Rumor · Nov 4, 2008, 07:29 PM

Didn't you buy one months ago?

macfantn · Nov 4, 2008, 08:31 PM

never ended up buying one, had some unexpected bills to take care of. Plus I wanted to wait for prices to drop and my current tv has such bad burn in it's time for a new one.

alligator · Nov 4, 2008, 08:35 PM

If you are buying a large item that costs a lot of money, read the reviews first. Best Buy only has two reviews at this time on this TV. Do the research, then make a decision whether you can find something better or more desirable in that price range. Waiting for black Friday is stupid - they never discount the best items and if they do, they don't make enough of them available to walk away that day with what you want.

olePigeon · Nov 4, 2008, 11:11 PM

I can tell you my 32" Toshiba completely sucked.

goMac · Nov 5, 2008, 01:54 AM

I would pay just a little more (or maybe the same) for a Samsung LCD.

You can also get a Panasonic 42" 1080p Plasma for $900 these days.

All in all that's not really a great deal.

macfantn · Nov 5, 2008, 06:31 AM

does plasma still suffer burn in issues?

SSharon · Nov 5, 2008, 11:16 AM

When you guys buy an LCD how many years do you expect it to last?
So far I have been happy with my Olevia TV, but it is only 18 months old so who knows what the future will bring.

goMac · Nov 5, 2008, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by macfantn

does plasma still suffer burn in issues?

No.

Rumor · Nov 5, 2008, 02:33 PM

Check out various sites for consumer feedback, do your research, and narrow down your options.

It would be easier for people to give you solid advice if you put forth several different models.

goMac · Nov 5, 2008, 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by SSharon

When you guys buy an LCD how many years do you expect it to last?
So far I have been happy with my Olevia TV, but it is only 18 months old so who knows what the future will bring.

I'm hoping to replace my LCD after 5 years.

In all honesty, you could probably keep an LCD going for much longer, but realistically I know the backlight is going to get dimmer and dimmer over time.

Jawbone54 · Nov 5, 2008, 06:07 PM

Hate Toshibas.

I actually saw a Vizio 42" 1080p 3,000:1 for $849 yesterday. We have a 32" 720p Vizio in our office, and it's a great screen.

goMac · Nov 5, 2008, 11:08 PM

Originally Posted by Jawbone54

Hate Toshibas.

I actually saw a Vizio 42" 1080p 3,000:1 for $849 yesterday. We have a 32" 720p Vizio in our office, and it's a great screen.

Costco has a Panasonic 42" Plasma that is 1080p with a 30,000:1 contrast ratio for $900 right now.

Eug · Nov 5, 2008, 11:24 PM

Originally Posted by macfantn

does plasma still suffer burn in issues?

A lot of people will tell you no, but my local shop says they still get rare complaints of burn-in from gamers.

It's much less common than before, but it still happens.

Originally Posted by goMac

In all honesty, you could probably keep an LCD going for much longer, but realistically I know the backlight is going to get dimmer and dimmer over time.

I hope you don't actually watch your LCD at anywhere near maximum brightness.

goMac · Nov 5, 2008, 11:29 PM

Originally Posted by Eug

I hope you don't actually watch your LCD at anywhere near maximum brightness.

I don't, but my LCD's a few years old, so if I turn it down all the way, blacks look good, but most other colors are awful.

It was also a floor model (so the lamp has had some extra time on it), and it still cost me over $2k at the time...

Eug · Nov 5, 2008, 11:38 PM

What TV do you have?

Truly "good" blacks in LCDs are extremely rare, and they're just in recent times (reportedly). I've seen $$$$ LCDs from a couple of years ago which were claimed to have good blacks, and IMO they looked mediocre at best. But then again I'm biased because my last HD TV (before I went 100% LCD for my 3 setups) was a CRT. That's what I call black level... It's unfortunate SED is dead.

goMac · Nov 5, 2008, 11:43 PM

Originally Posted by eug

what tv do you have?

Truly "good" blacks in lcds are extremely rare, and they're just in recent times (reportedly). I've seen $$$$ lcds from a couple of years ago which were claimed to have good blacks, and imo they looked mediocre at best. But then again i'm biased because my last hd tv (before i went 100% lcd for my 3 setups) was a crt. That's what i call black level... It's unfortunate sed is dead.

ln-s4096

Jawbone54 · Nov 6, 2008, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by goMac

Costco has a Panasonic 42" Plasma that is 1080p with a 30,000:1 contrast ratio for $900 right now.

Yet another reason that I wish we had Costcos around here.

Dakar V · Nov 6, 2008, 10:45 AM

I think you guys are underestimated macfan's ability to induce burn-in.

Eug · Nov 6, 2008, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by Dakar V

I think you guys are underestimated macfan's ability to induce burn-in.

Is he a heavy gamer?

BTW, IIRC the complaints of burn-in that the guy was talking about was in the situation where you've got items on screen that never change (eg. HUD in a video game or something) and then the thing is left on for many, many hours or even days at a time.

One scenario is someone playing a game, gets tired, then goes to bed without shutting off the game.
Another scenario is someone playing a first person shooter day and night for a couple of days, without watching some TV in between.

Laminar · Nov 6, 2008, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by Dakar V

I think you guys are underestimated macfan's ability to induce burn-in.

It's second only to his ability to create ridiculous, inane threads.

Dakar V · Nov 6, 2008, 11:00 AM

He was watching everything pillarboxed.

But my comment was more directed at his perceived intellect.

Dakar V · Nov 6, 2008, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by Laminar

It's second only to his ability to create ridiculous, inane threads.

Which is second to his inability to understand how pricing works (you have to pay ****ing money to get cool things)

Eug · Nov 6, 2008, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by Dakar V

He was watching everything pillarboxed.

Ah I see. I guess it depends on how long he leaves everything pillarboxed, and what colour the bars are. Grey pillarboxes can reduce the issue (but look ugly).

With my setup it's not an issue, because the channels range from widescreen to non-widescreen. However, then again, my HD channels don't cost me extra compared to standard definition cable. The non-specialty HD channels are included for "free", assuming you already have the HD cable box.

(Actually, even if they weren't, it wouldn't be an issue for me, since my TVs are now all LCD anyway.)

Railroader · Nov 6, 2008, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by Laminar

It's second only to his ability to create ridiculous, inane threads.

I am glad I am not the only one to comment on this. Also, he rarely comes back in and posts in a thread he creates.

Laminar · Nov 6, 2008, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by Railroader

I am glad I am not the only one to comment on this. Also, he rarely comes back in and posts in a thread he creates.

I feel like that's more of a blessing than anything.

Dakar V · Nov 6, 2008, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by Railroader

I am glad I am not the only one to comment on this. Also, he rarely comes back in and posts in a thread he creates.

We've been saying that for over a year. He also doesn't post much outside his own threads.

Originally Posted by Laminar

I feel like that's more of a blessing than anything.

BA-****ing-ZING

Railroader · Nov 6, 2008, 11:25 AM

And always about jobs/pay, consumer electronics, or cable/TV service.

Dakar V · Nov 6, 2008, 11:26 AM

The best part is I thought he was like 19, but it turns out he's in his 30s.

Railroader · Nov 7, 2008, 11:37 AM

Yowza! He's old, like me!

macfantn · Nov 7, 2008, 07:58 PM

i love to post in my own posts

Railroader · Nov 8, 2008, 01:45 AM

No you don't.

Dakar V · Nov 8, 2008, 01:57 AM

Threads. I love to post in my own threads.

Jesus.

Stogieman · Nov 8, 2008, 02:23 AM

Originally Posted by Dakar V

Thread's. I love to post in my own thread's.

Jesus.

Fixed.

Railroader · Nov 8, 2008, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by Stogieman

Fixed™.

MariM · Nov 19, 2008, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by Jawbone54

Hate Toshibas.

I actually saw a Vizio 42" 1080p 3,000:1 for $849 yesterday. We have a 32" 720p Vizio in our office, and it's a great screen.

I agree, picked up a Vizio SV420XVT for around $900 at Costco a couple of months ago and the picture quality is incredible. It did require a little tweaking, but nothing too bad. I was glad to see CR "best electronics" ratings this month seemed to like it too. The technology they're putting out right now just can't be beat in terms of price (check out their VP505XVT on EngadgetHD, so greedy - I want it - 1080p, 120HZ, hqv processing and trusurround hd).

Person Man · Nov 19, 2008, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by Railroader

Yowza! He's old, like me!

Since when was being in our 30s old???

Dakar V · Nov 19, 2008, 11:54 AM

30 is the the new 40.

Railroader · Nov 19, 2008, 04:02 PM

Originally Posted by Person Man

Since when was being in our 30s old???

Just pandering to the children on here under 30.

macfantn · Nov 22, 2008, 12:22 PM

okay i think i've narrowed it down to this one

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Samsu...oductDetail.do

i don't feel like the 120hz is worth the big jump in price. Anyone have any better recommendations?

Stogieman · Nov 22, 2008, 02:58 PM

The Samsung model you linked is the LN40A530. I have the model just above it, LN40A550. I love it. The only real difference I see between the two models is the 550 has a 30,000:1 contrast ratio over the 530's 20,000:1. Right now Amazon has the LN40A550 for $958 with free shipping.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001418W2C?...outThisProduct