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TV Cost Analysis Question
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Chicago, Illinois
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Alright tell me if this is worth it:
~$1000 for a 720p 37" LCD TV
~$1200 for a 1080p 37" LCD TV
Is the extra $200+ worth it? Well I really be able to tell the difference and regret this decision later on if I go cheap?
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Last edited by Ghoser777; Oct 16, 2007 at 09:33 PM.
Reason: Forgot dimension)
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Banned
Join Date: Jun 2005
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I have a 37" 720p model that a few TV snobs have mistaken for 1080p. It's the Sony 37" Bravia. I am pleased with it. I watch it from about 10-12' away.
What brands are you looking at?
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Chicago, Illinois
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Oct 2005
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1080p... and for those prices you should be getting at least another 5 inches.
Costco has a 42" Vizio 1080p for $1100, last weekend BestBuy had the 42" Westy 1080p for under $1000 out the door.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Chicago, Illinois
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42 inches is probably going to be a little big. I'm trying to find a 37 inch with 1080p... but they seem a little hard to find.
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Apr 2003
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"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
- Thomas Paine
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jul 2005
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Generally, I find that buying the most expensive/advanced version of a thing you can afford makes good sense, since it'll usually last a little longer before becoming completely obsolete.
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Been inclined to wander... off the beaten track.
That's where there's thunder... and the wind shouts back.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
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Tell me this, other then hi-def DVDs will you be viewing shows in 1080p? From the limited knowledge I've gained regarding hi-def, cable tv does not broadcast at 1080p. I'm not sure about satellite however
Personally I'd get the best tv for my budget and if that means a superior 720p vs. an average 1080p, I'd opt for the 720. Just my $.02
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
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Isn't cable going to switch over to 1080p eventually? Or is it going to be "stuck" at 720p for awhile? I won't be watching that many HiDef movies, and I might later hook one of my macs up to it, but it will be mostly for watching cable.
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Professional Poster
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Can you really tell the difference at only 37"?
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jun 2001
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I'm pretty sure you can't. That's why I'm only getting a 720p TV. Mine will be 42" and watched from 8-9' away. 1080p would essentially be a waste of money for me (although there is definitely that little voice saying that I should spend the extra money to have the biggest number anyway).
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
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Originally Posted by Ghoser777
Isn't cable going to switch over to 1080p eventually? Or is it going to be "stuck" at 720p for awhile? I won't be watching that many HiDef movies, and I might later hook one of my macs up to it, but it will be mostly for watching cable.
Probably but when? You may be getting another tv by the time they decide to upgrade the signal. They seem more interested in adding features and channels rather then upgrade to 1080p. There's only so much bandwidth available and I suspect that the cable companies compress the signals significantly to squeeze everything in as it is. Throw in 1080 and they may not be "squeeze" that in.
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Professional Poster
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Posting Junkie
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Well, if that chart's good, then my choice of TV should be just about perfect.
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Banned
Join Date: Jun 2005
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Originally Posted by wallinbl
Can you really tell the difference at only 37"?
My point exactly. That's why I chose a superior picture regarding color and also factored in number of inputs and image processing.
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Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2001
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Kind of on topic:
Do LCD televisions whine? With a conventional TV (CRT) getting a feed from coaxial cable or S-video, I can always hear a high-pitched noise when the set is on. The whine is less if I use component video cables. I hear the whine on any CRT TV.
Anyone else hear something similar? Have you noticed it on LCD TVs?
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Banned
Join Date: Jun 2005
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Originally Posted by Cold Warrior
Kind of on topic:
Do LCD televisions whine? With a conventional TV (CRT) getting a feed from coaxial cable or S-video, I can always hear a high-pitched noise when the set is on. The whine is less if I use component video cables. I hear the whine on any CRT TV.
Anyone else hear something similar? Have you noticed it on LCD TVs?
I also am annoyed by the whine emitted by most CRTs. My LCD rear-projection has no noticeable whine.
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Jan 2005
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I voted 720p because at 37" I don't think there will be a difference. I honestly cant see one. Also I think this is a decision your eyes need to make, get some 1080p content and see it on both a 720p and 1080p set at 37" see what differences YOU see.
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Clinically Insane
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Originally Posted by MacosNerd
Tell me this, other then hi-def DVDs will you be viewing shows in 1080p? From the limited knowledge I've gained regarding hi-def, cable tv does not broadcast at 1080p. I'm not sure about satellite however
1080p is not a broadcast standard. It's 1080i.
However, 1080p and 1080i are the exact same resolution of 1920x1080 of course, so 1080i can look better on a 1080p TV.
More important though is the quality of the TV and the viewing distance. At a distance of say 8', getting a 1080p 37" TV is a total waste of time and money.
In fact, I did this very test with two Toshiba Regza TVs from 5-6' feet away. At the 42" size, I could only just make out some differences in the text, but everything else looked the same. Considering I was planning on a 9+ foot seating distance for this TV, I went for the MUCH cheaper 720p.
Oh and I got the 720p Regza 42" with 3 HDMI inputs and 24 fps input support for all of $1299.
Originally Posted by nonhuman
I bought a 37" 768p Olevia for my mom. It's OK, but the 42" 720p Toshiba Regza's picture is noticeably better in terms of contrast and detail in the darks.
P.S. With regards to that table...
I'm watching a 720p 88" projector screen image from 8-9 feet. Looks pretty good.
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Last edited by Eug; Oct 17, 2007 at 04:17 PM.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
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So it sounds like at 37 inches, 720p would make the most sense (even though the votes don't actually go that way...). The more I read online about optimal viewing distances, the more confused I get. My viewing distance is between 7 (sectional couch) and 10 ft (bar stools). According to some websites, a 50" would be optimal ( TV Frequently Asked Questions). But according to another website ( LCD TV Suggested Viewing Distance Calculator at DTV City), 37" would work best. I'm leaning towards the 37"... but all these parameters are annoying me.
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Posting Junkie
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Originally Posted by Eug
I bought a 37" 768p Olevia for my mom. It's OK, but the 42" 720p Toshiba Regza's picture is noticeably better in terms of contrast and detail in the darks.
Interesting, I'll check it out. Does the Regza come in silver? (I don't care, but I've been told that only a silver one will go with our living room decor...)
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Dec 2001
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Originally Posted by Ghoser777
So it sounds like at 37 inches, 720p would make the most sense (even though the votes don't actually go that way...). The more I read online about optimal viewing distances, the more confused I get. My viewing distance is between 7 (sectional couch) and 10 ft (bar stools). According to some websites, a 50" would be optimal ( TV Frequently Asked Questions). But according to another website ( LCD TV Suggested Viewing Distance Calculator at DTV City), 37" would work best. I'm leaning towards the 37"... but all these parameters are annoying me.
Find some things around your house that you can make into the size and shape of a 37" TV and put it where your TV goes. Sit in various places and see how it looks.
Also, 720p vs 1080p isn't as big of a deal as picture quality. I have a 1080p, but that's only because when I viewed it right next to the 720p model (same size/manuf), it had much more vivid color and was brighter. The resolution wasn't really a factor.
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Professional Poster
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I think this is the one I'm leaning towards: FRYS.com�|�TOSHIBA
Looks like a good price for the set. Thanks everyone!
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Addicted to MacNN
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Originally Posted by mduell
and for those prices you should be getting at least another 5 inches.
That's what she said.
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Addicted to MacNN
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Originally Posted by Ghoser777
I think this is the one I'm leaning towards: FRYS.com�|�TOSHIBA
Looks like a good price for the set. Thanks everyone!
I am tempted to buy this same TV; however, at Tiger Direct for $799! How do you like the TV now that you've had it for a few months?
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Professional Poster
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I ended up getting my TV from ABT instead of Frys, and they gave me a pretty comparable deal. So far I've had no complaints, and I love the 3 HDMI ports!
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2002
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I have a panasonic plasma from a couple of years back that is only 480p native, but will accept 720, and 1080, and to be perfectly honest, I can't tell the difference between mine and a friends tv that's 1080 native. YMMV of course, but a lot of it has to do with how your screen is calibrated, the quality of the input and most importantly, your viewing distance.
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-How pumped would you be driving home from work, knowing someplace in your house there's a monkey you're gonna battle?
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