Best Flat Screen Under $1k

[atomicAdam]

Hey - so - i'm thinking about going the way of the evil TV and getting a flat screen and Wii.

I was in Best Buy just looking around and realized I really know nothing about TVs.

I know there are people on here that do, so, please give the suggestions.

Criteria:
Larger is better.
good deep blacks are great but I want detail in the blacks
cheaper is better

I know this will irk some on here, but from what I've seen in the stores I tend to like the richness in color of plasma more than LCD - but just from what i've seen in the stores.

thanks

[pixelthis]

Well, I saw a 50" plasma at either best buy or HHGREG in the salespapers.
800 bucks
Probably 720p.
LED lcd is inching closer to the grand barrier, meanwhile.
I would wait until the next crash(coming soon to a stock market near you)
and then you could pick one up for butterbeans.:1:

(really, I AM SERIOUS, actual butterbeans)

[atomicAdam]

http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/s/st/stevefe/384510_butter_beans.jpg

I'll take my LCD now. Thanks.

Yeah, you might have a good point. Wait a couple more months and see.

Now here is the thing. I'm probably going to use it for movies at times. But mainly for Wii. I want one that can be hooked up to a computer so I can stream NetFlix or just play a DVD off the computer. Issues with that? I'm pretty sure my laptop can do 1600x1200 but if that is too small for a large LCD I can start back up my desktop which has some a year old but damn good graphics card in it.

[Woochifer]

You picked the wrong time to shop for a TV. The best bargains usually happen in January after the holidays and before the Super Bowl. At that time, I was seeing 50" 1080p Panasonic and Samsung plasmas going for under $900, and even 54" models for close to $1,200. A lot of inventory moved, and stores tend to sell out of the most popular models and not have much available in February. You can wait until stores get restocked, but you won't see the outrageously low prices until those models start going on closeout. A lot of TVs get closed out around the late spring or during the summer when the newer models announced at CES begin arriving in stores.

Right now, you're not seeing a lot of price movement except in the much larger screen sizes. I just checked Costco's website. Nothing available at the 50" screen size, and only one 52" LCD model going for $1,500, and a 55" Proscan model at $1,300.

Looking at Best Buy's current ad, they have a clearance price on a 1080p 50" plasma for about $1,000. That might be what you're looking for, but it also might be about $100 more than some stores' sales prices from month ago. Still worth looking into.

Samsung makes a very nice plasma set, and some experienced viewers like the Samsungs' color rendering better than the Pannys. And in my experience, the entry level Samsungs give you a little bit more control over the calibration levels than the Pannys. In my viewings, I thought the Pannys had a more vivid and lifelike picture overall, which is why I went with one.

[atomicAdam]

Thanks Wooch -

Maybe I can hold out till spring/summer. Seeing as I've not had a "TV" in about...oh...um...dang....it has been awhile, like, no seriously, I'm not trying to drag this out, I'm really thinking, suppose I should stop typing and think, ok...it's been 10 years since I had a "TV".

Now granted, there were times in those past 10 years that I had something like 11 computers in my house (remember when LAN parties where the ****?) so I haven't been "w/o media".

Ok, well, I can wait a bit longer. According to they guy at best buy getting a Wii at this time is about as likely as dying in a plane crash.

[audio amateur]

You can get a high def projector for under a grand. That's what I would recommend.

[Worf101]

Thanks Wooch -

Maybe I can hold out till spring/summer. Seeing as I've not had a "TV" in about...oh...um...dang....it has been awhile, like, no seriously, I'm not trying to drag this out, I'm really thinking, suppose I should stop typing and think, ok...it's been 10 years since I had a "TV".

Now granted, there were times in those past 10 years that I had something like 11 computers in my house (remember when LAN parties where the ****?) so I haven't been "w/o media".

Ok, well, I can wait a bit longer. According to they guy at best buy getting a Wii at this time is about as likely as dying in a plane crash.
My respect for you just jumped about 10 feet. Anyone that can live without the glass teet for that long I have to tip my cap too. Amazing, it's every where in its Orwellian omniprescence. How you could avoid the all seeing eye for so long is remarkable.

Worf

[pixelthis]

Thanks Wooch -

Maybe I can hold out till spring/summer. Seeing as I've not had a "TV" in about...oh...um...dang....it has been awhile, like, no seriously, I'm not trying to drag this out, I'm really thinking, suppose I should stop typing and think, ok...it's been 10 years since I had a "TV".

Now granted, there were times in those past 10 years that I had something like 11 computers in my house (remember when LAN parties where the ****?) so I haven't been "w/o media".

Ok, well, I can wait a bit longer. According to they guy at best buy getting a Wii at this time is about as likely as dying in a plane crash.

Dont know what hes talking bout.
On FOX BUSINESS they were talking about how video game sales (even wii) were down 13% in January.
Summer wont be a good time, because, according to the prognosticators what little
free cash you have (if any) will go towards ammo and food.
AND YOUR FREE TIME will be spent in running battles with masses of starving peeps.
SO get that NEW TV while the gettings good.
The apocalypse will look cool in 1080P.:1:

[captjamo]

:yesnod: RIse all you Vizio haters. But I think the 47" true LED backlit 240hz LCD selling at Sam's for 1138.00 is the best deal around.

[harley .guy07]

I will put my vote in for the Samsung LCD. They have several models under a grand. I just picked up a Samsung 46" LED and love it. I have been studying tv's for the last 6 months finding out which one was for me. And to go with it I ordered the OPPO BDP-83 and it is on its way to my house right now.

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

:yesnod: RIse all you Vizio haters. But I think the 47" true LED backlit 240hz LCD selling at Sam's for 1138.00 is the best deal around.

He wants good detailed blacks which knocks the Vizio out of the universe.

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

Dont know what hes talking bout.
On FOX BUSINESS they were talking about how video game sales (even wii) were down 13% in January.
Summer wont be a good time, because, according to the prognosticators what little
free cash you have (if any) will go towards ammo and food.
AND YOUR FREE TIME will be spent in running battles with masses of starving peeps.
SO get that NEW TV while the gettings good.
The apocalypse will look cool in 1080P.:1:

Please hold the apocalyptic Fox news predictions please, he needs a television not a paranoid rant.

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

Adam,
I am with Wooch on this one. This is not the right time to be looking for a set. That work should have been done around Christmas or after the New Year. It is better to wait till the summer or fall when discounts on the good brand name sets are widespread.

[Smokey]

I will put my vote in for the Samsung LCD. They have several models under a grand. I just picked up a Samsung 46" LED and love it.

I agree :)

Samsung seem to be consistent in providing the best blacks among its LCD peers. And they also allow viewer to access TV's color temperature settings so it can be calibrated to ISF specifications (6500k). Most TVs will not allow users to tweek those parameters unless you are a TV technician.

[pixelthis]

Please hold the apocalyptic Fox news predictions please, he needs a television not a paranoid rant.

Your left wing bias is showing.
The Amarican psychiatric association has declared that Paranoia is
no longer a mental illness.
The govt is out to get you.:1:

[atomicAdam]

Thanks guys for the feed back.

Sorry not responded since I opened the thread, we had inspections this week and for the past two weeks we've been going crazy getting things ready.

It is pretty easy to go w/o a TV in these day Woof. I don't even really have time right now to watch a full movie, let alone a TV series.

I would really like some Wii bowling though.

I saw a Samsung at some dudes apt this past week during inspections. Damn thing was like an inch thick. Was amazing. Said it is on sale for $1200 something at this point. I didn't have time to check out the image really, but the form factor sure looked good.

Anyways, thank, I'll wait till summer and check out the samsung models then.