And looking for help. It looks like the older topics are over 90 days old, and I've read some stuff in those threads. People, I'm worse than your grandparents when it comes to TVs - I'm still on rabbit ears.

So, I'm looking for a decent LCD TV to replace our extremely unreliable standard def TV. It has to fit in a cabinet, so here's the absolutes:

1) 32". Can't go bigger, rather not go smaller.
2) I don't know the difference 720p vs 1080i. You're speaking a foreign language. Layman's terms. Resolution? FPS? Would it even make a difference on a set as small as 32"
3) I'd rather not break the bank. I'm poor.
4) Where to buy. I'd like to avoid BestBuy, would one of the membership clubs be ok? B.J.'s, Costco, etc. Maybe even sit and wait for a coupon to come down.
5) I refuse to buy Phillips. Phillips can die in a fire.

EDIT: Oh, I should add. This will be hooked up to a computer. See rabbit ears comment. That's my workaround to the no cable/satellite issue. Man it will be nice to get out of 640x480 resolution!

[Edited on September 9, 2009 at 2:30 PM. Reason : -]

9/9/2009 2:23:03 PM

32" toshiba 720p LCD for $308 with free shipping

http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?t=1546907

[Edited on September 9, 2009 at 2:30 PM. Reason : aha, my bad, it's dead]

9/9/2009 2:29:39 PM

from what i remember, you won't be able to tell a difference under 50". i would still go 1080p if you find a deal. you can go to wiki and read the difference b/w interlace & progressive scan.

discount clubs are a great place to buy a tv, esp b/c of their return policies.

get a plasma. blacks are darker, colors are better, motion isn't all retarded. panasonic

[Edited on September 9, 2009 at 2:35 PM. Reason : ]

9/9/2009 2:34:52 PM

Quote :

"i would still go 1080p if you find a deal."

unless he's using it as a computer monitor (sitting 3 feet or less from the screen), 1080p will be utterly wasted

9/9/2009 2:39:57 PM

if it came down to getting 1080p at one place for the same price as 720p at another, why not??

i said a deal

9/9/2009 2:41:21 PM

Quote :

" get a plasma. blacks are darker, colors are better, motion isn't all retarded. panasonic"

do they even make 32" plasmas?

9/9/2009 2:41:45 PM

Quote :

"if it came down to getting 1080p at one place for the same price as 720p at another, why not?? i said a deal"

that won't happen, though...obviously, get the better television if everything else is equal, but 1080p is a HUGE waste on a 32" television UNLESS he's going to be right next to it...if he's using it as a television in a living room, 1080p on a 32" serves no purpose

Quote :

"do they even make 32" plasmas?"

no...i THINK the smallest is 42"

[Edited on September 9, 2009 at 2:43 PM. Reason : .]

9/9/2009 2:43:07 PM

didn't know that. i've never looked at anything smaller than 42. that's a good reason to get lcd then.

9/9/2009 2:45:50 PM

There are plenty of 32" plasma's. Vizio, phillips and Sony all make one.

Although 42" is def the most "common" size on the small end

link: http://www.google.com/products?q=32%22%20plasma&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wf

[Edited on September 9, 2009 at 2:46 PM. Reason : a]

9/9/2009 2:46:06 PM

^ haha, the LG is $600, the vizio is $500, the philips is nearly $2k and the sony is nearly $4k

i think you'd be hard-pressed to find a 32" plasma locally...not impossible, i'm sure, just very very uncommon (though i really did think they didn't make them that small...THE MORE YOU KNOW)

9/9/2009 3:02:04 PM

Yeah, this would be a for a living room. Used for (in order) DVDs, streamed shows over the internet, broadcast TV, lastly games - until I upgrade the computer that's hooked up to the TV, which is years out.

So yeah, no plans on being within 3' of the thing.

Here's a quick scan on BJ's site:
http://tinyurl.com/nhytpo

[Edited on September 9, 2009 at 3:25 PM. Reason : -]

9/9/2009 3:23:08 PM

^ the link you posted is to a 37" unit

9/9/2009 3:26:58 PM

Yeah, I thought I was clicking on a Samsung model as well. I've seen one bad review for that model, that coupled with a brand I haven't heard of has warned me off.

Just measured the cabinet. 35.5" wide.

[Edited on September 9, 2009 at 3:30 PM. Reason : -]

9/9/2009 3:28:20 PM

here's one for $450 with free shipping (and from newegg!)...IIRC, westinghouse and toshiba are one and the same: http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16889234042

9/9/2009 3:29:07 PM

Quote :

"haha, the LG is $600, the vizio is $500, the philips is nearly $2k and the sony is nearly $4k i think you'd be hard-pressed to find a 32" plasma locally...not impossible, i'm sure, just very very uncommon (though i really did think they didn't make them that small...THE MORE YOU KNOW)"

haha..yea, def not worth getting one. 42" is cheaper.. or at least about the same

9/9/2009 4:15:16 PM

Moved surprisingly quick on this one (for me). I went ahead and got a Samsung 32" 540. It was on sale at BJs. $470.

[Edited on September 9, 2009 at 5:56 PM. Reason : -]

9/9/2009 5:56:31 PM

the 32" vizio goes on sale for 330-350 all the time.

9/9/2009 8:10:04 PM

DO NOT EVER BUY A WESTINGHOUSE TV. JUST SEARCH THE INTERNET FO THE NEVER-ENDING HORROR STORIES

An example: http://briancarper.net/blog/westinghouse-behind-the-scenes-the-horrors-of-a-call-center

9/9/2009 8:57:09 PM

sony stopped making plasmas years ago.they are all "backordered" bc they don't make em anymore. this is a HUGE reason lcds outsell plasmas, not bc they are better but bc of the lack of choices below 42". he said no phillips so that leaves vizio who makes a decent tv for the $ . prices on the 32" plasma vs lcd should be close. it will boil down to better colors,blacks, viewing angle(plasma) vs. less Image retention, and power consumption(lcd)

i'd scrap the cabinet and go bigger than 32" if it's used for anything other than video. my htpc is connected to my 32" 720psamsung at 1368x768 i have to sit 3ft away to read text so i couldn't imagine attempting to do it@ 1080p on a 32" across a living room.

what exactly is your budget? for a little more than most 32"s you may be able to snag a 42" plasma or a huge used projection.

9/9/2009 9:40:07 PM