Author Topic: I wanna buy a new tv.  (Read 6164 times)

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Offline djones520

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I wanna buy a new tv.
« on: June 06, 2009, 07:33:22 PM »
But I'm not really sure what to be looking for.

I'm hunting for 40+" LCD TV for less then $1k.  There easy enough to find, but their all mostly korean tv's, and after my last peice of Korean tech, I'm not dropping that kind of money on them again.  So I've found an RCA brand 42" for $700 at walmart.com.  I don't know what I should be looking for on it though.

It's got a 1980x1020 resolution. 
1300:1 contrast ratio. 
178 degree viewing angle. 
500 cd/m2 brightness

So how does this stack up?  If it sucks, what should I be looking for?
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Offline Chris

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Re: I wanna buy a new tv.
« Reply #1 on: June 06, 2009, 07:58:08 PM »
I think you should be able to plug those specs in at NewEgg.com and get a list of similar models.  Looks okay to me, but my TV is ten years old. :-)
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Offline thundley4

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Re: I wanna buy a new tv.
« Reply #2 on: June 06, 2009, 08:02:51 PM »
I only found 1review of that particular model.  http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1504819/rca_42_lcd_hdtv_review_budget_doesnt.html

That is besides the reviews on Wamarts site.  Take a good look at the available inputs and make sure there are sufficient ones to meet your needs, i.e. dvd palyer, satellite/cable etc.

Offline djones520

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Re: I wanna buy a new tv.
« Reply #3 on: June 06, 2009, 08:07:15 PM »
I only found 1review of that particular model.  http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1504819/rca_42_lcd_hdtv_review_budget_doesnt.html

That is besides the reviews on Wamarts site.  Take a good look at the available inputs and make sure there are sufficient ones to meet your needs, i.e. dvd palyer, satellite/cable etc.

I have an external VGA input device.  I can plug 4 seperate devices into it, so i'm not concerned about how many the TV may have.  Thanks for finding that review though.

The vast majority on Walmart where good, and that instills me with a bit of faith.
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Offline RobJohnson

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Re: I wanna buy a new tv.
« Reply #4 on: June 07, 2009, 02:01:04 AM »
But I'm not really sure what to be looking for.

I'm hunting for 40+" LCD TV for less then $1k.  There easy enough to find, but their all mostly korean tv's, and after my last peice of Korean tech, I'm not dropping that kind of money on them again.  So I've found an RCA brand 42" for $700 at walmart.com.  I don't know what I should be looking for on it though.

It's got a 1980x1020 resolution. 
1300:1 contrast ratio. 
178 degree viewing angle. 
500 cd/m2 brightness

So how does this stack up?  If it sucks, what should I be looking for?

I'm sure that TV would be fine, and that seems like a great price.

I bought a 40" Phillips HDTV in 2007. I have not even plugged it in since I moved to Nevada a year ago. It wont fit into my built in wall entertainment center in my living room, and it's sitting on my bedroom dresser.

There are no free off air HD channels in my town. Network staions are bounced over the moutnain from Vegas using UHF.

The reason I have not plugged in the TV is that I cant find the cord after my move, it's here somewhere.  :-)

Offline Wayne

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Re: I wanna buy a new tv.
« Reply #5 on: June 07, 2009, 07:37:53 AM »
  I have a 52" JVC in the downstairs living room and a 32" vizio in the master bedroom. The 52" is about 3 years old . The pic is great on both sets on Dish but the big screen is Noisy.. It has a cooling fan thats run in the back ground but you cant hear it when there is sound on.. During lulls some times the noise comes through. 

   The upstairs set is new from Walmart and I am VERY happy with it..Tv's are like computers in that the technology is new about every 6 months. You can hardly go wrong with any of todays TVs..

Offline Thor

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Re: I wanna buy a new tv.
« Reply #6 on: June 07, 2009, 12:58:51 PM »
The contrast ratio on that RCA TV sucks. The higher, the better. I'm sure there are better products out there. I prefer Samsung & Sony, myself. Sony tends to be a bit  pricier. Look for last year's models, etc.
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Offline Ree

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Re: I wanna buy a new tv.
« Reply #7 on: June 07, 2009, 01:24:50 PM »
  I have a 52" JVC in the downstairs living room and a 32" vizio in the master bedroom. The 52" is about 3 years old . The pic is great on both sets on Dish but the big screen is Noisy.. It has a cooling fan thats run in the back ground but you cant hear it when there is sound on.. During lulls some times the noise comes through. 

   The upstairs set is new from Walmart and I am VERY happy with it..Tv's are like computers in that the technology is new about every 6 months. You can hardly go wrong with any of todays TVs..
We have the 32" Vizio from Wally World and love it...
In Tennessee. I came down here to get warm,froze my arse off since I got here..
Just my luck... ;-P

Offline djones520

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Re: I wanna buy a new tv.
« Reply #8 on: June 07, 2009, 02:58:23 PM »
We bought the one I was looking at.  Lots of great reviews, very few bad ones.  The price was right.  I'm sure I'll be happy with it.  Thanks for the help folks.
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Offline NHSparky

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Re: I wanna buy a new tv.
« Reply #9 on: June 07, 2009, 03:20:00 PM »
Now you just have to get an HD coverter from the cable company.  Ah, ain't it wonderful?
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Offline RobJohnson

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Re: I wanna buy a new tv.
« Reply #10 on: June 07, 2009, 04:46:54 PM »
We have the 32" Vizio from Wally World and love it...

yeah, I have a couple of those also, gave one to my mom she loves it

Offline djones520

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Re: I wanna buy a new tv.
« Reply #11 on: June 07, 2009, 10:13:18 PM »
Sams club had a 32" Vizio for sale for $400 this weekend.  Thats what got me thinking about buying one.  But I saw the 42" and figured it was worth spending that much money.  I don't get the folks who spend $1600 on 56" tv's though.  Thats nuts.
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Offline Chris

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Re: I wanna buy a new tv.
« Reply #12 on: June 07, 2009, 10:20:25 PM »
Sams club had a 32" Vizio for sale for $400 this weekend.  Thats what got me thinking about buying one.  But I saw the 42" and figured it was worth spending that much money.  I don't get the folks who spend $1600 on 56" tv's though.  Thats nuts.
My parents bought one when they were new and spent a lot more than that (it's been a few years).  It's a damn nice TV, though.
« Last Edit: June 07, 2009, 10:24:32 PM by Chris »
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Offline RobJohnson

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Re: I wanna buy a new tv.
« Reply #13 on: June 07, 2009, 11:40:44 PM »
Sams club had a 32" Vizio for sale for $400 this weekend.  Thats what got me thinking about buying one.  But I saw the 42" and figured it was worth spending that much money.  I don't get the folks who spend $1600 on 56" tv's though.  Thats nuts.

2 years ago that is about what I spent on one that was alot smaller, no regrets, as I really needed a new TV at the time, and had just won $3000 on a slot machine in Bettendorf, Ia.

I remember growing up, in the late 70's/early 80's you would spend over $400 for a 19" color tv, with no remote...

« Last Edit: June 07, 2009, 11:42:24 PM by RobJohnson »

Offline Wayne

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Re: I wanna buy a new tv.
« Reply #14 on: June 08, 2009, 04:54:45 AM »
My 52" cost $2700 with tax ,  extended warranty and a stand.. Today that same TV is under 1800..  But dont wait .. :-)

Offline RobJohnson

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Re: I wanna buy a new tv.
« Reply #15 on: June 11, 2009, 09:57:59 AM »
My 52" cost $2700 with tax ,  extended warranty and a stand.. Today that same TV is under 1800..  But dont wait .. :-)

I remember seeing some TV's back in 1999 to 2000 selling for $12,000....people were making car sized payments on them!

Offline Ree

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Re: I wanna buy a new tv.
« Reply #16 on: July 27, 2009, 07:24:59 PM »
We have the 32" Vizio from Wally World and love it...
DO NOT BUY A VIZIO...Customer service is worse than MS...
I now have a big black $500 paperweight. It's only 8 months old..
In Tennessee. I came down here to get warm,froze my arse off since I got here..
Just my luck... ;-P

Offline Wayne

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Re: I wanna buy a new tv.
« Reply #17 on: July 28, 2009, 06:56:48 AM »
uh oh!!!!!!!!!!!!

Offline Gratiot

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Re: I wanna buy a new tv.
« Reply #18 on: September 15, 2009, 04:54:11 PM »
I remember seeing some TV's back in 1999 to 2000 selling for $12,000....people were making car sized payments on them!

There are still TV's in the $10k+ category for the fanatics.  Of course they're not being sold in Best Buys and the like, unlike the early $5-12k plasmas.

Offline RightCoast

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Re: I wanna buy a new tv.
« Reply #19 on: September 15, 2009, 06:11:42 PM »
Not that it means much now but our main tv is a 32 inch RCA that's at least 14 years old and still going pretty strong.
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Offline Lleu

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Re: I wanna buy a new tv.
« Reply #20 on: September 21, 2009, 05:10:48 PM »
DO NOT BUY A VIZIO...Customer service is worse than MS...
I now have a big black $500 paperweight. It's only 8 months old..

Ouch... Mine is 2.5 years old and it's been great so far.  Although recently it's been going black and freezing to the point that I have to unplug it....

Offline RightCoast

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Re: I wanna buy a new tv.
« Reply #21 on: September 21, 2009, 09:29:42 PM »
Not that it means much now but our main tv is a 32 inch RCA that's at least 14 years old and still going pretty strong.

Yup. It died, literally 4 days after this post. Looks like a 42" LG LCD is going to replace it. $899, 1080p, 240Hz. 
nine eleven is a car
nine one one is an emergency service
September 11, 2001 was an attack
Never Forget, or Minimize.