THE BORE
General => The Superdeep Borehole => Topic started by: Ecrofirt on December 08, 2008, 11:26:07 PM
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I've still been toying with the idea of what to buy with my Dell $100 gift card. (http://www.evilbore.com/forum/index.php?topic=24991.0) Now they've got this 12 days of Dell thing going on, so there might be a good deal in there somewhere. I missed the first few days, so I hope I didn't miss anything good :(
Anyhow, I've decided I want to purchase things in the $500 - $600 and below range. Because, hey, I'm saving for a house and shouldn't blow that much as it is. And since I'm saving for a house, and I really can't justify a new PC purchase (unless one of you guys can find me something fantastic in that price range. And if you can, please do!), I've decided an HDTV might be a good buy.
That price range effectively straps me into the 30-40" market, depending on the brand I choose to buy. This is where things get interesting, and it's where I need some help.
Vizio has some *ok* starter HDTVs in that price range. Hell, they even have a 37" 1080p HDTV (http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Video_Conferencing/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A2054816) that's going to be on sale tomorrow (hopefully within my price range!).
Here's where I've got some questions.
1) Should I care about 1080p at that size? I figure that even if I won't notice a difference in picture, it'd be better to have a full 1080p TV just for content's sake.
And let's suppose you all push me AWAY from the 1080p stuff for that size.
2) Would it be better to get a smaller 32" or so TV with somewhat better picture quality, or would it be better to get something a bit bigger at the cost of somewhat worse picture?
For reference, here's Dell's HDTV page:
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/category.aspx?c=us&category_id=5914&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~ck=mn
And here's there 30-34 inch page:
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/category.aspx?c=us&category_id=5930&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs
And here's their 35-39 inch page:
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/category.aspx?c=us&category_id=5928&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs
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i have a 19" hdtv LOL im so poor :'(
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This looks like a winner for your price range:
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Video_Conferencing/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A1982697
1. I have a 1080p 40" Bravia, and I can't tell the difference between 720p and 1080p on that screen size.
2. Bigger is more immersive for me. I'd spend the extra bucks and get a rear projection set if I were you. They offer the best bang for your buck.
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samsung sony or no set
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AND ANOTHER THING
Why the hell are some 720p TVs actually displaying 1366x768, when 720p is 1280x720? Doesn't that blow up the picture slightly? That sounds yucky fucky.
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do not even consider a 720p set
realtalk protip etc etc
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I say go as big as you can with the money you plan to spend. That's if you plan on using it in the living room of our home, though. If it's gonna be a bedroom TV I think small and sharp is the best way to go. But I have a small TV so I think you should get a big one.
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I say go as big as you can with the money you plan to spend. That's if you plan on using it in the living room of our home, though. If it's gonna be a bedroom TV I think small and sharp is the best way to go. But I have a small TV so I think you should get a big one.
don't you two live together?!
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I say go as big as you can with the money you plan to spend. That's if you plan on using it in the living room of our home, though. If it's gonna be a bedroom TV I think small and sharp is the best way to go. But I have a small TV so I think you should get a big one.
don't you two live together?!
Nope, we're engaged but we each live with our parents. We're saving for a house together.
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I say go as big as you can with the money you plan to spend. That's if you plan on using it in the living room of our home, though. If it's gonna be a bedroom TV I think small and sharp is the best way to go. But I have a small TV so I think you should get a big one.
don't you two live together?!
Nope, we're engaged but we each live with our parents. We're saving for a house together.
ill roomie wit you guys :-*
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ill roomie wit you guys :-*
Do you like cats? It's a requirement, as I don't go anywhere without this pretty girl:
(http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd293/xnikki118xatlj/pics/melanie/HPIM1592b.jpg)
;)
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your cat looks like a jerk
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all cats are jerks
FACT
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OMGWTFBBQ?!? I'll just pretend you never said that and we can still be friends. :)
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fukkin A, this thread is about TVs.
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your cat looks like a jerk
:rofl
Anyway, as to HDTVs:
1) Personally, I'd go for a 720p 42" over a 1080p 32" any day for example. It's really only at 50" that 1080p becomes more relevant (depending on seating distance of course). I have a 720p 50" plasma, and because I sit about 11 feet from it, 1080p is of little benefit. Resolution is one element of picture quality, but to me it's a relatively unimportant one compared many other elements.
2) Whether you sacrifice quality for size is probably a personal choice. I have trouble dealing with poor black levels for example, so would choose a 37" TV with great black levels over a 42" with rubbish black levels.
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but with 1080p you dont get the most out of bluray
i could be wrong
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but with 1080p you dont get the most out of bluray
i could be wrong
No Bluray player, and probably not for a while I'd imagine.
your cat looks like a jerk
:rofl
Anyway, as to HDTVs:
1) Personally, I'd go for a 720p 42" over a 1080p 32" any day for example. It's really only at 50" that 1080p becomes more relevant (depending on seating distance of course). I have a 720p 50" plasma, and because I sit about 11 feet from it, 1080p is of little benefit. Resolution is one element of picture quality, but to me it's a relatively unimportant one compared many other elements.
2) Whether you sacrifice quality for size is probably a personal choice. I have trouble dealing with poor black levels for example, so would choose a 37" TV with great black levels over a 42" with rubbish black levels.
I'm learning from this thread. Black levels? What?
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fail.
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wait a minute! you guys don't have a ps3?!?!? :maf
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wait a minute! you guys don't have a ps3?!?!? :maf
That would be a colossal waste of dough. I don't play games any more. I've got a launch 360 that's been at my friend's house much more than it's been at mine.
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so... well... hmm.. i guess i have nothing else to say!
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but with 1080p you dont get the most out of bluray
i could be wrong
No, I think you're right. But at a certain distance our eyes can't resolve all 1080 lines so a 720p set will give a similar picture. It really varies depending on seating distance and screen size - there are charts out there that gives some theoretical numbers like this: http://hdguru.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/11/hdtv_distance_chart.pdf. For example, on a 40" screen, you theoretically must sit 96 inches from the screen to fully resolve all the detail of a 720p picture. So you would have to sit closer than that to get any benefit from 1080p. It's only at 64 inches that you can fully resolve all detail of a 1080p picture. It's theoretical, but gives a rough guide at least.
I'm learning from this thread. Black levels? What?
Black level just refers to how black the blacks actually are. No HDTV can really achieve perfect black levels but they're getting closer. A couple more years and true blacks will probably start to creep into HDTVs. For now, a few can get sufficiently black for even the pickiest of people.
It's a huge element of picture quality, but admittedly one a lot of people may not notice unless it's really bad (as in the blacks are very grey). You'll also notice it a lot more when the lights are out, which is why having some ambient lighting behind the TV is accepted as enhancing the picture - it closes your retina and makes the blacks appear blacker.
As an example, here's one of the latest LG plasma (which has a "below average" black level) compared to one of the latest Pioneers. The Pioneers are not totally black yet, but they are getting very close and are the market leader.
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r89/Bildi777/evilbore/Image1.jpg)
Most HDTVs do bright colours and things fine. It's when things get dark that the faults come out, which is why it's so hard to buy a TV based on what you see in a showroom.
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This thread is really informative and will also help me when I go to buy a new HDTV. :)
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wait a minute! you guys don't have a ps3?!?!? :maf
That would be a colossal waste of dough. I don't play games any more. I've got a launch 360 that's been at my friend's house much more than it's been at mine.
It's actually a pre-launch 360 if you want to get technical! Remember when Mountain Dew did that "give a 360 away every 10 minutes" or whatever thing? He won it through that, and had it in his possession before 360s hit stores.
I said he should have sold in on ebay but he didn't. Can you imagine how much it would have gone for, pre-launch? HOLY CRAP.
He also has a Wii that nobody plays. I probably play more games at this point and I don't even play recent ones, I emulate NES, Genesis, and SNES.
Bildi: Very interesting! I don't think I'd care about crappy black levels. Obviously it's Ecro's decision, though. But you learn something new every day don't you? How cool.
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wow @ the pioneer comparison pic. I'm stuck with my 2 year old 32" Sharp LCD for a while. It's still awesome to me, but the tech has come so far since then.
wait a minute! you guys don't have a ps3?!?!? :maf
That would be a colossal waste of dough. I don't play games any more. I've got a launch 360 that's been at my friend's house much more than it's been at mine.
It's actually a pre-launch 360 if you want to get technical! Remember when Mountain Dew did that "give a 360 away every 10 minutes" or whatever thing? He won it through that, and had it in his possession before 360s hit stores.
I said he should have sold in on ebay but he didn't. Can you imagine how much it would have gone for, pre-launch? HOLY CRAP.
about $1000+ maybe $2k. shit was nuts. I was so kicking myself for not entering that contest. I still managed to sell an arcade + 20gb HDD for $800 though. The PS3 launch was even worse. Imagine paying $2.5k+ for a PS3!!! worst buyer's remorse ever. :lol
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you won one of those
fuck you. i hate you
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Bildi: Very interesting! I don't think I'd care about crappy black levels. Obviously it's Ecro's decision, though. But you learn something new every day don't you? How cool.
I didn't pay much attention to the issue until I got my first HDTV home a few years ago, and it was so bad that my brain just kept saying to me "that's not black, that's grey". But prior to that, I would watch other people's HDTVs and not notice.
It was only then that I started researching more heavily. Unfortunately, the more you read, the pickier you become, and the harder the choice gets! :)
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no reason to buy an hd if you arent gonna play games on it. what are you gonna watch. movies? gonna need bluray player. guess you will need a ps3 to play them. cable HD is shit. enjoy your HDTV!
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HD is useless to me for movies unless you feel like reading the nutrition facts on the product placement or something. It's awesome for games though.
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i agree with everything bildi says. picture quality is more important than size or resolution. samsung have very sexy screens
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Ecro when you make threads about stuff that you're going to do the title should be something like,
"Ecro decides to...."
or
"Ecro buys a(n)...."
:-*
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i agree with everything bildi says. picture quality is more important than size or resolution. samsung have very sexy screens
I have a LN40a550 samsung that I got in september and its fantastic. Took me forever to find the tv I wanted to purchase. Went looking at all of the currently models messed around with settings and then settled on the 550 series cause it was under the 1000 price range I'd set.
Look at your tv as an investment, its something you'll have for years (at least a few) to come. Will you be happy with it like you were the day you bought it in 3 years? Probably not, but will it still be functioning and not having any screen problems (IE Vizio is shit)
Take time to research whats best for you in the long run not the short run.
I'm looking to get another hdtv here soon, hoping the prices fall so I can get another 550 or maybe 650/750.
Brands to stay away from:
Westinghouse
Vizio
Philips
non name brand
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but with 1080p you dont get the most out of bluray
i could be wrong
That statement couldn't be farther from the truth. Blu-rays still look fantastic at 720p.
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I mulled everything over, and I looked at all the TVs/prices Dell has (again, because I have to buy it from Dell). Going on the money I'm able to spend on a TV as well as the size of the screen and everything, as well as one of the media guys in my department giving this TV a good review for its price, I decided to go with the Vizio.
I'm sure i'll be kicking myself in 2 days when Dell has a deal on a Samsung for $600 or something. Fucking dell, I wish they'd show you what products are going to be on sale ahead of time. I don't need to know their exact price, but just being able to research the TV and make an educated guess ahead of time would be fantastic.