quote Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]: Man, I really, really want one... but I bought a Sony 51" Rear Projection TV way back in late 2003. And it's still going strong. I certainly don't NEED another TV, this can do 1080-HD just fine... but it is ENORMOUS in terms of size width height, etc.

Your reasons were the same as mine. I had a Pioneer 51" Rear Projector to get rid of after I "impulse buy" got the new one. I had that thing since 2003-4 as well and it took two people to get it in the house...even then it wasn't fun. Gina told me I couldn't have a new one until that one died but IT WOULDN'T DIE!!



After I got back from Sam's Club, put it up on Craigslist for $125. It still took a few days to sell....some frat house kids at Purdue bought it.

Deals to be had with mitsubishi TVs out there. Theres a few still left here at work, and Im thinkin about snatchin up the 82" DLP 3D smart HDTV. Its a projector style tv but looks totally sweet - especially for what they're downcosted to.

Same deal as you guys. Sucks because the speakers sound GREAT. I finally just bit the bullet. I put it in one of my extra rooms for now.

I went with this:



I looked at the picture it produced setting beside alot of other tv's and it really popped, to my eye.
It had everything I wanted:
1. 46" or above.
2. 120Hz
3. LED
4. 1080p
5. NOT a "Smart TV"

Out the door with a full coverage 2 year warranty for $649.99.
Cash-back 45 day return for any reason what-so-ever, no questions asked.
If something better comes along in that time, i'm golden.

Skyrim at 1920 x 1080, here I come!

The TV I bought at BestBuy for $579.99 went on sale today at Fry's for $499.99.
I just went to BestBuy and they gave me the $79.99 dollars difference.......in cash.

BestBuy rocks!

Just some advice when setting up the picture quality;

The picture was fine, but it just didn't "pop", no matter what I changed, and I tuned everything.
Then I found a setting, "Energy Saver", or something like that.
It had 4 settings, "Off, Low, Medium, & High".
It was set on "High".
I turned it "off", and BAM!
Everything popped, even a little TOO much!
But "Medium" was just perfect.

"Energy Saver"..........pa-leeeeeese!........

[This message has been edited by Boondawg (edited 12-24-2012).]

quote Out the door with a full coverage 2 year warranty for $649.99. Cash-back 45 day return for any reason what-so-ever, no questions asked.

$650 for a TV?
Good lord that's a lot of $$ for an image on a screen.

(I guess (hope) you got all your debt paid down first)

quote Originally posted by maryjane: (I guess (hope) you got all your debt paid down first)

Hope springs eternal.

quote Originally posted by Boondawg: I went with this: Out the door with a full coverage 2 year warranty for $649.99.

quote Originally posted by Boondawg: The TV I bought at BestBuy for $579.99 ...

quote Originally posted by maryjane: $650 for a TV? Good lord that's a lot of $$ for an image on a screen.

I am not thinking so. I don't buy a lot of new TV's, heck, I don't even own a flat screen. Though, I am the kinda guy that didn't even have a CD player till cassettes were extinct. Music is music and an image is an image. I have looked at the prices over the years and $650 seems reasonable.

I have been following this thread 'cause I am fixin' to buy a new, flat screen, TV. My gamble is on a better deal after Christmas as I don't get caught up/believe in all the sales hype.

quote Originally posted by Boondawg: Out the door with a full coverage 2 year warranty for $649.99.

quote Originally posted by Boondawg: The TV I bought at BestBuy for $579.99 ...

quote Originally posted by cliffw:

If it's the math you're "eyeballin'", add the 2-year warrentee at $69.99 to the 579.99 and you will be at the "out the door" price of $649.99.
But even then, after the "meet-or-beat" rebate, out-the-door was only $569.99.

quote Originally posted by cliffw: I am not thinking so. I don't buy a lot of new TV's, heck, I don't even own a flat screen. Though, I am the kinda guy that didn't even have a CD player till cassettes were extinct. Music is music and an image is an image. I have looked at the prices over the years and $650 seems reasonable.

I don't know, but wonder what a nice TV cost in the 60's or 70's in comparison to what we made then?
I do remember when VCR's came out, I paid $1500 for my first one.
I also remember paying $400 for a computer monitor back in the day.
My first "MP3" player (a battery-powered portable harddrive call Creative Technology’s NOMAD Jukebox) cost $300.

$650 for a quality viewing exprience is about what that expirience is going for today.
Break that & the cost of cable TV down to a yearly "entertainment budget", and it is a couple of bucks a day.
A beer.

But really, any attemped "justification" of it's cost to others is kinda' like talking about "the rich".
Or a Fiero owner.

I don't see how someone would spend $500 bucks on cowboy boots.
No traction, no cushioning, no air curculation, poorly shaped, healed, etc.
Not exactly a great boot.
But other people treasure them.

It's all relitive, I guess.

[This message has been edited by Boondawg (edited 12-25-2012).]

I got a samsung 1080p 39'' led 120 for $399 on black friday at tiger

it worked well for a few weeks
then got lines and flashing on screen

tiger has 30 days to return
so back it went

I also wanted a 24'' monitor
so when I returned the samsung
I picked up a 24'' hystar 1080p led tv with a VGA input in addition to hdmi and component y-Pi-pr
at $99 after a rebate it was less to get a tv then a monitor
and most of the cheaper monitors had limited inputs no Y-Pi-Pr or HDMI
after the x-mass sales I will hunt a new bigger tv

note if you do get a hystar 24'' the thing has 2 power switches
the top power button or the remote will NOT turn on the TV
and the manual make no note of the under the tv power switch at all !!!!!!!!

------------------
Question wonder and be wierd
are you kind?

Santa decided to give the 39" RCA to my son. It looks good on his wall and the picture is actually quite good. It's the best $250 TV I've ever bought (the only on too).

I'm still just a little amazed at what we get used to.
For a good period of my life 20-30 a 19" Samsung was just fine for a 1 BR apt.
10 Yrs later my computer monitor is 22", and my TV is 37"..... And both feel "small".. damn technology.

My 70" is for sure going back. It looks good, but the price has really dropped on them already. I am going to get the Sharp Aquos instead.

quote Originally posted by ls3mach: My 70" is for sure going back. It looks good, but the price has really dropped on them already. I am going to get the Sharp Aquos instead.

Good choice!

quote Originally posted by Boondawg: Good choice!

I am hoping that at about day 75 the 80" Sharp is around $2000. It was $4500 previously.

quote Originally posted by Boondawg: I don't know, but wonder what a nice TV cost in the 60's or 70's in comparison to what we made then? I do remember when VCR's came out, I paid $1500 for my first one. I also remember paying $400 for a computer monitor back in the day. My first "MP3" player (a battery-powered portable harddrive call Creative Technology’s NOMAD Jukebox) cost $300. $650 for a quality viewing exprience is about what that expirience is going for today. Break that & the cost of cable TV down to a yearly "entertainment budget", and it is a couple of bucks a day. A beer. But really, any attemped "justification" of it's cost to others is kinda' like talking about "the rich". Or a Fiero owner. I don't see how someone would spend $500 bucks on cowboy boots. * No traction, no cushioning, no air curculation, poorly shaped, healed, etc. Not exactly a great boot. But other people treasure them. It's all relitive, I guess.

* Nor do I. Especially if they are just for show or personal enjoyment as so often is the case.

As far as the downsides you listed, they are absolutely true for anyone NOT working cows or other livestock in a rough environment or riding a horse. For those that do tho, "cowboy" boots have been functionally developed and improved for over 100 years to keep the heel from slipping thru a stirrup, with a narrow lower to be able to easily and quickly get your foot in and back OUT of the stirrups, a deep heel enabling you to dig in when throwing a calf, holding a rope, a secure place to mount spurs well off the ground,, and a tall tough upper to keep thorns and cold moisture off your skin--not to mention as snake bite prevention. Most of the people I've seen get hung up in stirrups were wearing the same regular kind of work boots one might see in any plant or construction site. A mistake they make only once.
I have a well made & functional pair of "cowboy" boots that is just as much a tool as any wrench is to a mechanic--but I paid nowhere near $500 for em even tho they are a nationally well known brand. I paid a lot less for both them and my hat than you did your TV, and I suspect both will outlast any electronic device.

quote Originally posted by ls3mach: I am hoping that at about day 75 the 80" Sharp is around $2000. It was $4500 previously.

Dang, that's a steal!
I actually viewed that tv in action!
Hot! Hot! Hot!

I actually thought to myself, "If I had $5,000 right now......."

And as far as not being a "great" boot--a good pair are like a second skin--soft, supple, extremely light weight, but tough as nails--and easily re-soled and re-heeled at any shoe or boot shop for a fraction of the original purchase price. Try that with a pair of chemically bonded together Red Wings or Air Jordans.

quote Originally posted by maryjane: $650 for a TV? Good lord that's a lot of $$ for an image on a screen.

I went for this 32" Smart LED and got it for $300.00 after taxes. I never got it hooked up. I picked it as it would fit our corner entertainment cabinet. Geeze, it's picture was smaller compared to our other CRT 32". I guess because a flat screen is long/wide and short while the old set has a square picture. The wife was not happy.
So, I got this 60" Smart LCD for $998.00 before taxes. The wife says size matters, . She was right. Size matters. 32" for $300 or 60" for a thousand, ?
We declined during the giant TV projection era and never have had bigger than 32" so we went for it. It's nice and all but I think we are more amazed at the picture size. Eh, it's compact and space saving too which is nice. Lite too. Gosh that old 32" weighed a ton. Disappointing though that the sound quality was just ok. We got a 60W Sony sound bar and have a more theater like experience.
Question. Since this is a Smart TV, with WiFi, am I able to use it as a computer monitor ? I already have a wireless mouse and keyboard, so, the idea is appealing.

quote Originally posted by cliffw: I went for this 32" Smart LED and got it for $300.00 after taxes. I never got it hooked up. I picked it as it would fit our corner entertainment cabinet. Geeze, it's picture was smaller compared to our other CRT 32". I guess because a flat screen is long/wide and short while the old set has a square picture. The wife was not happy. So, I got this 60" Smart LCD for $998.00 before taxes. The wife says size matters, . She was right. Size matters. 32" for $300 or 60" for a thousand, ? We declined during the giant TV projection era and never have had bigger than 32" so we went for it. It's nice and all but I think we are more amazed at the picture size. Eh, it's compact and space saving too which is nice. Lite too. Gosh that old 32" weighed a ton. Disappointing though that the sound quality was just ok. We got a 60W Sony sound bar and have a more theater like experience. Question. Since this is a Smart TV, with WiFi, am I able to use it as a computer monitor ? I already have a wireless mouse and keyboard, so, the idea is appealing.

Cliff,

You can hook almost any modern TV to a computer. It has nothing to do with it being "Smart". The "Smart" is apps and such, that one has Netflix, Pandora, Hulu, Twitter, Facebook and a bunch of other programs built into it to alleviate the need for a PC. It should also have a keyboard on the back of the remote. I have the 70" version of the same line and as far as I can tell, it does NOT offer a web browser. Having said that, if your PC has VGA or HDMI out, you can easily hook it to that TV. It will almost assuredly have VGA on your computer.


Also, keep your eyes peeled. That $1000 price point isn't a good one. It is list. They were selling for $700 around black Friday. Hopefully you bought it from Sam's or Costco, they have a 90 day return policy and will price match. This is the main reason mine is going back. I can now get the Sharp Aquos for cheaper than I have this one. The Sharp is 240Hz and are know for nicer LCD panels. You aren't a techy so I know that won't be important to you. Yes, the sound is awful. The speakers are in back and are puny. Supposed to be 10 watts x 2, but they sound like TVs I've seen that have half of that. Enjoy the set!

We have a Sony 55" a Samsung 52" and a Samsung 32" I love them all.

A few days ago I bought a Westinghouse 39" LED that will be the playfield in my Pinball Cabinet. I have to say, it has the best picture I have ever seen!!

We've got one 42" LCD in the great room. My son's got a 32" LCD on the wall in his bedroom. My daughter has a 42" LCD in her bedroom. I've got a 32" LCD wall mounted in our bedroom. I've given away 2- 60" projection TVs. Have a fixed 32" now I gotta find a home for. I know I haven't spent more than $100.00 for all of them. I pick them up on craigslist and put new capacitors in them. It's hit or miss. 80% of the time if someone has a TV that doesn't turn on, just $5-$15 in capacitors will bring it back to life. I've had three that needed more than that. I don't mess with them at that point. Up on CL it goes and I break even. I don't even pick one up anymore if it doesn't have a remote. I also fixed a girl's here at work for a six pack of beer. Had a 42" LCD that had a dead vertical pixel line after the capacitor fix. Someone still bought that one for what I had in it, $40.00.
None of them are the newest or the best but all have great pictures. I just can't justify paying a grand or more for a TV. What can I say, I'm a Fiero owner.

ls3mach, thanks for the info. It does have a keyboard back of the remote.

quote Originally posted by ls3mach: ... if your PC has VGA or HDMI out, you can easily hook it to that TV. It will almost assuredly have VGA on your computer. Also, keep your eyes peeled. That $1000 price point isn't a good one. It is list. They were selling for $700 around black Friday. Hopefully you bought it from Sam's or Costco, they have a 90 day return policy and will price match. Yes, the sound is awful. The speakers are in back and are puny. Supposed to be 10 watts x 2, but they sound like TVs I've seen that have half of that. Enjoy the set!

Yeah, I have a 90 day satisfaction period. I have the box saved.
I did see two computer like plugs on the back. A blue one like a monitor but I did not pay attention to the other (in a hurry to hook it up/other things to do). I did run extensions for all the other plugs, to the side, for easy connecting to my camcorder/camera/etc. My idea of a smart TV would be to have frontal ports I noticed a Smart Plug. What can it do ? I am using HMDI cables.

FYI all ... :
I went and bought HDMI cables. Meh, kinda pricey, especially when I figured out that my cable provider will provide them for free, .