Wide Screen Flat Panel LCD HDTV - Feedback.

**Wruff_ajax** · 06.20.07, 12:16 PM

I'm going to get a 42" LCD HTDV. My first HDTV.

I'm really leaning towards the Vizio. I've heard good things. I've gotten serious about buying a wide screen flat pannel hdtv just recently. Now I'm hooked and I gotta have one.
Vizio is relatively affordable and seems a really good value.

Vizio - http://www.vizio.com/

Any feedback? Vizio praise? Horror stories? Suggestions? Things I should watch for when buying one of these things?

Thanks for the feedback.

**fast98dodge** · 06.20.07, 01:36 PM

I looked at the Vizio until the guy at Costco told me he had one and had 3 or 4 problems in the first 6 months...

I bought a Sony and love it... Apparently Samsung builds it but it has better color than the Samsung because of the technology that Sony supplies to them right now...

**Axxman300** · 06.20.07, 03:25 PM

We have a Vizio 42" at work. It's fine.

My only knock it that the remote is kind of twitchy. It's also not as sensative as I like, it only works in a straight line.

Beyond that it's okay, not great, but liveable.

**Axxman300** · 06.20.07, 03:29 PM

I'm going to get a big LCD TV later this year, my plan is to wait until September because that's when the Fall products are released and the retailers have to dump stock. Better prices and options.

Were I in your shoes, I'd set aside the money you have in the bank and then put an extra $50 to $100 a month away on top until September, that way you can still buy the Vizio and if something else has come out that's better you will have more money in your hand to buy that one instead.

**willyum** · 06.20.07, 04:51 PM

i really love my 56" samsung dlp, and the new 56" led dlp that they make it supposed to be the shit.. no more color wheel and the led's have some ungodly amount of hours of life.

**Greenpaw** · 06.20.07, 07:31 PM

I'm about to get a flat panel this weekend, but I'm still up in the air with the plasma vs. LCD.

**willyum** · 06.20.07, 08:01 PM

you guys who are on the fence, seriously, before you go for a budget plasma or lcd, research the DLP...

tv's are a service intensive product by nature.. you may find our far too soon that a cheap tv on the front end is disposable. (part's are discontinued etc...)

**fast98dodge** · 06.20.07, 08:12 PM

Originally Posted by Greenpaw

I'm about to get a flat panel this weekend, but I'm still up in the air with the plasma vs. LCD.

Go with the LCD, that's what the manufacturers are dumping their money into right now...

**MikeL** · 06.20.07, 10:28 PM

Having had a couple of projectors now, there's no way I could go back to a tiny 42" screen. A decent HD projector and screen can be had for almost the same cost as a 42" flat panel.

**Apocalypso** · 06.20.07, 10:40 PM

If you're going to spend a grand or three, spend some serious time and do some research into the pros and cons of Plasma vs LCD monitors.

IMO, Plasma tvs generally produce richer color, deeper blacks and less digital "smearing" in moving images than an LCD monitor. A Plasma tv can be better viewed if you're stuck watching it at an angle and not directly in front of the screen versus an LCD monitor. Also, the fear of "burn-in" with non-moving images (such as video games) is much less of an issue than it was a few years ago although LCD still holds the edge in that particular problem which is why LCDs are always recommended as a computer monitor over any sort of Plasma monitor. LCDs are considered a better choice for brightly lit or sunlit bathed rooms as well.

The "half-life" (time it takes for the brightness and color saturation to degrade and dim to 50%) for both monitors is about the same now as well at around 50,000 hours worth of use.

Plasmas are made in larger screen sizes than LCDs (I don't even think a 50" - 60"+ LCD is available yet for consumers) although that gap is closing fast. The huge price difference for the same size display between LCD and Plasma is no longer an issue anymore either.

The only real disadvantage Plasma tvs have over LCDs now for home theater/tv useage is that they use a *lot* more electricity than an LCD monitor.

Above all else, go with a major, well known brand name like Sony, Panasonic, Toshiba or Pioneer.

T.B.

**HuBBs5150** · 06.21.07, 07:16 AM

I've got me a Dell 32 LCD HDTV. I like it lots. My only complaint is that it only goes up to 720p. But damn... those football games look great on it.

**Banjo5150** · 06.21.07, 08:32 AM

Yeah Vizio is a great bang for the buck. I am a fan of LCD over Plasma. My friend has a Plasma the freaking light glare can be terrible.

**HuBBs5150** · 06.21.07, 08:52 AM

not to mention the short life span and image burning that plasma tv's have.

**Limecuda** · 06.21.07, 09:30 AM

As stated earlier , lifespan and burn in are nearly equal with today's technologies.

**Wruff_ajax** · 06.21.07, 05:59 PM

I live a mile above sea level. I've heard that plasma is not a good idea up here. With the change in air pressure and gas expansion and leakage the life of plasmas in Colorado is considerably diminished. Better to stay away from gas projection here I think. They use a lot of energy too, and I've heard about possible health risks with big plasmas in the house.

In todays market I like the LCD.

I went with the Vizio 42" LCD 720p today. I didn't want to spend $3K+ on a TV. I'm really happy with what I got for $1k. Lovin it.

That DLP seems good too as Willy said. Fascinating technology. Check out this demo on DLP technology. http://www.dlp.com/includes/demo_flash.aspx