In the market for a TV

So, I'm graduating high school next week. I have a good amount of money to spend and my initial idea was to get a new PC. Well, my dad completely shot that down so I'm now looking for my next sorely needed item: a new TV.

Currently I've been playing my games/watching DVDs on a good ol' GXTV. Hey, I was young and the marketing worked perfectly on my 7th grade self (this was 5 years ago after all).

So, I want to get a new TV. I don't want to spend that large of an amount though. I'm looking to spend between $300 and $400. Of course If it's more than $400 after the tax that's fine or if I can get a great deal for $425 or something that's fine as well. I won't be using it for anything but games and DVDs for the time being, I may get cable TV installed in my room in the future though.

I just replaced my old GX with a new tv as well. I went down to Circuit City and got a 20inch Phillips flat-screen tv with s-video and component inputs (plus the regular composite and rf). Only cost 200 bucks. You can't get much better than that, unless you're going for HD.

Get yourself something like this. You'll love it.

http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=...cat=24&scat=27

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Originally posted by AFX
Get yourself something like this. You'll love it.

http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=...cat=24&scat=27

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I don't know much about TVs at all, are there any reasons specifically why this is a good TV or is it just a great deal? I just wanna make sure I get the most outta me cash.

its got component input and its flat. thats all you need.

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Originally posted by Dragonmaster Dyne
its got component input and its flat. thats all you need.

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And component is better than standard A/V jacks? I really don't know anyhting about home audio/visual stuff at all. If it is indeed better would I have to buy a new set of cables for one of my systems? If so, from where, how much, and which system (I have the three current generation consoles) should I hook up that way?

I have a friend with the 20" Toshiba and his connection looks great even with regular composite cables. Of course, the component cables will look alot better, but I don't think they're necessary.

Btw, I think it's really strange that your parents shot down getting a new computer in favor of getting a TV. Most people I know used their computer they bought after graduating HS for 4-5 years. Going to school with an antique would suck. :p

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Originally posted by Dragonmaster Dyne
its got component input and its flat. thats all you need.

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Unless its made by Apex. Two friends of mine got a flat screen Apex around the same time. Same model. A few months into having it the screen started to shift so that there was a black bar on the left about an inch thick. Very sucky. Plus sometimes the screen would do this weird jumpy skippy thing. Hard to explain.

There is a very nice JVC and a Toshiba going for about the price you want. The Toshiba opne is being cleared out to make way for a new model that is similer. I would goto some stores and see if they have any like that left. The JVC isnt flat screen, but its big, has a clear picture and has all the right hook ups.

It's got a component video, and an S-Video, as well as a couple of composite (red, yellow, white) jacks. It also has an audio output, should you ever want to run it into a stereo of some sort. Toshiba is one of if not the best brands available right now, which also makes it a good purchase.

To simplify the hookups thing-

component > s-video > composite

So, with your 3 consoles, I would put the one you play the most on component, the one you play the second most on s-video, and the last one on composite. Yes, you probably will have to buy a few cables, so just get them while you're there at Best Buy. Even if you go cheap, you can get component cables for the PS2 or Xbox for only 25 bucks or so, and S-Video cables for a little less. I would probably buy the High Def AV kit for the Xbox for 25, which will give you component off of that, then I'd buy a Pelican S-Video for Cube for like 10 bucks, and then just use your composite on your PS2, since the other two systems will benefit more from the better connections.

Hope that helps.

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Originally posted by Schlep


Btw, I think it's really strange that your parents shot down getting a new computer in favor of getting a TV. Most people I know used their computer they bought after graduating HS for 4-5 years. Going to school with an antique would suck. :p

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Well, the main thing is that they don't want me to spend $1,000 to $1,300 building a PC. I'm going to community college for the first two years and as such, still living at home. I have a crappy PC at home (P3, 533 mhz, 64 megs of RAM, shitty intigrated video card, etc) that can suffice for typing up papers and such.$350 on a TV is a helluva lot less than even $1,000.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. AFX, your tips on hooking things up is great too. The TV money is coming straight outta whever I get from relatives and the like. For graduation my parents are getting me some new furnature for my room like a new TV stand and these sliding glass cases that hang on a wall to keep games and movies in. I'll be sure to clean up my room, set this all up and take a picture to post here in a few weeks.

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Originally posted by EightBit
Unless its made by Apex. Two friends of mine got a flat screen Apex around the same time. Same model. A few months into having it the screen started to shift so that there was a black bar on the left about an inch thick. Very sucky. Plus sometimes the screen would do this weird jumpy skippy thing. Hard to explain.

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oh i know apex sucks. i was just referring to the linked tv that was shown. about the only apex thing i would buy would be a cheap dvd player from wal mart. those damn things play just about any disc media you can put in them.

Word. I was just giving a word of warning to tragic, lest he though of buying an Apex TV.

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Originally posted by Dragonmaster Dyne
oh i know apex sucks. i was just referring to the linked tv that was shown. about the only apex thing i would buy would be a cheap dvd player from wal mart. those damn things play just about any disc media you can put in them.

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Until they stop working, as mine did.

yeah ive heard good and bad. either they break right away or last forever. wish i had money for a new tv :(

I got a 27 inch Sanyo flat screen for for around $260 after discount. Good stuff, I just wish it had component.

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For graduation my parents are getting me some new furnature for my room like a new TV stand and these sliding glass cases that hang on a wall to keep games and movies in.

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I wish I had thought of that..

Get the 24-inch Sony Wega. My friend has it and the picture is beautiful through component. GameCube looks fantastic.

It has a component input, s-video input, and two composite inputs: one in the front and one in the back. Quality TV and a good size--the extra 4 inches over 20 will make a substantial difference.

And it's in your price range: $350 to $399.

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Originally posted by Sl1p
I wish I had thought of that..

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lol...thats pretty funny :D

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Originally posted by Tragic
I have a crappy PC at home (P3, 533 mhz, 64 megs of RAM, shitty intigrated video card, etc) that can suffice for typing up papers and such.

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Spend $50 or so on more RAM for that thing and you'll probably see a nice performance increase.

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Originally posted by Teddman
Get the 24-inch Sony Wega. My friend has it and the picture is beautiful through component. GameCube looks fantastic.

It has a component input, s-video input, and two composite inputs: one in the front and one in the back. Quality TV and a good size--the extra 4 inches over 20 will make a substantial difference.

And it's in your price range: $350 to $399.

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I like the Wegas also, as a matter of fact I have one, but I still think that the 24 inch Toshiba is a better deal at 30 bucks cheaper.

This isn't for Tragic as the second TV falls out of his price range, but rather for my own selfish quest for knowledge :).

Using http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=...cat=24&scat=27 as the control group, how much better would something like http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=...cat=24&scat=26 be? Specifically, what kind of difference does the 1080i/480p support make?

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Originally posted by Lhadatt
Spend $50 or so on more RAM for that thing and you'll probably see a nice performance increase.

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Lord yes, please get at least 256-512 megs in that thing....

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Originally posted by MonsterMash
This isn't for Tragic as the second TV falls out of his price range, but rather for my own selfish quest for knowledge :).

Using http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=...cat=24&scat=27 as the control group, how much better would something like http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=...cat=24&scat=26 be? Specifically, what kind of difference does the 1080i/480p support make?

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All of the difference in the world. Not only is the tv capable of doing progressive scan, which is a must for anyone who plays games, but it'll also make regular signals look a bit better, as well as being able to display true HD, which isn't far from taking over.

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Originally posted by EightBit
Unless its made by Apex. Two friends of mine got a flat screen Apex around the same time. Same model. A few months into having it the screen started to shift so that there was a black bar on the left about an inch thick. Very sucky. Plus sometimes the screen would do this weird jumpy skippy thing. Hard to explain.

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I bought an Apex 27" flatscreen in February and haven't had any problems. I've even been flipping the thing to play DDP DOJ and Gunbird 2 (man that thing weighs a ton). Not trying to justify my purchase, just saying that for $200 it's not bad at all.

Keeping this on topic, if you have $300 - $400 and approval (:)), then getting a Sony is highly recommended.

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Originally posted by AFX


component > s-video > composite

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more accurate:

Sex > RGB > Component > Svideo > Kick in the balls > Composite

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Originally posted by Wildkat
more accurate:

Sex > RGB > Component > Svideo > Kick in the balls > Composite

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RGB might be better than sex. Sex is better at first, but playing the same game on RGB never gets old.

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Originally posted by Lhadatt
Spend $50 or so on more RAM for that thing and you'll probably see a nice performance increase.

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I'd love to but the entire thing is intigrated. It's a damn HP and I've been told that upgrading the RAM would be a pain in the ass.

www.crucial.com will tell you how much ram would cost for that thing..

Find out the specs for the ram and then buy it elsewhere cheaper...

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Originally posted by AFX
Get yourself something like this. You'll love it.

http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=...cat=24&scat=27

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My parents have that set. Really nice.

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Originally posted by AFX
All of the difference in the world. Not only is the tv capable of doing progressive scan, which is a must for anyone who plays games, but it'll also make regular signals look a bit better, as well as being able to display true HD, which isn't far from taking over.

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Hm. What about http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=...cat=24&scat=26 versus http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=...t=24&scat=1470 ? Anything other than brand names that I should know about?

I'm thinking about a TV upgrade, if you hadn't noticed :). Something that'd be good for this current generation (I own all three also) and would also be ready for what the next gen is going to offer.

For $300, I'd prefer to go with something at least 27" bubble versus something 20" flat. In this price range, both will have basically the same inputs and such. I've been using a hand-me-down 27" for about 7 months now, and I really like the additional screen area over my friend's 20" flat-screen Toshiba. It really depends on whether you would prefer size or image quality. I'm not going to think for a second that a flat-screen doesn't look better than a bubble tube, but the standard curved screen can still look very good. He uses component for his PS2, and I bought a cheap-o $4 cable from EB a while back for whenever he comes over. I played Rez for a while, and it still looked respectable through my s-video cable, which was run through my reciever (instead of straight to the TV which is the optimal solution).

Regarding inputs, believe me, there is a huge difference between component and composite (single yellow plug for connection). While you may not be able to see the huge difference at first, if you ever decide to go back you'll see what an increase if quality component makes.

Monster, The Samsung only has one S-video input (side input), versus the three of the Toshiba (two rear and one side).

Pros and cons about flatscreen TVs (specifially the WEGAs), anyone?

I've got my eye on the JVC 27" D-Series, but if a 24" WEGA would be better, I think I'd rather pay the extra money for it.

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Originally posted by MonsterMash
Specifically, what kind of difference does the 1080i/480p support make?

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Ever played a DC through a VGA box? 480p isn't that good, but the jump from regular TV images is similar. It's sickening how much better it looks.

However, reportedly 1080i looks only marginally better then 480p and worse then 720p, thanks to it still being interlaced. But that's only what I've heard, I haven't been able to compare the difference myself.

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Something that'd be good for this current generation (I own all three also) and would also be ready for what the next gen is going to offer.

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Buy one that has component inputs, and then invest cash into a component switchbox. The last couple TVs you listed have two of those inputs each, but with three systems it can still get annoying. I currently have to switch between my XBox, J-PS2, and DVD player (occasionally my regular PS2, and I still don't have GC cables), and that's annoying as hell as is. A nice component switchbox will run you a good amount of cash, but it's so worth it.

http://www.the-nextlevel.com/board/s...n&pagenumber=5


TV I got is in there, and it kicks ass. :)
27' Tau flatscreen. So sexy.

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Originally posted by OmegaFlareX
Pros and cons about flatscreen TVs (specifially the WEGAs), anyone?

I've got my eye on the JVC 27" D-Series, but if a 24" WEGA would be better, I think I'd rather pay the extra money for it.

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I think the quality of the WEGA tube is worth it. The 24" Wega really delivers an outstanding game picture, probably the best of any size (even those larger) due to the tighter dotpitch of the medium-sized tube. If it's within a $100 margin of a comparable TV, I say go for that one--you'll appreciate it in the long run.

Plus you get the component in, the s-video in, and two composite inputs (front/back). A good deal for $350.

The one advantage the step up to a 27" Wega gives you is the anamorphic squeeze "enhanced 16:9 mode that really helps bump up DVD's with more resolution. That's not a gaming issue though... (Well, except for the anamorphic widescreen Xbox games).

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Originally posted by Wildkat
more accurate:

Sex > RGB > Component > Svideo > Kick in the balls > Composite

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