HarleyTechTalk

My bedroom tv after 17 years has took a crap. I need to replace it and wnat a flat screen bout 32" witde. I am looking for a place to get it and wanting to spend no more than 4 to 5 hundred bucks. Is that possible?? Where would you go looking for one?

I think more like $600 will get you one most anywhere.
Maybe you can luck out and get a free one like I did. I got a 32" for buying a certificate of deposit, could have been a 50" for a larger deposit, but my entertainment center would only hold a 32". (Samsung 720p)

I do not have a big living room, the distance from my favorite chair to the screen is less than 10ft and a 37" Visio flatscreen is plenty for that. This one is not a plasma but it's a nicer TV than I expected when I bought it two years ago and should be within your budget.

I just bought Samsung 32" about a month or so ago from Electronics Expo, I don't know if you have it where you live.  The price on it was $500 but they let me have it for $450 after talking with a manager.

http://electronics-expo.com/

Hope this heps

I have 2 Olevia (Syntax-Brillian) TV's. one in bedroom and one in family room.  The 200 series, 32 inch LCD HDTV.  I bouth them 2 years ago at Circuit City (now out of biz), for $600.00 each.

I think you can get an equivalent at Best Buy or target used to carry the Olevia TV's...not sure if they still do.

Anyway, no problems, great picture but sound is crappy.  Good enough, but I have the bedroom TV hooked up to home theater receiver.  I wouldnt hesitate to buy again, or recommend.

menace

   What ever you get, I bet won't last 17 years

Personally, I prefer LCD over plasma. However, in a bedroom, it may be a bit darker and have less glare than a family room, so plasma may work fine.  It's a function of the screen reflectiveness.  Most plasmas have a reflective screen, however, many LCDs do now as well.   Watch for sales - Best Buy etc, however, now that Circuit City is gone, I don't think Best Buy will be running sales like they did.  For a budget model withouut all the higher end bells and whistles - check out Target or (god forbid) Walmart.  Also check out the internet - I have a couple of friends that have bought big screens over the internet with good results.  Just pay attention to their customer ratings.  Personally, for a 2nd set - bedroom - I wouldn't care a whole lot what name is on it. Just compare pictures if you can.  You'll find some are brighter than others.  Lower end sets now will be 720p - still HD, but not the higher end 1080p, and for the size you are looking for, 720p will do just fine.  Probably goes without saying, but be sure you get a digital set - not even sure if analogs are even available anymore - probably not.
jt

Check this out at the Sony outlet center.  They pay shipping too.  32" for $520....

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchCatalog?langId=-1&searchType=outlet&storeId=10151&catalogId=10551&N=4294966019&navigation=Category

jt

I just went through what you did.  It was either spend big bucks on a flat screen (40") for my bedroom or go cheap.  In the end, I picked up a regular CRT 27" TV for $45 off Craigslist.  I figured, it is lasted me a year, that's fine.   People are selling them in heaps on Craigslist.  Bought my girlfriend one for her bedroom over a year ago and it works fine.

32" Vizio at Sam's = $545 plus tax
So far we love the performance

I spent about 2 days back in January reading everywhere on the net and in consumer reports - this Vizio was 'upper middle' of the ratings of equipment included and price.

With a 50,000 hour LCD ( I think it's 50K) I figger it should be good for 10 - 15 years as long as we turn it off when we go to bed(used to leave one on all the time - got used to light and sound from being in the hospital after my wreck)

Costco has a real good warranty ( 90 days return no matter what, 2 year factory warranty instead of 1 yr ) It's worth a look see.
www.costco.com

Jim

Mitsubishi or Samsung DLP, 40% less than Plasma or LCD for the the same size or slightly larger screen.  I have a 60" Mitsubishi in the great room and at 20 feet it looks great, 46" Sumsung in the bedroom, a little large for the viewing distance, picture is great.  I bought a Spyder 3TV calibration system and have super pictures on both sets.
Don

Like others have mentioned you can't go wrong for the price with Vizio or Olevia... have one of each... living room and bedroom and very satisfied with the quality.

don't know what may have changed since, but a 2 years ago a buddy of mine who repairs tvs for a living said stay away from the plasma-too many coming back for repairs. I ended up just getting a dirt-cheap CRT analog one with DVD & VHS being closed out at Best Buy. I'm on cable so the digital thing isn't a problem.

We have a locally owned furniture appliance store that I have seen be really competitive on pricing.  I bought one of those leather back massage chairs and they were cheaper than Nebraska Furniture Mart - the supossed discount kings of the midwest.  At least give the local guys a look see and let them know you are price shopping. Those big box stores have some big overhead and their stock holders expect a profit.  They aren't necessarily cheap.  Get a LCD.

I bought a 32" Vizio about 3 years ago. Turned out to be a nice tv. Plus they are alot cheaper now for basically the same model.