So who wants to help me tv-shopping?

[Slewo.O]

Would it be better to shop at an electronics store? Or is Amazon acceptable?

[Morrison_Lad]

Do what I do: Shop at the brick and mortar store, so you can actually see what things look like. Then buy it at Amazon.

Though my present Samsung I bought sight unseen because for some reason it was on ridiculous sale at Amazon. But I've been happy with it.

[DungeonMasterJim]

I've read in Consumer Reports that if you buy anything small than 30 inch screen you do not need 1080p as there will be virtually no difference between that and I think it was 750. But that was 3 years ago when I bought my big screen. Things may have changed since then.

[Matt Doc Martin]

Mine is 42, I believe.

[Morrison_Lad]

Mine is 42, I believe.

Yeah, mine is too. It's the perfect size for the distance between the set and the couch. I forget what the formula is, but it was nice that it was the set that was on super-sale, and also perfectly fit the situation in my room.

OK, I'll admit it: *Sometimes* the universe doesn't hate me.

[DungeonMasterJim]

Would it be better to shop at an electronics store? Or is Amazon acceptable?

I would go to an electronics store, see what you like and then before buying, check it out on Amazon. Often, Amazon has cheaper base prices but often shipping puts items fairly even with what a store would cost.

I would also keep an eye on plasma screens. I think they look absolutely awesome. I also believe that all the snags of the lights burning out have been solved barring you happen to get that rogue, broken tv. I love my Samsung so I have no plans to get a new big screen any time soon but I'm probably going plasma with my next TV.

[KJ!]

I've read in Consumer Reports that if you buy anything small than 30 inch screen you do not need 1080p as there will be virtually no difference between that and I think it was 750. But that was 3 years ago when I bought my big screen. Things may have changed since then.

Depends. The other resolution you mention would be 720p.

I would notice it, and it would bug me, but that's just because I'm a bit of a snob with image quality. For most people, they wouldn't care, and would definitely not notice.

Mine is also 42 inch, and for that you definitely want 1080p.

But yeah, 30 and under, 720p is absolutely fine for most people.

[WhiteRose]

Soooo... I sell TVs for a living. Kinda what I do for the money, and I'm not half bad at it. So I'll ask you a few questions I ask everyone to help narrow it down:

Brighter room, like a living area with lots of windows? Or darker room, like a media center?
What are you hooking up - consoles, DVD/Blu-Ray players etc?
Aside from console gaming, what are the major genres you use your TV for: sport? Documentaries? Your basic sitcom and drama hour?
How many hours would you be using it ROUGHLY per day?

60 inch on its narrows it down quite considerably. If you can give me a few answers, I can point you in a direction.

[KJ!]

Soooo... I sell TVs for a living. Kinda what I do for the money, and I'm not half bad at it. So I'll ask you a few questions I ask everyone to help narrow it down:

Brighter room, like a living area with lots of windows? Or darker room, like a media center?
What are you hooking up - consoles, DVD/Blu-Ray players etc?
Aside from console gaming, what are the major genres you use your TV for: sport? Documentaries? Your basic sitcom and drama hour?
How many hours would you be using it ROUGHLY per day?

60 inch on its narrows it down quite considerably. If you can give me a few answers, I can point you in a direction.

I think one word explains it all.

'Porn'.

[Matt Doc Martin]

I think one word explains it all.

'Porn'.

It is a beautiful word.