Need help deciding on TV's
 

Ok, so I'm in the market for a new television for my bedroom. Nothing too big, not too pricey. I can't find reviews anywhere, so hopefully you guys can pitch in a few ideas. Here is what I need

- 27 inch CRT (no exceptions, no LCD, no Plasma, no bigger, no smaller)
- Under 400 (shouldn't be a problem, excluding s&h)
- Must have an HDTV Tuner (Please enlighten me if this means that I will be able to watch HD programming?)

I really like these 2 models, so please give me your review on them and any other models you would like me to take a look at.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16889206004
http://circuitcity.com/ccd/productDetail.do?oid=178800

Thanks:thumbsup

I would take this SAMSUNG :)

while I find it hard to believe that someone would make a non flat hdtv tube, that picture of the RCA sure doesn't look flat and it doesn't say anything in the description. Did you see these anywhere in person?

Hmm.. I believed we had this problem with your LCD a couple days ago! Hope your enjoying it :) I'm leaning more towards the Samsung as well, but RCA is pretty reliable too..

After taking a closer look, it doesn't appear to be flat, but like you said, who makes tv's that aren't flat? Interesting topic you brought up.. thanks.

:1orglaugh:1orglaugh
Think they got that in a color model?

CNET and ConsumerReports are all you need to make a decision like this.

Jeez, at least get a widescreen. You realize that if you want to watch true HD signals, that the picture will be letterboxed on both of those sets you linked?

If they have a HDTV tuner in them, that means you will theoretically be able to pick up over the air HD channels using an external antenna. Whether or not you will pick any up in your area is another matter.

If you have access to digital cable or have satellite, then I would just pick up a digital receiver from them, then you don't even need an HD tuner in the set.

The reason I perfer 4:3 is because when I go to Doctor offices or such, and you turn on a typical show, the wide screen makes the people look shorter and fatter. I don't mind widescreen in computer monitors, but if I get a widescreen TV, will I have to deal with the short fat people?

Only if you watch regular channels (non HDTV). And even then you can just set the TV to display regular 4:3 material in its native format, meaning the picture will look normal but there will be black bars on both sides of the screen. Some sets also have a stretch mode that doesn't distort images in the centre of the screen as bad, it does most of the stretching in the outer portions of the screen where you don't notice it as much.


If you watch HDTV channels or widescreen DVD's, then you will get the black bars on the top and bottom of the screen with both those sets. You also lose a lot of the picture if you plan on running a high def game system like the Xbox360 or PS3. Widescreen really makes a big difference on those systems.

edit: if you have no interest at all in picking up a HD receiver or game system, then I guess a 4:3 set might be better suited for just watching regular cable.

Thanks a lot for the info, will open my range now. Thanks again. :thumbsup