What makes a good TV

You have to step up and get something though- else you'll be forever waiting for the next new thing.

It's just a case of getting the best you can manage so that it'll last you enough years to be worthwhile.

My ma had a habit of buying cheap brands of TV at TJ Hughes etc. Brands like Techwood and even less known. She kept going for the 'cheap' option, but they continually had problems- generally with the really sh!tty DSPs in the picture.

I got the techwood as a hand-me-down.

I was definitely grateful for this (fits better in the flat than the 28 inch CRT I had)- but again the dsp was ropey- it gets confused where there is a blend of similar colours and adds in flashing pixels and everything- and it's started packing up (takes at least 4 attempts switching on to get the picture). Hence the need for a new one- and I'm getting a decent new one!!

In the end, I persuaded her to get a decent telly- she got a Sony LCD that has lasted at least a year longer than the others. Another case of buy cheap, buy often!

There are bargains to be had on decent brands- but a decent one will still last longer than some cheap tat at a chavvy bargain-house..!

It's the same with PC's- it'll always be 'out of date' the minute you buy it, but if you get the best you can afford, it'll still last a good few years without really starting to creak.

My nephews techwood plasma has wide black lines across the screen now and the picture is rubbish.

I wouldnt touch a plasma unless it was top brand stuff going cheap.

Just been to comet to look as samsung 46" LED, we've kinda settled on 1 of these.
Does anybody know the difference between the 6000 and 7000 range?
Cant seem to find much difference to warrant £250 difference in price.

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

I have an LG 42LH5000 being delivered on Weds.

You could get the 37" model.

Most interesting features are 4xHDMI, 2xSCART, PC and Composite connectors, also a USB port that it can play DivX files off of.

I have a similar set, come with 2-3 years LG warranty but I went with a 5 year warranty just to safeguard.

I do think LED would be a better purchase once they're affordable.

you know the old saying buy cheap buy twice thats why i went for a toshiba with a 5 year warranty.

Just for info, costco warehouses sell all their tvs with 5 year warranties inc.
They are brilliant for taking anything back as well, just change it, no bother.

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by specialone

Just for info, costco warehouses sell all their tvs with 5 year warranties inc.
They are brilliant for taking anything back as well, just change it, no bother.

Good point, I was looking here too, I heard it was unlimited warranty.

district 9 is an amazing blu ray if you wanna test your tv out it's amazing just watching it now it's really clear and amazing.

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by zsv650

district 9 is an amazing blu ray if you wanna test your tv out it's amazing just watching it now it's really clear and amazing.

Is it a good film too? I quite wanna test out my new hd set up but don't have any blurays!

best film of the decade for me and the best blu ray ive ever bought i'd reccomend it.

Originally Posted by amnesia

The problem is that if you wait a few months for the 'next big thing', then the 'next-big-thing-after-that' is just around the corner - and you might aswell wait for that!

Don't trust the side by side picture comparisons in the stores either. You have no idea what the settings so the comparisons aren't really fair.

Another really important issue for me is the remote control. Companies seem to forget that this is the part of the TV you handle the most, and they give the design job to a complete numptie who hasn't got the first clue about what makes a remote control nice to use.

Some very good advice there (snipped a little for brevity). I've seen some stores that have the most expensive TVs connected by HDMI (the best quality connection) and the cheaper ones connected by composite (appalling quality connection). So of course the expensive ones look a million times better than the cheap ones.

As for remote controls, that why I avoid Sony like the plague. I really hate their remote controls and on-screen menus. I use Sony TVs at work and find them very frustrating and awkward to use.