Help Me TV

ANTVGM64

So, I just recently moved into my own apartment, paid rent, etc etc.

After a few months I finally have the funds to go furniture shopping, first foremost is a new, HDTV.

As a college student my budget is limited, with the maximum I want to pay around 500 dollars.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9287354&type=product&id=1218090916162#tabbed-customerreviews

I found that one, which is in my budget, the right size, but the one thing that concerns me is the 720p.

Is there a real noticable difference between 720p and 1080p/i?

I have Comcast Cable and an Xbox 360, with the 360 likely getting the bulk of the HD action.

So, Penny Arcade, how big of a deal is the difference between 720p and 1080i, and what's a good TV?

Improvolone

There is a sticked TV thread in the Tech forum (games and technology>moe's technology forum). The first post/OP is loaded with information you should read.

matt has a problem

Is there a difference? Sure. Will you notice it on a 32" set? Most likely not. Most 360 games don't even display in 1080 anyway.

DragonPup

Unless you attach your eyes to the LCD, you won't be able to notice a difference between 720p and 1080p on a 32" set.

IIRC, the difference does not start becoming noticable until the 40" range.

Improvolone

With a $500 cap I would seriously consider something off of craigslist.

Dog

You should be able to get a 32 inch 720p TV for under 500 bucks. I bought mine three years ago for about that price on a black friday sale. I've never really seen a need for 1080p unless I am watching a huge TV, which I don't have room for anyways.

Seaborn111

just always keep your eyes open....

I just last month got a 40" 1080p TV (it's proscan...shut up, the quality has been ultimately surprising) for 499. great little TV for the money

Kai_San

Seaborn111 wrote: »

just always keep your eyes open....

I just last month got a 40" 1080p TV (it's proscan...shut up, the quality has been ultimately surprising) for 499. great little TV for the money

I got this SAME tv and it is perfect.

Did some research and found the same conclusion as the salesman told me - its a fine tv they just are missing the "bells and whistles".

At least on this exact model, its a reliable tv.

i n c u b u s

I just bought a brand new 32" Vizio that has 720p from Costco at $400 flat (well 430 with tax). I had it for a couple weeks now and I love it. I know Walmart and Target have a similar offer ( a $400 32" Vizio) but both their models are different compared to mine somehow, I honestly don't know if there is a major difference besides where the speakers on the TV are located. I can tell you that this thing does play my Wii and 360 like a champ and has all the appropriate HD pluggins.

matt has a problem

i n c u b u s wrote: »

I just bought a brand new 32" Vizio that has 720p from Costco at $400 flat (well 430 with tax). I had it for a couple weeks now and I love it. I know Walmart and Target have a similar offer ( a $400 32" Vizio) but both their models are different compared to mine somehow, I honestly don't know if there is a major difference besides where the speakers on the TV are located. I can tell you that this thing does play my Wii and 360 like a champ and has all the appropriate HD pluggins.

A lot of times you'll see TVs with model numbers like TVG12xxxx, and the difference in xxxx usually denotes either a slight cosmetic change, or simply the retailer the TV was sold from.

i n c u b u s

matthasaproblem wrote: »

i n c u b u s wrote: »

I just bought a brand new 32" Vizio that has 720p from Costco at $400 flat (well 430 with tax). I had it for a couple weeks now and I love it. I know Walmart and Target have a similar offer ( a $400 32" Vizio) but both their models are different compared to mine somehow, I honestly don't know if there is a major difference besides where the speakers on the TV are located. I can tell you that this thing does play my Wii and 360 like a champ and has all the appropriate HD pluggins.

A lot of times you'll see TVs with model numbers like TVG12xxxx, and the difference in xxxx usually denotes either a slight cosmetic change, or simply the retailer the TV was sold from.

Thanks for the clarification, all the specs are the same on the TVs but mine has the speakers going around the entire screen where as the Walmart/Target model just have the speakers towards the bottom of the screen.

The Crowing One

I bought the Dynex (Best Buy brand) 32" last year and have been very happy with it as a "Budget" television. I think it retails under $400 these days. No problems, not great sound but certainly does the trick. X360 looks great, and from what I've seen the 1080 only really makes sense if you're buying a 50 incher for a huge room in which you're 20 feet away from the screen (exaggeration?)

The Dynex 42" is now $600, I believe, full with the 1080 and all that jazz.