Best Deal on Widescreen Television?

[nails13]

I have decided that I need a widescreen television to take full advantage of my DVDs and Surround Sound system. I looked around at a couple of stores and I don't really know if I need a big screen, or if I even want to spend $4000 on one. Are there any other televisions that are widescreen and are smaller than big screens? I have decided I need a projection set instead of the old tube. Any recommendations? I would like to spend no more than $1000, but if pressed, I would probably go up to $2000.

[duckdogger]

Wide screen for under $2000 is a real challenge. Nothing I have seen in the past week approaches that. A Toshiba 40", 16:9 in HD-ready mode is still upper $2K range. Direct view 16:9 is mid $3K minimum from an RCA-type brand. I did see an add for a 20" 16:9, LCD display but it was about $4 VERY large.

[Karma]

If you don't intend to use it strictly for movies, I would suggest looking at a standard 4:3 shaped TV that can do HDTV. My father recently purchased a Sony 53" HDTV. If you purchase a widescreen and want to watch normal tv programming you either have to stretch the image or have bars on the sides. The bars on the side option can in some cases cause burn in because the bars are white and not black (which you would get watching a letterboxed DVD on a 4:3 tv). This can depend on your area, as well. Very few TV programs have switched to the widescreen format. For 4 or 5 large that some of these nice widescreen sets cost you could do better. Most likely you could spend half of that now (like my dad did) and by the time widescreen tv shows and HDTV is really going you can use that other half on a new widescreen set (which hopefully will have dropped significantly in price). This is just my opinion though. If I was only going to be watching movies on it...then heck ya...go widescreen baby.

[ckolchak]

Originally posted by Karma
If you don't intend to use it strictly for movies, I would suggest looking at a standard 4:3 shaped TV that can do HDTV. My father recently purchased a Sony 53" HDTV. If you purchase a widescreen and want to watch normal tv programming you either have to stretch the image or have bars on the sides. The bars on the side option can in some cases cause burn in because the bars are white and not black (which you would get watching a letterboxed DVD on a 4:3 tv). This can depend on your area, as well. Very few TV programs have switched to the widescreen format. For 4 or 5 large that some of these nice widescreen sets cost you could do better. Most likely you could spend half of that now (like my dad did) and by the time widescreen tv shows and HDTV is really going you can use that other half on a new widescreen set (which hopefully will have dropped significantly in price). This is just my opinion though. If I was only going to be watching movies on it...then heck ya...go widescreen baby.

yep, my feelings exactly.
you should be able to find a good Toshiba for around $2K that will do this. i paid $2700 for my sony, but they may be dropping in price soon now that the next generation has been announced.
i don't think you'll find anything for under 2000, unless you happen on a good 'open box' deal.

[Indy Jones Fan]

The 40 inch Toshiba widescreen can be had for under 1900.00 at onecall and the new 47 inch Panasonic widescreen has an MSRP of 1999.00.

[ckolchak]

Originally posted by Indy Jones Fan
The 40 inch Toshiba widescreen can be had for under 1900.00 at onecall and the new 47 inch Panasonic widescreen has an MSRP of 1999.00.

wow! that doesn't sound too bad. how are the panasonics? i saw a 4:3 at a best buy that seemed to have a great picture (right up there w/ the pioneer and philips) but i kept seeming to hear some cryptic comments in newsgroups that made me a little nervous so i started looking in other directions.
but like i said, the picture on the one was pretty spectacular - especially for it's price.

[Indy Jones Fan]

Well, I have a Panasonic PT56WXF95 and I am very pleased with it. The 47 inch I was referring to is a brand new model so I'm not sure how well it performs. The 40 inch Toshiba seems to be a very popular set also.

[tmmh]

OneCall has the Toshiba 40H80 listed for $2499 with free shipping tonight so they must have raised their price from $1900 to do the "free shipping". It is possible to get it for $2200 with free basic shipping. It is a great set!

[tmmh]

Oops, typo on my last post. The 40H80 can be found for $2300 with basic shipping not $2200 that I know of. But, who knows, it is probably out there somewhere for that!!!!!

[Indy Jones Fan]

The 40H80 is this year's model. Onecall still has the TW40X81 I was referring to for 1888.11 plus shipping. Shipping is probably about 200.00.