OK, I need some help. I plan to make my first TV purchase in almost five years. The last TV I bought was a 27" flat-screen at a (then) bargain price for $275. Now, I'd like to purchase my first widescreen TV. I'm on a low budget for this one - I'd like to spend less than $1000 if at all possible - the cheaper the better, as I have some other things I plan to buy, and inevitably I'll need a TV stand as well, since a widescreen won't fit into my current entertainment center.

I'd like it to at least be a 27", preferably HD ready. Any suggestions? Is this feasible? Can you tell I know nothing about the subject?

If you look hard enough you should be able to find the Sony 30" KD30XS955 for a good price.

For under 1000, you should be able to score a HD Ready RPTV up to 51". There were a couple at Black Friday at Circuit City and Best Buy, and I imagine there will be similar deals the week of the super bowl.

Was just at my parent's place over the holiday and they had picked up a 51" Toshiba RP HDTV for $899... Think they picked it up at Sears... was closer to $1200 when I looked it up at bestbuy.com. So keep looking you should be able to find something.

Best Buy has a 30" Sony Widescreen CRT for around $800 that has gotten rave reviews from Consumer Reports. This is the tv I'll get if I don't get an LCD. I think the unit is around 170 lbs. Kinda bulky, but the pic is supposed to be sweet.

I would go RPTV if size/space is not an issue...you can never go TOO big for screen size. You can get decent ones for around $1000 these days now too.