Question?

[WOXOF]

I'm partial to plasma(I've had one for 2 years now). Plasma TV's dont have any more of a problem with burn in than a normal CRT TV. They both use the same phosphor. LCD is great and wont burn in, but they get very expensive in the larger sizes and have problems showing shades of black. DLP is a nice compromise between a plasma/LCD and a normal rear projection TV since they are relatively thin. I would also be concerned with all of the moving parts(mirrors) associated with the DLP's. Rear projections are huge and have a limited viewing angle, but they are relatively inexpensive. LCD projectors are nice, but any projector will require a darker room to get the full effect. If I ever get around to building my media room, I plan on going with a LCD projector. I say spend the extra money and go with a plasma, just do your homework first. I did quite a bit of research before I bought mine so if you have any questions let me know.

[BigMacFU]

http://www.wired.com/news/technology...ory_page_next1

If you're going to spend too much money, here's a good article.

[SuperChuck]

Entended Warranties are basically a new source of income that retail stores have discovered. I don't suggest buying them. Since warranties only cover manufacturer defect, most defects will become evident within the warranty period.

Get an HDTV. That's the only way to go. HD ready is fine (even preferred) if you have digital cable or satellite service.

If you can afford the clams, get a plasma. If you're like me, you balk at spending a couple paychecks on a TV.

That leaves you in the land of DLP rear projection or direct view. The DLPs are very bright, but they still suffer from the angley problems traditional rear projection TVs. There are some very nice direct-view (traditional tube) televisions out there, but they are constrained by size (I have a VERY nice 32" HDTV).

The other, less talked-about option is front-projection. Front projectors offer a very high quality picture, larger than any other TV you'll ever own. However, they lack brightness. In the daytime, they get completely whited out. But if you don't mind having one TV for watching Oprah and dropping the projector only for movies and night TV shows, they're simply no better way to go.

I also suggest spending a LOT of time just standing in stores staring at televisions. Watch them up close, watch them from afar, watch them at different angles. Sometimes the results will surprise you. For example, when I was looking at direct-view TVs a few years ago, Sharp was the first to get tossed off the list, shortly followed by Sony. I would have thought Sony would make it to the final bracket, but when I compared the trinitrons to other monitors, they were just plain awful. The winner was, oddly enough, a Samsung. I didn't even think they made TVs...

[illilli]

The winner was, oddly enough, a Samsung. I didn't even think they made TVs...

Samsung started out making TVs a long time ago. They took over the 'crappy' TV torch passed to them from Japan in the late '60s and early '70s.

Here is an interesting link about Samsung detailing their history.

[cinda]

We have the big TV and the Sony surround system. It was my hubby's retirement gifts to himself. I really think it's a waste of wall space, since my houses' decor is out of the early 1900's. You might imagine this system stands out like a bull in a china shop. Furthermore, this true to life sound? Yep it sure is, as a matter of fact, it's so loud and true to life that when he has a bang-bang- shoot-them-up movie on and its time for bed I wear a bullet proof vest to bed. The gun shots will wake me but their not going to take me out! The TV has two remotes and I consider myself a tech type of person but honestly this operation he has got going down there might as will be the formula for rocket fuel. I mean he is brainless when it comes to anything electronic The fact he can even get it to work is amassing and if something goes wrong he is screaming at me to fix it. What the heck happen to plain old TV. Good luck!

[SuperChuck]

Anyone who owns a TV or surround sound system should have this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/630...v=glance&n=130

Televisions in particular are set up to look good under the very bright florescent lights of a sales floor, NOT your living room.

Surround sound systems, well, they just need a little calibration now and then. After all, you don't live in a sound stage (and if you do, I'm jealous).